Elwood Adams Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Elwood Adams Store
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 156 Main St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1831 |
| Architectural style | Commercial Vernacular |
| MPS | Worcester MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000584 |
| Added to NRHP | March 05, 1980 |
The Elwood Adams Store was a really old and famous hardware store in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was located at 156 Main Street. When it closed its doors in October 2017, it had been open for a very long time – it was the longest-running hardware store in the entire United States! The store first opened way back in 1782. The building where the store was located was built around 1831. It's one of the oldest commercial buildings in Worcester. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
Discovering the Elwood Adams Store
The Elwood Adams Store building stands on the west side of Main Street. This area is in the northern part of downtown Worcester. It's a four-story building made of strong masonry. The top of its front has a fancy Italianate wooden cornice.
What the Store Looked Like
On the ground floor, there were two separate storefronts. A brick pillar stood between them. For many years, these two parts worked together as one big store. The windows are rectangular. They have stone sills at the bottom and stone lintels at the top.
A Long History of Business
The hardware store that became the Elwood Adams Store started in 1782. Daniel Waldo Sr. opened it right on this spot. He built the city's very first brick building here.
Passing Down the Business
Daniel Waldo's son, Daniel Jr., took over the store in 1791. Later, Daniel Jr. worked with Henry Miller. In 1821, Henry Miller and George Rice bought the business together.
Changes Over Time
Henry Miller became the full owner of the business in 1831. He also bought the building from the Waldo family in 1865. Around that time, the building got much taller. It was originally 2-1/2 stories high. It was then raised to four stories. The front of the building also got new bricks.
The Elwood Adams Name
In 1886, Miller sold the business to Elwood Adams and a partner. At first, the store was called Smith & Adams. But in 1891, it became known as the Elwood Adams Store. It kept this name until it closed its doors in 2017.
