Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 27, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 13 A R C H I T E C T U R E & C O N S T R U C T I O N F O C U S grading the building's sound and lighting to making improvements on Washburn Hall, an events room with a stage Henry David oreau once spoke on. "e key to maintaining the building is to fix things that are broken right away," Gagne said. "We make use of a long-range capital plan. We have a terrific property committee, composed of trustees and experts who are volun- teers to make sure that we have resources to find the skills we need for whatever problems come up." at sort of immediate attention is needed for when unexpected problems sometimes arise. Aer a cold winter's night in 2021, freezing temperatures caused a disruption in the building's waterflow, and water seeped through the wooden floors and flooded the boiler system. Despite most of the staff being on furlough due to COVID-19, Gagne recalls everyone promptly showed up. "e devotion required to make some- thing like that happen is pretty impres- sive," she said. ough the building remains a pop- ular venue, Gagne said Mechanics Hall, which is run as a nonprofit, relies on the support of donors to keep the building up to date. By Gagne's estimate, around $250,000 a year is needed to make up the difference between its income and oper- ational costs, and an additional $100,000 Business Banking doesn't have to come from a bank. Insured by NCUA 800-262-1001 | iccreditunion.org Business Solutions Mechanics Hall, a timeline 1842 Worcester County Mechanics Association, made up of some of the city's leading industrialists, is established. 1857 Mechanics Hall is opened and dedicated, March 19, featuring concerts and lectures. 1900 With other event venues opening in Worcester, the hall begins hosting sporting events, keeping the lights on but also damaging the interior. 1948 Nearly a century after it's founding, Mechanics Hall goes up for sale, but no buyers are interested. 1972 The Worcester Fire Department forces a shutdown of the building due to not being up to safety codes. 1973 After citizens and the board of trustees rally around the building, Mechanics Hall is named to the National Register of Historic Places and eventually re-opened. 1991 The building's Washburn Hall, where Henry David Thoreau once lectured, is restored. 2013 The Hook Organ, which graces the building's Great Hall, is refurbished. 2016 During the POW! WOW! Worcester arts festival, a street art mural is placed on the outside of the building. 2021 During a particularly cold winter night, the building experiences flooding due to damage to the water system, but staff acts quickly to save it. Source: Worcester County Mechanics Association Only buildings with viable uses should be preserved At what point should a building's history be preserved in relation to its practical usefulness? Central Massachusetts is full of historic buildings and architecture. Worcester alone has buildings like Mechanics Hall and the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, which contribute to the city's culture. But the region is also full of older buildings long past their useful life, which can be an impediment to new development and present significant risks, such as increased likelihood of fires. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers said historic buildings should only be preserved if they have viable future uses. COMMENTS: Only if a building has a reasonably viable future use should it be preserved. 50% All buildings of historical significance should be preserved, even if that means subsidizing their restoration. A building's historic nature should be considered only in very rare circumstances. 32% 11% 7% A building should be preserved only if it has an identified, profitable use. "I have tried to preserve the history of candlepin bowling that was invented in Worcester on Pearl Street in 1878. No one seems to care or is interested in preserving this important part of Worcester's history. I have contacted several potential candidates who should have an interest with no results." to $250,000 a year for capital improve- ments. Fortunately, the numerous local foundations and trusts across the city help Mechanics Hall meet those goals. "Mechanics Hall is Worcester," said Gagne. "at's true in many ways, because all of the important things happened here during [the city's] golden age. And I contend that many of the important things happen here today." The Great Hall in Mechanics Hall has hosted countless events in the last 165 years, including concerts and boxing matches. PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT W

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