Babcock Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Babcock Block
|
|
2019 photo
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 596 Main St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1860 |
| MPS | Worcester MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000611 |
| Added to NRHP | March 05, 1980 |
The Babcock Block is an old and special building located at 596 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, in the 1860s. What makes it unique is that it's one of the few buildings from that time made mostly of strong granite stone. Because of its history and special design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Exploring the Babcock Block
The Babcock Block stands proudly in the heart of Worcester's downtown area. It's a tall building with five floors. The walls are made of strong brick and stone.
What Does the Building Look Like?
On the Main Street side, the ground floor has a shop with big display windows. There's also a main entrance for the building itself. The floors above have large windows, four across each floor.
The front of the building, facing Main Street, is made of solid granite blocks. These blocks aren't just for decoration; they are part of the building's structure. The side of the building, facing Austin Street, is made of pressed brick. You can see star-shaped metal plates on this side, which help hold the building together. Most windows on this side have a rounded top.
Who Built the Babcock Block?
The first known owner of this building was Chester Babcock. He had an interesting job: he was a "mover of buildings." This means he helped move entire structures from one place to another! The Babcock Block was built in the 1860s. It was likely built around the same time as another nearby building called Colton's Block.
The granite front of the Babcock Block is very special. It's one of the only buildings left in Worcester's old business areas that uses so much granite from that time period. This makes it a rare and important piece of history.
