Harris-Merrick House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harris-Merrick House
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Harris-Merrick House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 41 Fruit St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Worcester MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000602 |
| Added to NRHP | March 05, 1980 |
The Harris-Merrick House is a very old house located at 41 Fruit Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, sometime between 1832 and 1844. This house is a great example of a style called Greek Revival architecture. It's also one of the few old buildings left from when the area west of downtown Worcester first started to grow. Because it's so special, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Harris-Merrick House Look Like?
The Harris-Merrick House is in a neighborhood west of downtown Worcester. It sits on the corner of Fruit Street and Marston Way. This house is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It's shaped like the letter "L" and has a pointy roof, which is called a gabled roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard.
Special Design Features
The corners of the house have flat, decorative columns called pilasters. Some of the pointy roof sections have full triangular decorations, known as pediments. The front of the house has three main sections. The windows on the first floor are very tall, reaching almost to the floor. The main front door is on the right side of the house.
The Welcoming Porch
A lovely porch covers the main entrance. This porch has round columns that hold up a decorative beam, which is called an entablature. Above the entablature, there's another triangular roof, just like the ones on the main house. All these details make the Harris-Merrick House a beautiful example of its architectural style.
A Look Back at the House's History
The Harris-Merrick House was built around 1832 to 1844. But it wasn't always at its current spot! It was first built on Chestnut Street. This house is one of the few buildings that still stands from the very early days when the west side of Worcester began to develop. Many houses in this area were built in the 1830s, and some were designed by a famous architect named Elias Carter.
Who Owned the House?
It's not completely clear who the first owner of the house was. It might have been built for Clarendon Harris, who was a bookkeeper. He bought the land in 1832. Or, it could have been built for Pliny T. Merrick, who owned the house by 1844. Pliny T. Merrick was a very important lawyer in Worcester. His own home was right next to where this house first stood.
Moving Day for the House
In 1874, the Harris-Merrick House was moved from Chestnut Street to its current location on Fruit Street. After it was moved, the house was changed to become a home for two families instead of just one. This shows how buildings can change and adapt over time!
