Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1515258
City of Worcester: 300 Years 13 services. Because of this deficiency, there were calls for the town to receive a city charter; the charter would allow Worcester to access more funding and structure as it grew. In 1848 the charter was granted by the state, and Worcester native, former Massachusetts Governor Levi Lincoln, Jr., helped transition the town into a city, serving as the city's first mayor. Civic growth addressed the need for increased infrastructure, the unification of the railroad, and the expansion of Worcester's industrial footprint down Main Street, out Southbridge Street, and beyond. By the time the current City Hall was dedicated on April 28, 1898, Worcester was a powerhouse of industry; the building's design and materials reflected the city's wealth, power, and prosperity. As Worcester's industrial growth continued into the 20th century, times were changing, factories were moving out of the city, and the industrial density of downtown was undesirable. In Worcester, as in many other American cities, there was a conscious effort to redefine the "Central Business District" (CBD). In the years following WWII, the question was asked: "What was the future of the Worcester area?" The local business community, municipal government, and local community groups banded together to develop long-range plans for the area's economic wellbeing. In 1963, 22 local businesses and banks, coordinated by the Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce, engaged Columbia University School of Architecture students. They developed a series of proposals to "reestablish Worcester's CBD as the active and vital center of the region." Canal Basin, circa 1830. Frederick G. Stiles, oil on board, circa 1870. The Blackstone Canal brought business to and from Worcester. This view is looking east toward Boston. Today this is the site of the Major Taylor Blvd. parking garage. source: Worcester Historical Museum The Lion 1835, the first locomotive to provide service to Worcester, railroad service expanded industry and opportunity. source: Worcester Historical Museum