Colton's Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Colton's Block
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 588 Main St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Worcester MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000610 |
| Added to NRHP | March 05, 1980 |
Colton's Block is a group of old buildings in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can find them at 586-590 Main Street. These buildings were built a long time ago, in the 1860s.
It's actually three separate buildings. They look very similar and are connected. These buildings are special because they are the only ones left of their kind. This style was once very common in Worcester. In 1980, Colton's Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, many people live in these historic buildings.
What is Colton's Block?
Colton's Block is located in downtown Worcester. It sits on the west side of Main Street. You can find it between a parking garage and another old building called the Babcock Block.
A Look at the Buildings
The block has three separate buildings. Each building is four stories tall. They are all made of brick. Their design looks almost exactly the same.
Each building has a shop on the ground floor. A main door in the middle lets you go upstairs. The buildings are separated by slightly sticking-out parts. These parts go up to a decorative brick band. Above that is a common roof edge. This edge has pairs of small supports. The building on the far left has slightly bigger windows. These larger windows were added around the year 1900.
Who Built Colton's Block?
The buildings were likely built in the 1860s. A man named Samuel Colton probably built them. He used to publish a newspaper called the Worcester Spy. Later, he started other businesses. One of his businesses was developing real estate.
Buildings like Colton's Block were once very common. You could see them all over downtown Worcester. But now, these are the only ones that remain. The first businesses there sold dry goods. These were things like fabrics and clothing.
