Category Archives: Worcester

April 7, 2016

Bancroft Tower (Worcester, MA)

Date Visited: March 19, 2016

Cost: Free

Location: Bancroft Tower Road, Salisbury Park,Worcester, MA

Open: Daily from sunrise until 6 p.m.

In 1900, Stephen Salisbury II built a tower on what is now known as Salisbury Park as a tribute to his friend, historian and jack of all trades, George Bancroft. And to think, my friends only usually give me gift cards, wine and books for my birthday.

The park is has a wide variety of bird life.

As I was reviewing the photos, I couldn’t help feeling the tower was purposefully constructed to look as though it was incomplete. The sides are not rounded and seem almost as though they were cut off from the facade or the builder gave up half way through. But, as the photos show it was indeed constructed this way by design.

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My favorite view from the tower was at the arched entrance.

The 56 foot tower is made of natural stone and granite. It was designed by Stephen C. Earle and Clellann W. Fisher.

The plaque at the memorial states:

BANCROFT TOWER
THIS TOWER WAS BUILT IN 1900
TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF

GEORGE BANCROFT
1800-1891

BORN AT THE FOOT OF THIS HILL
HE ROSE TO THE POSTS OF
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
FOUNDER OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
U.S. MINISTER TO GREAT BRITAIN
AND GERMANY

THIS MEMORIAL WAS BUILT BY HIS
FRIEND AND ADMIRER
STEPHEN SALISBURY III

Jacks wasn’t impressed by the tower.

There were some views of the city from the parking lot.

During my visit and in my research after the shoot, I found out they let visitors inside the tower during October of each year. The views at the top are said to give 360 degree views of the area. The sorority and fraternity at the local college also holds a Halloween party for the kids in the area at the tower with mild scares. So, it looks like a visit in October is on my list!

A walking tour of the Bancroft Tower:

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April 3, 2016

Burnside Fountain (Worcester, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 19, 2016

Location: next to Worcester Common, 455 Main St.

Just outside of Worcester Common, at 455 Main St, sits an unusual monument. Also known as “Turtle Boy”, the Burnside Fountain looks like a cross between a Roman sculpture and a high school prank gone wrong. But, this statue is no prank. It is a very real monument. In fact, it is a gift from Harriet Burnside, a philanthropist and the daughter of a prominent lawyer in Worcester; Samuel Burnside. In her will, Harriet donated $5,000 to the city to build a fountain in memory of her father. Harriet Burnside specifically requested the fountain be used as a drinking trough for horses and dogs.

Enter Charles Y. Harvey. Harvey was given the task of designing the fountain. For some reason that is still unknown, he chose a design called “boy with turtle”. Henry Bacon, who also worked on the Lincoln Memorial, designed the basin.

In an interesting turn of events, Harvey would take his own life, claiming before doing so that the half finished sculpture was telling him to do so. Sherry Frye finished the sculpture. The statue was completed in 1912.

The bronze statue sits on a pink rectangular basin. The basin has four bowls, two on each side of the statue.

Despite the various interpretations, the statue is not meant to be as controversial. It was just meant to be a statue about a boy and his turtle. It was a simpler time.

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March 20, 2016

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 19, 2016

Location: 135 Olean St, Worcester, Massachusetts

Cost: Free

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Parking: There are several parking lots at the Greater Worcester Land Trust which the Cascading Waters is part of. The closest lot to the Cascading Waters is small with only room for about half a dozen cars. You can also drive up to Cascading Waters via Cataract St and park on the dirt road there.

One of the great things about Worcester (pronounced “Woo-stah”) is its diversity of people and places. One moment you could be in the heart of the city and only ten minutes later you could be at a grand waterfall. It remind me a lot of Boston in this regard.

I found myself at one of the natural wonders of Worcester, Cascading Falls, Saturday.

Located about an hour west of Boston, Cascading Falls is known for its beauty and trails. There are both hiking and biking trails at the main parking area. I chose the most direct hiking route to the falls. The trail is pretty flat and straight with some pretty views. I also noticed some greenery sprouting on the eve of the first day of Spring. it’s about half a mile to the Cascading Waters from the parking area.

There is a trail to the right of the falls with a fairly steep incline. The trail leads to the top of the falls. You can go to the top of the waters. The views are pretty sweet.

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There are also interesting rocks, pools of water and streams at the top of Cascading Waters.

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Although the sun was out and the temperatures did increase, it was still relatively cold as this branch shows.