We Arentl T Porn

a3..LV'H~Sn~'I

APRIL

1915

--

--

-

---

~--

-

The Park Building

The Completion of Worcester's Newest and Most Modern Office Structure Adds Another Milestone

in the March of Progress of the Heart of the Commonwealth-Erected Upon

a Historic Site in the Geographical Center of the City

~~~~IRELE ~ S Ti m f', t h e w on d er w ovk er, h a s mig h t ily changed t he scone s t h at w e re f a­ m il iar to t he g oo d fol k wh o i nha b it ed W or­ cester wh en Massa chu setts Ba y w a s st ill a clu st erin g colony , b efore t.h e " I n d ia ns " of Bos ton had t hro w n a ce r-ta in s h ip -loa d of t ea int o th e spa, 01' t he d etermin ed g t>n t le llle n wh o m et in th e first Conti nr- nta1 Con g J'f' SS had si gned th e ir names to t h e Declnru ti on of In d ep en d ence . ,V ere so me of tho se car­ I\' resid ent s of W otcostcr to come h ack to ea r th for a ] ~o k about an d p erh aps a re u n ion a mon g t he mselves , tllPy would find th at t h ings look ed va stly di fferent about th e sp ot wh er e th ere u sed t o b e a ce rta in " li t t l e kno,l"1e, " fa mil ial' t o t h e m in ch ild ho od d a ys , As it so happ en s, th ey w ould probably n ev er know where that " littl e lmow le" once 1'3 ised it s grassy slope un less th ey sea rc h ed t he r ec or d s a t th e Cou n ty Com-t 1I011se, And even then, after l ocatin g th e spot a t th e corn er of Main a n d Franklin s t r eets, th ey w ould co r­ tninly he lost in as t on is h m on t a t sig h t of a ta ll, s t a t el y gray business bl ock co vc r i n g the si t e a ud co rnpe [ling th em to loo k far al oft t o t ak e in its en ti re h eigh t. ]·' 0 1' wher e t h a t s mall h ill ock , t h us qu ai n tl y d ssi g­ nutod in p rc-R ov olu ti onarv r ecords, ou co w as th ere stands today th e imp os ing P ark b u ild in g , jus t co m­ pletcd , Wor ceste r 's n ew est a nd th o mos t mo d er n b us i­ I1l'SS structure in .l\ ew E naln nd . Wi t h in t h e la s t tw o weeks th e work men h av e cea sed th eir s wa rm in g a n d t he office te na nts h a ve ta k ou t h oir place ; until t oday , wh ere oncc a modest C011,lg f', p n rt ly screen ed by a row of stnt l'l." trees, 100kC'd out up on th e quiet roadway which was tho Main s tre et of tha t ti m e, t lio ed ifice In-ought int o bein g h)' th e P a rk Buil d ing Co., of which ,/<'1'(1)1(' H. Georg e an d .\ [a1'c \1 s L , F oster nr c movin g spirits, a wa kens t hr- pi-id e of th o ci t izr-n a nd co m ma n ds tho admira ti on of Ih c vi si to r , This vulu a blo co r ne l' h as a h is t o n ' wh ich ca l'r ie's it had: 10 th e yral' 173:Z, by t h r l' r c ~ l'Ck I II t he l ong stl'(·tch of mo r(' th an 180 ~ ' f'a rs hom t h ~ n to n ow it h as had ('xa ctl y Sl'Vell OW111'l'S p l'evi ou s to it s acq u is iti on hy t lw p resent OWnf'l'S, a n d unt il tl)(' y jJu l'ch a s('d th c pl'opf'rty i t h a el lI ot l)(,f'n s ll bj ('ctf'Cl to th f' pl'ocf'dlll'C of a convey ancf' fo l' 87 \'('aI'S , W]]('n t l~ is lifr- sto l')' ~f a WOl'Cf'"t f'1' bu il d illg l ot is eOlllpl'ch end C'cl, it will b e gra ti f."in g' t o loy nl , Vor ces t er folk thaI th r ou gh th c g en iu s of Cr oss & C r oss, al'c h i­

te cts , of N ew Y OI'k, with D , H . Binnh a ru, at r.; (' II' Y or-k , a s cons u l t in g a rc hite ct, an d t ho C: I'OI'g c A , Ful ler Co " of , Vor cos tc :-, 1III il d crs, su ch a n 0 rn a mc u t t o t he busi­ JH'SS disui et a s n ow s ta n ds th ere has IW ('1l p la ced upon I h e lan d w hi ch D ani el G ook in , E sqnir'c, w a s gra n t ed b y th c 'I'o wu of W orcostcr on Dv couib cr 26 , 1132, as 11 pl ac e to bu ild , A s pres erv ed on t ho rcco rds, th is t rnnsacti on sta tcs that Daniel G ookin, on h is p eti t ion , W11S g ive n " a Con­ veui cnt buildin g place not t o E x ceed h alf all a c r e a t 01' n car t hc Li tt lc Ku o wl « lW H! ' th e m eet in g hou se in W or cest er wh ere thc Rev el mr BU IT be g an t o di gg a Ce lla r, S aid b u ild in g pl ace t o be S t aked out a t t he dcseretio n of a Co m tcc t o be ch osen by Sa id P r opri e­ t a l'S, thi s Gran t mad o up on Con d it ion th a t S ai d Danl Go ok in Esqr b u ild & S c t tlc on th e sa m e , " This wa s th e " l ittle knowle " which once adorn ed th c site of th c Park build iu g. '1'111' kn oll ex te n d ed a littl e south ct-ly t o a point opposit e t h e pres ent foo t of Cha t ha m st ree t . D an iel Go ok in , first. to IJ(· reco rded a s a cq u iring pos­ session of t his gr ou nd , wa s a sh eriff of t hc to wn, Hi s f ath ci-, wh oso n,lIHC w a s t ho sa nu -, w a s on e of t he fir s t pr -oprict ors of t hc t own , if 11 0 1 its rea l fo u n de r. Th e clergyman who is 1J<11l1 ('(1 a s t he ril's t k n own oc­ cu pa n t of th e lot was Re v . I saa c Bun, wh o gr-adua t ed ho m Ya le in t h e cla ss of 1117 a nd w a s sett led as m in is ­ t ei- of th e Fu-s t , 0 1' Old Sou t h, ch urch of W or cest er in 1725, with a n a n n u a l sul u r y of SO po un ds, U n t il t h e t ini c of th e R pv olutiOll, th o co lo n ia l fo lk who own ed th o lo t w ith it s " litt le' 1,nOIl'JI' '' w r- r« 11101',' 0 1' loss pl ain p eop le of t ho t ow n . Da u icl Gook in was uot r-d only a s she r-iff. He wa s t h c first t o build a ll t hc lun d , and his ad m in is t ru t o r so ld it in ]744 t o Stephen F ess end en fo r 302 pound s, 1<'f'ss f'llclf'll 's ad miu is t rn t o r couv ovc d a part of it in 1/51 t o J a llH's P u t nam f o r 105 ponnd s , 'fhl' Pl ' OP (,J't~ ' wa s el f'sc l'ilwd i n this t n1llsn c­ li on a s "on c lllessua g (' witll aholl t h al f an ac re of hlDd , " In Jam es Plltn am's d a ys a tingf' of I'(' al his t o\'\' was h ('st ow cc1 upon t h f' COI'n f'l' lot. Pu tn nrn himself ~ \ 'as a law)' ('r of th e hi gh C'i';t I'ank in his p l'OfC'ssion , H C' gT;lc1 ­ nn t ed hom Harv ard in 1/46 aud b eg a n to pl'act icc Inw in , Vo\'cesl cl' in 1/49 , lI e ,, 'a s ca JlC'd " t h c best la w,\' cr of N orth AIll f'l'ic a " by J os eph ,Vi ll ar d in an nd d r css ill 1829 b f'f ore Ih e ~W ol'ce8t e r Cou n ty B a 1'.

WOROESTER

84

One of his ] [111' s t ude nts was J oh n Ad am s, wh o later becam e secon d Pr esid en t of th e U nite d States, In the old h ouse a t rh o C01'11('1' of M[lin and Ft-an k liu s t reets, John Ad ams hon rd cd while und c r t hc tut ela ge of Put­ n a m, 'I'h c pra ct ice ,111(] f'au ic of thi s Pu tn am oxtcn dc d th r ou ghou t th o t he n P rovin ce of Ma ssa c hu s et t s. H e tin a llv became a ttornc y ~'rllr l'a ] of Ihe p r ovi n ce uIH1n th e Kin g', t o wh om J1(' )'('lIl11 in rd ]0,1'<1 ] wh en th e Revo­ luti on OCCUlT\'(l. At t lro out brcuk of t lu - \1' 11 1', ho went to E ng lun d hu t rr-tn rn cd t o \" r \l' Brunswick a little la te r a nd t h r- r« be­ came a j udge of t h« Supre me Co urt of that prov ince, rr- ta in in a th e offic e u n t il h e d i ed in 17 89, Mr ,lll ~l'! lil e I he rSl,lle at the ca mel' of M ai n and Fr-ank lin st r cctx, wit.h t ho old house, in whi ch h c h a d liv ed and ill which John A d a ms h a d boa rd ed , was co n ­ fisca ted in 177 9 and so ld bv t he States Committe e fo r 2]01 po unds " s oIJi<1 go ld" to Samue l F la g g, 1' hc la nd co mpr ised so nic 80 ac res a ud extended sout herly a nd ea ste r-ly fr om M<J ill a nd F rn nkl in s t r orts . Fir e in 1786 dcst ruv cd th o h ou se w h ic h D an iel G oo k in b ui lt. A s a J'1'~ u lt of t his fuo, t he 'W or cester Fire Soc iotv \\'a s f'ormc d a nd thi s hcdv st ill exists a s a soci al o J'~:,l1liz;a lio ll , S alilu rlFla g g r ~bu jl t th c hou se in 1788. Th is is th e d wcl lin g showu in th e acc om pa n y ing' pi cture an d in th e 01(1 cuts of X ob i1ity H ill. In 1808 th e es t a to W;l S acquired by D a n iel Cla p , re g­ ister of clr ('(ls f'or \V 01'C('Stl'l' County, wh ose execu tors sold it ill 182 7 10 Chn rl cs All r-n . Thi s sa le w a s a t pu b ­ l ic auction , .Iud g o A llen lila kin g th e highest bid, $G250, and r-ecei vin g a t ract of land ex ten d ing al on g M ain st ree t south er-ly to wh a t is no w th e G rand 'I'h ca tro, an d easte rly a long F'rnnkl ill street al mo st to P ort.l an d street. Charles A llen wa s t hr g l'anclson, on hi s !lloth r l"s sidr , of a s iste r of Sam uel Adam:,;, t.he Bos ton p a triot.

M .• n;

STREET. T HE H EART OF T H E CIT Y, I N 1 8 3 8 , AL L ES H O)II-:ST E.-\D. OX

MAGAZINE

H e w as t he so n of H on. Joseph All en, wh o fo r 33 ye foJ lowin g th e D ccl a ra ti on of Indep en d ence w as cl of cou r ts 1'01' W orcest er Cou n t y . H e w as also a IIlI bel' of t hc co u vcnt ion which fram ed t he st ate cons t: ti on in 1780, a nd h eld' other offices as well. In t he F a!' of hi s d oa th , 1827 , hi s d istinguis he d s Charlos A llen, bo ug-h t t ho estate at the corn er of 111 a nr] South streets, as Frau k l in str eet was t he n ca ll Charles A lIcn, selec tman , rcp r-csoutativ c and sena in tho Ge lH'J'al CO UI't, jud g e of t he Court of Cornrr Pl eas, p res idr-nt ia l elector, rep resentati ve in Congrr a nd c hi ef justice of t he Supe rior Co urt, li ved in house on t he C01'Ilel' unt il about 1854, wh en he r emov to the corn er of El m and ' Vest streets, A ft e r t hat y ear, t he h ou se all th e " l ittle knowl w as m oved sout horly to a point j ust north of wha t no w Fcd r-ra l street. 'l'h r- r c it ca ll st.ill be seen, for 1. most part intact afte r n ea r-ly 125 y ears. It is now part of t h e pr-oper ty of W illiam H . Sawyer . J ud a o All en has hc cn called t he f'a thcr of t he FI S oil n(ov Pllle n t. H e t wic e dccl in cd a n ,1 ppo int me nt t he S up re m e Co u rt of th e COllim a n wealth, At di ffere nt ti m es he s old off p a r ts of t h e est! whi ch h e h nd bo u ght h om Dain cl Clap 's execu te bu t all\' ay s r ot a ine d th e corner lot. Thi s lot by d esce cveu t ua lly ca rue into th e possessi on of hi s sal e SI vivinu d au ghter, Ka th a rinc All en, wh o di ed in 19: leavin g nea r-ly 11('1' en ti r e estat e t o lo cal public, cha t abl e and cduea tion al in stitut ion s. Short ly af't cr -Iud g« All rn had moved fr o m tha t ] ca t ion and th o old hou se' h a d bt- cu removed t o whe it now sta uds , a three-story w oo d en b usiness b ui ldi i w as bu ilt: on t1H' co t- nr-r . F or tJ1(' e ns u ing hal f ccntu that struct u re wa s mor-e 0 1' It-ss of a bu sin ess landma: in th e c it v. It housed some' well -kn ow n sto res ar offices, a n'u mb r l' of its tena nts having h('(,11 locate t here fo r uj)w a l'ds of 30 years,

OLD SO UTH CH UR CH

EXTRl-;) U ': RH;HT, ON

AN D

To"",,

H O US E ON LEFT, SIT E

Now

C OVERED DY CITY H AL L .

"~H O S E SIT!'; THE NEW P ..\JU\: B UI LDI N G STA NDS

WORCESTER MAGAZINE

85

th e' p a rk, o r Co m mo n , a n d t h u s w ould in a sou se l ocate it. L a xt ly , as a h -ca dy st a tvd , t h « na m c prcsorv os th e old u a m c of th e strcct, which S()II[(~ still b e-liev e sh oul d n ev er hav e been c h u n ucd , s ince it r-un s along' th e Com­

nion.

'When Th omas H , Uag r, executor uncl cr the will of Katharin e AI1<>n, co n veye d la s t y e ar t o J ero m e R Geo r ge a n d Marcus L. F oste r th e cut ire ost atc , th e old structure was d em oli sh ed t o make w ,)\' f or it s fa r mo r e splendid SU CC('S i-iOl', t h e P ros on t Pa rk 'Bu i Idi n g , [,'0 1' a whil e t he Dr W OW IWI' S d .-ba tc d the q u es ti o n of exton­

As a ma t tcr of fact, hO\l'('v er, t.horv is a ll old s t o ry th at the t hor-ouahfu rc 1I',1S n ot named Pa r k street b e­ cause it ndjoiucd t h o ]),11'];: O!' Conuu on, hut i ll h onor of 1) 1', J ohn C, T'a ik , a r d i l'('d, scholu r-ly , eult.i va tc d g ('n t!('llIan wh o canl(' t o l i v« in W o rccxtor i n 1831 a n d nl;l(1r his honu- o n S ol)ilit~ , H ill, a ll (' ln i1H'IICr on the \I'('st s id(' of !llain stn'('( similu r to Court Hill, a n d ex­ t rnding fro m Hart on plu c« t o a point bd\l'('en Ch a t ­ ha m and Aust in stl'('('ts , 1)1', Parl, appears t o hnv« lind a bo u t o p po s it e t he ho ud of 1',11'1-, o r I,"' ;mklin stT ('d , p(,l'haps ju s t a cross t lu: xt roc t f' ro ru t h« nlot of COl 'lIi'1' land which has so lon g s ('I'\' (,d in a 1I J(';\sur'r a s a ll nu chor pouit fo r' th e rising' t it l« of t h o ci t ,I" s COIIIIII ('I'c e, H ('arin g up fr om th e pulsatin g co u t .-r of t h« busin ess district, el even st o rics of st"('1 aud st o n« capped b,l' all o ru n tr- g l'(' (' ll c o rn ic e . lIOI\' st and Up OIl thi s hi st oric COl'Il('1', Al most f r o m th« f oot of Ma i n stl'e d , t ('11 l on g blocks a way , t h is u cw ost of t h « big' hus i n cs s l)('ehivrs of Worcest er, 1I'11('1'(~ t h r- hU1I1 of husi lH'SS ]«('('PS th e a il' a -q u iver fr om o n c Y('ill "S c u d to a n ot h e r stands o u t shar -p aud co n u ua n d in g o n t h« snut lu-astr -ru skv -Iino. 'I'hc s\l 'r('pilll! vi ow ,lel'OSS t h v Cit." Hall plaz a makes

siv ely r emod elli n g th e o ld w ood en buildin g , but it was found to be in su c h an a gr-d st ate, a n d so ou t of h ar­ mony wi th mod ern id eas of o ffice b u il d ings , th a t th e expen se would pl a inl y be out of ,111 p roport iou to t h e

benefit . A new building was th e refore dc crcc d ; and , that nothing mi ght b e left und on e t o k eep ab r eas t of th e

times, it w a s lik ewise d e cid ed th at a II its ap p oiu t me n ts should b e of the b es t a nd th e s a fes t, r e g ardl ess of the ex pe nse , provid ed only t h at mon ey was not wa s t ed in unhusin css-Iil«- cx p c n d i tu r es, Th os e stud ent s of lo cal hi st orv who hav e thus fa r foll owed th o f ortunes of t h is ' la nd of the "little knowle" throu g-h its se ve ra l own ers, D aniel G ookin, Ste p hen F essenden, Jalnrs Pu tnn m, ~ alll ud F lagg, Daniel C la p , C hn rI cs All en a n d K ath arin e All en , dnwn to th c p r ese nt y ear, will find it interestin g t o no t e that in 1827 t he es ta t e was d cs cribcd a s b ound in g north erly on the C om m on , App arentl y p art of t he C o m m on \HI S l ater es t a b ­ lish ed a s S o uth st reet and this in turn becam e known ahont 1840 as P n rk s t ree t , r r-ta iu iug this ua nic until a f ew y ea rs a g o wh en it was c ha nged to Fran k l in st rc ot to avoid conflicting' with Park avenu e. Thus th e Park Buildin g' pt -ose rv os t hv old uam o o f Franklin street. Y et
J\I.-\I N

A I\"D

F R.\,:-;KLI :"

ST Jt::.ETS I X

,\ I'Rl J.,

1 01 5

WOR CESTER MA GAZI NE

~(;

i t sor m a s if t h is C01'11rl" W
T HE

H1 L\R 1' O }O~ T HF.

B US IX ESS

D r ST R lc'r-

a m ong- A m eri c a n bu sin ess h locks throu gh ou t t.he c on n­ try . Its o wners bel ie v e th u t it ca n ha rrl ly b e cqua.lle d ill t hose r esp ects, '1'1 )('I'r is no unu sed s p a ce , eve ry on c of its :200 offices is li gh ted d ir ect lv h om w it h out , s im pl ic it y of a n -un gcmcnt if; co m b in c d w i th ma x im u m of s ufo t.v a n d CVC'J'v s inuh - n c« d ev ice t hat. h a s b ee n ill VC' utN} f o r u sc i n ' t h e i;ll1'r io l' of su c h bl ocks is to b e fo un d in it, A I. th e S:l111t' t im o non e of t h e $800 ,000 t hat has go n e into th e co nst r-uct ion of the P a r k Bu il d­ in g h as IWI'll wasted . P ro t e c t io n ag':linst fir e is t ho c harnct oristic of w h ic h pro b a b ly t h e m os t has b e en made'. T h e bu ilding is m ad o fir e p r oof not on ly t h rough th e o rd ium-v steel co ns tructio n , r edu c in g th e use of wood in 1.11(' w hol e b u il din g t o a n absolu t e m in i mum, h u t th r o u gh t h e e m ergency fa c i lit ies w h ic h h a v e bee n instull r- d . Th ese cons ist p ri n c ip a ll y of t wo stool- e nclose d sta ir ­ w ay s , ci t lu -r of which can b e u t il izc d in cas e of fi ie, a nd b ot h of w h ich i-cu c h f ro m t he ruof to till: stre et. 'I'h c v a tc v i rtua lly insi d e fi re esca p es, ou c nse d in s teel t o we r s. Only a t t h e floor le v el s a re t h ere a ny o p en ings, an d t he se fi re simp ly t he d ourways fr o m t h e co r rido r s. 'I' he d oors l e a di n g into t hc stai r v es tibu les ca n 1)('

No Rl' H f. R L Y

V JF.\\'

'FR O)!

P .-\RJ"::

nt · J I .P J ~ (;

,YO HC ESTER OIW) H' d qu icke-r t han any ot hor do ol's in W orces t er 1'l'OIIi th e corr -ido r side, 1'11('1'(' <11'(' no kn obs on that silk, only a stout 1),1 1' of mcta l s t rct ch iu g ac ross t he doo r at the heigh t of t he k nob , T o o p e n t ho door it is silllpl,\' nc cessu t-y t o gT'.ISp t his ha nd le and p ush, wh orc­ upon th e ca t ch is l'e]eas('cl an d th e doo r OpCIlS , Bd\\'<'E' n tIl<' stu irwnv» , w h ic h arc ut e it hc r en d of t11(' Jl ain stl'('('\ fr- ont , a rc t he th rcr: «lcct ri c «lev ators . 'I'1I es(', lik e t ho st a i rx, a r« tire-proofed hy uioa u s of st eel shaft s wh ich s('pa l'a t!' t h em cn t i n -Iy h om all the res t of t l1l' build ing . A t t ho flo or- lan d ings, t el escop in g st eel dool's with a l1la h ago n ~ ' d esi g n g-uard th e s haf ts except at lIw firs t flour, wl1(' I'(' th e cloors n1'C bro n ze, The thro e roorn v 1))'OI I Y,( ' ('[(' \'nt o1' ca rs, huudxo mc in ap peara n ce and casy in mot inn, a rc opr ra tr-d hy t lu -ec hug'l' motors sot in t h« d yua uio ro o m h ig-h a t t he t op of th e hu ildina. The di s t inc tivc thin g- abo ut e a c h of t!WS(' 1I1 0t01'S is th n t t h e d ru m Oi l whi ch th e ca ble s wind is nt ta chcd to t he m ot or itse lf', d o ing a wav wit h all Sl'!J:lI'H \( ' gTal' ing', To pu t up a »t ru ctu rc of ('1('\'('11 s to ri es and k eep within thr ILPi g'ht limit imp osed hy 111(' la ws of 'M assa ­ ehu:-;I'tt :-; comp e-l led t h« e l'('ct Ol':-; of th e P ink Bui ld ing

SOC1' HER I.Y YH;W FR O ~l

PAR K BG ILO ]1'\G -

M AG AZI YE

87

to fig ure closel y O il ceil in g- he ig-hts, Yet, th o ceil ings givc t he impress ion of 1J ('i ng aii loft y as cou l d h (' (le­ si r ed . 'I'h c hei ght on evcrv tlo ol' ex cept th e el ev en th is ten fcct : on th e eleven t h it iii t w elve f ed , Th a t ext ra st o ry m ea 1Jf3 20 ext ru offices, g iv in g th e e nt ir-e bui ldi ng 200 offices , On t hc ti l'St ftoOl' t h r-re ar-e se ven storrs of Ynl'ying' sizes , en c losed ill gl ass, OJa ncin g up f'r o m t he s t rcct , t hc spe cta to r n otices that t hr w indow» of t ho P a rk B uil di ng a rc grouped in tw os . T hose groups ar« t h« !Joy wi ud o w un its, Ev o rv cluste r of two win dows ]T j)i'('ii(' lItii t h« ce nt er of a n office , Th is do cs IIO t m en u, h o wev er, t hu t t h« offi ces arc all of id on ti c al s ize , Th e hay w i nrj ovv un it has b er n so wo r-ked on to 111 a t r h« xiz« 0 1' t h« offi c('ii is vari abl c T h ey are r-itluu ] 2 01' 10 f(,(,t in widt h, T h(' re a rc fo ul' elrg';'e('s of d ept h-H) , 18 , ~() nn d:Z 1 f(,l't, T h is a rr au gc ­ mcn t on a b los th e ren ting' ng,(" ,tii to su it ahuost cvc rv sor-t of rr-qu irc m cn t . Solid mnhogu u v h a:-; h('('l1 lal'gely ass (lciiltl'd with old f ush ioncd ma nsi ons . Tt w ill h cu cof'o rt h be associ ated wit h the st y lish busines» h lock as \1'1'11. E \' ('r'~ ' hit of in t ori or woodwor-k in t he P a r-k B u il di n g' is of th is ma­

F E DER AI.

B V ILDl ~ "

tx

L EFT Cf;:\T,ER

88

'VOR C.ESTER

t erial and it is of a fin is h tha t ca n n ot f ail t o del igh t the con noisseur. 'I'h e r c is no t a g re a t d eal of it, b e­ ca use , as al rc ad y s t a t ed , th e w oodwork h as b een m a d e as n eg ligib le a qu a n t ity as p ossib le. It is confi n ed en­ t ir ely t o t he d oo rs a n d wi nd ow sa s he s. T h e d oors a r o eq u ip pe d with a wh ol e co ll ectio n of d ev ice s fOI" r r-du c in g irri ta t ion. Th e hin g es arc hu n g

lUAGAZI:KE of t h e wind ows. On th e t op floor th e offices a rc ill u­ m in a tc d by d r op l ig hts, Co lor tin t s in th e offic es ar c co n d u civ e to in crea sin g th e ligh t, a lt ho u g h t h ere is lit t le IH'l'(1 of it. 'I'h o ce il­ in gs arc plai n w h it e a n d t h e wall s arc t in te d a ligh t c rc n ru co lo r. 'I'h c 1100l's ,1I'e lin ol ou m ce me n ted to th e concr-ete. Th.e hasch ou nl s a l't' nu r r ow . T he office f UI"­ n ish ings a 1'( ' t o be ma ho gu nv . 'I'h o offices a ll con t a in op e n la v a t orios. 'W h a t is a p t t o stI'11; c' t h o vix it o r as h e w alks thro ugh t h e t wo st ru ight corr -ido rs, n in« fee t ill w id th betw een t h e' office s a n d (,I(' \'(' n ill fr ont of t h e el eva tors, is its lig h t. F'ro tn ('Ild to ('11(1 the' pil s sagc wa ~'s w ith th e ir m osa ic fioo l's a l'e so lni gh t a s t o render a n a rt ific ial ligh t un u cccssa rv exce pt a t n ig ht. 'I'h is is a ch ieve d hy II\I.' a1lS of f ull le ngt h gl ass p a n els in th e d oo rs of t h e officrx. T h is glass, of a p ecul ia r t ext ur-e, r es em b les li tt le d izuuo ncls of wire nct t iu g , but

L.

3

2

/

5

\ :1~

~~~ ~.:- _ ' O! ~~

TY PI CAL P LOOR

9

10

II

PL _~ N

OF

O ~'r 'l C E

on fib er cus h ions so t hat m et al ca n n ev er t ou ch m et a l a n d t ho h in ges wo u ld n ot sque a k if th ov wercut oi led i n ten y ea rs , Th e olel srvl« of d oor-ch eck op er a ted by th e f oot is d on e a way w ith a n d th es e Cl 0 0 1'S ca n b e che ck ed hy a si mpl e s tea d y ing of t h e handl e, ,111cl ca n h e set at a n y an gl e d esi red . 'I'ho t r ansoms arc 01)(' 1'· a t cd by a knob in t h e door f'raiu c in st ead of th e s lid in g ro el arr an gement. B u rglars wh o t r ied t o p ick t he lock s of o ffice d oors in th e P a r k Bui ldin g w ou ld hav e t he ti m e of th eir li ve's. 'I'h c unit lock d ev ice, whi ch h a s b een in st all ed t h ro ugh out t he bu il d ing, makes it i mp ossib le to fo r ce a loc k by any a cce-pted mot.hods of b u r gl a ry . 'I' hc k ey w h ic h unl ock s th e door of t h e office a lso u n locks t h e doo r of t he t oi let, r educin g t h e n u mb e r of ke ys t ha t a ll office r en te r h a s t o carry hy on e . 'l' hcs« a r c t h e only t w o doors t h a t his l; ey will un loc k. '1'11<' I'e is, h ow ev er a mas t er b ' y w hi c h wi ll u nl ock cvo rv d oor in th e bu ildi n g . ' , , F or con veni en ce sak e t wo b rass g ri ps 11I'e fix ed in t he uppe r sas he s of t he wind ows a nd t h e wi n d ow s t h emselves arc set in me t a l ru uw a ys . 'I'wo h ig 100 wa tt «lecn-ic ligh t s encased in g r ound glass glo bes s tu d th e ce il ing, ea ch of t h em ma intain ing t he ccut c r l in e

S L1IT :LS J X

/'

!!

8

P .... R I\. H l'l LHI X H

whi le it a ll o ws th e su n s h ine t o s ift throu gh in a b u n­ dan ce, it is H Ot t rn ns p arc n t 1111(1 d c-t rn c ts in 110 w ay fr-om the p r i va cv of t h e' in ma t es . P t-oh a bl, s uc h w ell Ii gh t cd eo i-rid orx w ou ld b e i mp oss ibl e w crc t he h u ilcl­ iu g n ot so p l a ced 1h a t it ca n get the li ght of h ea v en on pt-a ct ical lv ovoi-y s ide. Wi th p ra ct ica l ly n o obs t r u ct io n on c it h e r th e M ain 01' F run k lin s t l'('ct fr ont s , and a p ar ti cul a r ly wid e s w ee p of sp a ce on th e lu rtcr sid e b ecau se of th e City Hall p laz a , t he bu ild in g is a lso wc l l lig ht ed on th e ea st ow in g t o Allen cou rt, whi ch keep s t he W orc este r Trus t Co m pa n y Bu ilding at. 11 spac ious d is tan ce . T h e uppcr s t o l·il's os pc c ia 1Iy provid e office s wh ich a r c SUIl­ ny and pl easa nt a ll d a,l' lon g'. Fro m th e win d ows of t hes« offices th e ou tlook is in ­ s p n-uig . 'I'h « enc ircl ing hi lls t h a t h ol d the city in th e ir e m br ace ca n h e S(' ('11 0 11 e \'rl'y si d e , whil e M ount , Va ­ ehu sott is p la in ly visibl e on 11 c lca r clay . 'I'he offic es w h ich ove rloo k t lu- Co m mo n a r e a s d eli g htfu l a s an y b usy m an could d esi r e, On t hc first t wo floors t.hrrc is a n au to rua tic s priuk­ lo r s ys tem t o gurud a g a i nst fire a t t h e p oin t wh e r e it is mos t to h e fe n re d . 0 11 t hese ftoo rs a nd in t he base­ m cu t on ly is t h er e t h e sl igh te st tir e r is k. E ven if a

,VOROESTER fire st a r t ed in t h a t par t of th e bu ilding i t w ould b e bar red fr om th e elev a t or shafts b y th e casings of s teel alr ead y d escrib ed . As a f u r t he r p r o t ecti on , t h e w indo ws on t h e south and east, w h er e th er e nrc nd joining build in gs n earby, H e provi d ed w ith s t eel sa s hes a nd w ir e glass, Ea ch store has a roomy baseme nt and in t h e b ase­ mont , beside th e steam h ea tin g an d p ow er pl ants, a r e the coal bunk ers w h ich are loca ted be nea t h All en court , as mu ch out of th e w ay as poss ib le. Toilet fac ili t ies a r c th e most sanitary , Th e w om en 's toilet on ea ch fl001' open s off th e sta irway v estibul e, while t he m en 's toilet is on t he other sid e of t h e b u ild­ ing, op enin g off th e l ong er corri do r , Th e toilets are fi nished in wh i t e g lass , 'I'he r en t in g of offices in t h e Pa rk Bui ld ing is go ing forw ar d wi t h r egul ru-ity, for, a s id« f'ro ru th e co nunan rl­ ing advantages w h ich th e building can off er, th e bus i­ ness life of t h e c itv h a s su ppo rted th e o wne rs in their project. W hile th e b ul k of s pace was rented in t h e b uildi n g long' before complet ion , SOIl1(' rrma in cd w h en t h e struc­ ture was thrown open, but this is rap idly filli n g up,

That Ten Pe r Ce nt. Gift "EL AT I YE to t h o rec ent act ion on th o pa rt of ': . Congress in passing t.h« so -called C u mm i ns :/?ilJ, , . Se n ate B i ll ,'\ 0 , 4522, wh ich p ructi calf y gtv es . to th e rai l r oa ds of the co un try of ,1Il nrld ition ul ]0 1]('1' cent. in th cir o-cvou uc h,l SI'<1 on presen t f l'e ig ht rates, it has h ccn s llgg-t'st ('(l that. th e i-nil roads wi ll n ?t, as a unit t a k e nd vnut aac of t.h is ); ]11' w hi ch to all In ­ tents an d p u r p oses is Jl o~t h i ll g more or loss than ' a gift , and vet one co u ld h n rd lv b la me th e ca r ri ers for p ut­ tin g 'ill 'rffect t h is ,Hlvil l{ee even t houg h t he l aw w a s intend ed t o ope rat e i n a n cn t uo ly differe nt d irection , It is vr-ry unfort.uun t c th a t a law so loosel y drawn should he giv en sot-ions co usid ern t ion by Con gres s in view of th e fact t h at t h e I u t crst atc Co uun crcc Com­ mission has j u ri sdi cti on OV('t' b il ls of lad ing and h a d had u nd er cou s idcru t ion fo r sonic ti uu- p ri or t o t h e passage of t his A ct , the en t ire hi ll of l nrl iu g qu estio n , The pas sage of t h e Cu uu u ius B ill \I" as not ouly unn cc­ essat'y hu t rll-a d v iscrl and wns pcrlm ps all extreme ex ­ ample of th e hast e that is shown in th e passa ge of bills just. pri or to the clos i ng h om uf our National L egisla­ tive hodv. This I'aw is sched ule d to ta l, e effect J u n e 3nl, anc1 priol' to th e t ime a llu lIlJwr of h Nll'i llgs " ' ill b e h elll b e­ f Ol'(l th e fn t ers t a t e C'Ollll lu'I'c e (;Ulllllli:,;s ioll, particularly one on .\ pri l 10th, at \I' h ich tillil' th e T T'a ffic Bureau of the WOI'c('st er Ch a lllbe l' of CUlllllH' l'ee \I'ill h e rep r e­ sPllted hpfore t h e In t ers t a t e CUlllJilerCe Com m iss ion as n protest an t against. a n~' sue h burd en being p laced on thr pJ'psen t ind ustJ'ial s it u atio n , This whol e s ituat ion is eo \'(' rl' ll \'(' I'Y t h or oug hl y by an ext l'aet h om th e Ra ilway Ag r Oa zette of nL1l'eh J9, whi ch is g ive n helow and wh ich is \lT itte n in a v ery intm'rst illg vei n , cov er in g th e si tu a t ion c;)J'cfu lly : "Th e Frri gh t L iab ilit y L a,v , " " Con gress th r ew a m onk ey ­ wrellch in t o th e machin el'y of ra ilw;],y rate r eg ul a ti on at it s recen t session by passing', in its cl osing h ou r s, a lall' fOl'hid di n g carriers to m a k e agreements w ith co n ­ ...l signol's lillli t in g t he liab il ity of the car ri ers f or l oss or

I I­

Y

II

I­ n

n le ;y

Ie Ie

n-

n­ ~ ir

a­ es

:1:\,

k­

it se­

_ __

MAGAZINE

Sf)

d a m a g e of fr eight. It looks very mu ch as if Congress t he r eby un in t ent ionally a u t ho rized t he ra il ways t o mn k c an ad vance of t en p el' co ut, in t h e freig ht ra tes ordi narily cha rged by t hem; fo r th e bill of la d ing n ow in us e, 011 which ex is ting fr e ight ra t es are predicated, p rovides that w h en th e cart-ir-i-s t ak e goods, at t h ei r ordi u a ry rn tos t hei r li abil it y s ha ll b e l im it cd ; and that wh en t hey a ccept unlim ited l ia bi lity t hey sh all r eceiv e t en per ce n t , m or e th a n t h e regular r a t es , T he pUl'pose at GO II[l1'C,~ S w ns to fm -t.h cr bin-d en th e roads b y rc qu ir­ i n g th em t o accep t tli ci r r cqulur 1'OtCRIChi1c I/ SSlI1/1illg III/­ li m it ed 1;o /li1il,1/ ,: bu t th e law w a s so carelessly dra wn, and w a s en a cte d on so li ttle cousid ctu t ion t ha t it looks a s if, li t erall y interp r eted , it w oul d au tho rize t he r ail­ r oa d s, w h il e assu m ing un li mi t ed l ia b ility on all ship ­ m en t« , to also charge tell p<' I' cen t. mo re than th eir r eg­ u lar r a te s on a ll of t h em , T o r eq u i r c t h e roach t o as­ s u m o unl imited linhilitv a u d at t h e sa me time a cc ept t he ir regula r r a t es is unju s t ; b u t, p robably, if they s h ou l d ti -y t o co llect h igher l'a U's, as t h e ex ist ing bill of lad in g pro vid r-s, t hl',)" w ould r a isl' a stor m. Th e In ­ te rs ta t e COlllnwl 'ee ('o illmissio n ha l'; ca lled fo r ,1 co nfer­ ence to de t e r m ine in wh at co nd it io n Congress has ac­ t ually left th e ma t ter. "Suc h l egi sl a ti on a s t h is unl im ited l iabili t y l aw is ou t r ageo us a n d d isarn cofu l, a n d is la r g cl y r esp onsibl e fo r t h e b all hus inl 'ss con dit ions whi ch co nt inu e to p re ­ va il. Business can not t h ri vo wh en Cou gress a nd oth er law-uta k in g bodi es d eal w ith it in s uc h an igu o ran t and r eckless m mm er, " . On F eb ru a r y 16th, 19.15, our Tr affic nbn ng er w r ot e our Co n gressi onal r cp roscnt n t. ivc a s t o th e loos e way in , wh ich t his bill was d rnw n an d a s k ed fo r th o co-opcra-: tion of a ll ill toros tc d wi th a v iI'''' t OW<1 rd s suspen di ng t hi s bi ll un til it co u ld h e t ho roughly inv es t.ig ntc d and improved , and po ssib ly hel d u p until next Cong ress, at wh ich t ime a bette r u nd erst an d in g could h e h ad of i t s in t ent and a pp lica tion , Ou r re present at ive , h ow ev er, cou ld c10 n o thin g aga ins t th e pop u lar clam or in COIl­ gross to r us h t h ings to a fin ish , and t he result h as been a ver y seriou s si tuation ,

A C ompetitor of the Govern ment T h o p la ns of t h e Am or-ic an Express Co . for a d ir ect f a1'11 1 to ho me nuukct servi ce is ut.t r a ct iu g consid erable n ttc n t ion in th e rurn l sect io ns w h ic h s u rro und t h e ]-I1'[Jrt of th o Con uno n wo al t h fi nd ( :ellC'l'a l A g en t A t-chi­ ba ld M cD Cl 'lllicl of th e , Vo l'el'l'; t C'1' Office lw s provid ed hi s v a "iuu s (lep ,l l'tnu'n t s wi t h cOlllp le t e d ata to a ns we r a ll eOlllllllJllic ntions, Th is p lan of ul'l]n illll: a nd r eech ' in g di r ect f rom th e fa nllc rs thrungh th e ex p r c'ss co m p all y is un c w h ich h a s a n in t cl'l's t br oad er e\' c ll th an th nt of t hc h Olls eh ol d ers a nd tI le fal'rn el 's ; w it h p ropcl' clc\' cl opm cn t t h r ough th e effic il'nt ma nagelllcnt ,,'h ich t h is great eor p ol'ut ion co m­ m a n ds , i t op ens lt p a lin e of co mpe t itio n w it h t h e P at '­ cels Pos t. Th is Uover n nH'Jl t ,l l v ellt lll' C carri es \I'ith it a ll. t h e ex ­ p ens ive loa c1 whi ch eha l'aetel'izes t he m aj or it y of gov ­ el'u lllc lltnl metho d s of do in g h usin ess , Once it loses­ as i t c ve n t u a ll y w ill-its p rese nt so u rc e of r ev cnu e which mak es the serv ic e pay, v iz : extor t ion from t h e ra il roads , it w ill h a ve r eal co m p etition fr om t h e ex press companies,

==~======-

- -

L:-:n

PARK BUILDING Fron1 One-Third to One-Half Your Time Is Spent in Your Office

~

c: c

I::

Pleasant Conditions

I:

r

with good air and view a nd the best of sa nita ry conve ni­ ences will ad d yea rs to yo ur profession al or business life

C

This Means Mucll to You - I t means that yo ur competitor-who is handicapping himself with a clark, untid y offi ce, is losing his grip - I t means that you are keepin g up with the spirit of to-day -­ You can serve the people better by being in th e

PAR'!( BUILDING .Offices, $15.00 and U p

PARK BUILDING CO. MAURICE F. REIDY, R enting Age1l t ~~

716-717 State Mutual Building ~~~~ ~

~~

1 ~%~ ~~_ ~ ~ ~~ __ _ _ ,.. ...--~

r=:II,.,

~~

r=

"

,~