The Shire of Worcester, Part the Ninth

From Dave Brigham:

Often times when I post photos on Instagram that are also featured on this blog, people will ask me how was the food at the diner, or did I down a cold one at a dive bar, etc. Almost always I reply, "I didn't go inside." And that was the case with all of the buildings in today's latest Worcester post - save one. And I didn't check it out on the day I was exploring, but shortly after.

I made a long list of Worcester destinations some time ago (see the bottom of this post for links to the previous eight installments in this ongoing series). I flagged the area just east of Salisbury Pond, just west of Interstate 290 and a bit northeast of Worcester Polytechnic Institute for one reason...which I'll get to shortly.

The first site on this relatively short tour was the former Washburn & Moen cotton mill on Grove Street.

"The building was originally constructed as a three-story cotton mill in 1863 by the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, which grew to become the world’s leading manufacturer of barbed wire and other wire products during the second half of the 19th century," according to MACRIS. "A fourth story was added to the building between 1888 and 1892."

Founded in 1831, the company manufactured barbed wire, telegraph wire, piano wire, crinoline wire (for hoop skirts!), wire nails and other products. The company became part of U.S. Steel in the early 20th century.

Several businesses occupy the massive space today, including Safeway Luxury Transportation, Medi Tresse Worcester, some law offices, The Fix Burger Bar and Fuel America coffee house.

OK, let's get to, as Homer Simpson would say, the working overtime part.

I hope that sign lights up real purty at night time. If you walked or drove by that sign at the northern edge of the Washburn & Moen complex, you might take a quick look around and think, "Huh, cool sign. Too bad the diner's not around anymore." But you, thankfully, would be very wrong.

Walk east through the parking lot next to Safeway Luxury Transportation and the wonderful truth becomes more evident.

When I saw this compound on Google Street View many moons ago, I flipped out. Old signs, a diner, a big space built behind the diner - located in an industrial back parking lot. "What the hell is this place?" I wondered.

Ralph's Rock Diner is a singular food and entertainment destination, with a long history of feeding people's stomachs and souls. As you can see, this legendary joint started life as Chadwick Square Diner, and, according to MACRIS, may be the city's oldest existing diner. The Worcester Lunch Car Company built it in 1930; its production number is 660.

The eatery was originally located about a mile north on Grove Street. "During the 1960's and 1970's, the Chadwick Square Diner was operated by Ralph Dryden at another location, 1475 Main Street," according to MACRIS. "The diner returned to Grove Street, not far from its original site, in the late 1970's."

There is a medium-sized brick building extension of the diner, which I assume by the industrial look of it, is a former cotton mill structure. Ralph's web site says it has a "full bar and original lunch car vibes," so I assume the diner retains at least some of its 1930s charm. I also assume the diner was moved to this location with the precise idea of turning it into what it has become.

I made these photos on May 3 of this year, on my way back from a trip to Connecticut. As I was editing the photos from this jaunt, I looked up Ralph's Rock Diner online to see what it's all about. Checking the club's event calendar, I saw that on Friday, May 16, an artist named Arto Vaun was playing the club. I've been a fan of his for years, since seeing one of his bands play at a friend's party many years ago, so I decided I had to go.

I rallied my buddy who had hosted Vaun's band in the late '90s, and we drove out to Worcester on May 16. We didn't go into the diner, but instead straight to the bar at the back of the first floor. The place has a real roadhouse vibe, with pool tables, dim lighting, tattooed rockers hanging out, vintage movies playing on TVs above the bar.

My buddy Lee and I thoroughly enjoyed the wacky horror flick on the telly. I asked the bartender what is was.

"'Howling III,'" he replied. "The full title is 'Howling III: The Marsupials.'"

The three of us cracked up.

After one drink ('Gansett for me, inspired by the big sign on the exterior wall), we paid the cover charge and headed upstairs to the bar. I thought there were supposed to be four bands on the bill, and that Arto Vaun was playing second or third. But within about 15 minutes, he and his crew took to the stage and away we went.

(Arto Vaun, center, and his band.)

They sounded great, ripping through several new songs I didn't fully know, and many older ones that I did. The crowd at that point was pretty small -- a handful of older guys like Lee and me, and, I was happy to see, some younger, gothier folks. After the set, Lee called out to Arto, who was flabbergasted. "I saw you from the stage," he exclaimed. "And I said, 'Is that Lee?'"

The three of us chatted for a few minutes. Arto is a really nice guy in addition to being a talented singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Here's a taste of his music:

The interior of the bar, both upstairs and down, is a feast for the eyes.

I hope to get back to Ralph's, as it's a great venue. Maybe next time I'll try the food!

From Ralph's, I headed east to Prescott Street, and then north. I walked past several industrial properties. The first one that caught my eye was an older one-story brick buildling occupied by Harpers Payroll Services.

There's nothing particularly interesting about the building or the company. I just kinda liked the sign. The building dates to 1960, per the Worcester assessor.

The next building is a lot more, uh, interesting.

What I've dubbed the Silver Apple Building was built in 2005, according to the assessor's database. I'm not sure I believe that. Sometime between October 2017 and September 2019, per Google Street View, the building was renovated, going from a warehouse-style that looked like a barn and a house simultaneously, to its current incarnation, which gives one an industrial, space-age apple farm vibe.

It is occupied by an outfit called Workplace Resource, which, among other things, conducts office space planning and work station design and budgeting, per its web site.

Finally, a named building in a gritty part of the city, with a history tied to farming.

Located at 100 Prescott Street, this building, currently known as the Washburn Building, rose in 1874 and was leased at that point to the Ames Plow Company. The owner was Stephen Salisbury III, hence the "SS" carved into the plaque in the photo above. "The Ames Company continued manufacturing plows on Prescott Street until 1911 when this branch of the company was moved to South Pramingham, Mass.," according to MACRIS.

Current tenants include Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Washburn-Garfield, a process piping specialist that is a division of the Collins Companies, and Waites Industrial, another subsidiary of that firm.

Below are links to the previous eight installments in this Worcester series.

August 2, 2025, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Eighth"

July 19, 2025, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Seventh"

July 5, 2025, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Sixth"

November 16, 2024, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Fifth"

April 13, 2024, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Fourth"

February 10, 2024, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Third"

February 3, 2024, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the Second"

January 27, 2024, "The Shire of Worcester, Part the First"

Walking Through My Old Man's Stomping Grounds, Part II

From Dave Brigham:

On my second trek through my father's hometown of Springfield, Mass., I started a few blocks northeast of the Metro Center area I checked out in my initial visit (see August 30, 2025, "Walking Through My Old Man's Stomping Grounds, Part I"). The first place I found interesting is one that my dad may have known about.

Athletic Emblem & Lettering at 189 Taylor Street has been in business for 50 years. The sign also lists Hampden Hat & Cap Co., but I'm not sure if that part of the business is still active. According to the company's web site, the family behind the business first opened a sporting goods store in 1950. "When our father saw the need for embroidery and custom screen printing he opened Athletic Emblem and Lettering Company in 1975," the web site continues.

In 1950, my dad was 21 and finishing his senior year at Springfield College. It's possible that he bought baseball bats or gloves or other sporting equipment here as a young man.

I was bummed to see so many vacant lots in this area, as I mentioned in the first post. I imagine if I'd explored Springfield 10 years ago I'd have seen more of the old industrial properties I love to shoot.

Along Winter Street I spied a small ghost sign on the rear of a building that currently houses JB Auto Sales.

Hampden Glass & Paint moved to Main Street at some point. The company may have been acquired by BAPS Auto Paints & Supplies.

Heading southwest toward the heart of Metro Center, I spied a very faded sign at 265 Dwight Street for the defunct Center Stage Gentlemen's Club.

With the MGM Casino not far away, I figured a strip club would survive. From what I've read online, this place was considered pretty good up until a few years ago.

I spied a ghost sign for a much more wholesome endeavor not far away, on the derriere of 75 Market Street.

Established in 1893 on Main Street, Johnson's Bookstore "was a favorite haunt for many people of all ages who lived in the Springfield area," according to a blog post at the Springfield Museums web site. "A trip downtown to shop at the city’s department stores was often paired with a visit to Johnson’s to look at the books, toys, and gifts. As those department stores closed, Johnson’s became a destination in itself."

I'm guessing my dad visited this store at some point, probably with his mother. The store closed in 1997, after having been run by four generations of the Johnson family.

I continued east-southeast along Main Street, past the Mass Mutual Center, home to the Springfield Thunderbirds AHL hockey team and host to concerts, sporting events, conventions and more, on my left, and a nice park in front of city hall on my right. At the corner of Elm and Main streets, I was dazzled by the Walker Building, despite the fact that it was undergoing renovations.

The Richardsonian Romanesque beauty dates to 1890 and "was designed to house four shops at street level, and 14 offices on each of the upper floors," according to MACRIS. "Among early tenants of the stores were Sawtell & Lane, a men's hat store, and Brewer and Coburn Company."

The. building is named for T.M. Walker, who "started and built up the T.M. Walker Company as a leading manufacturer and dealer in woodwork, painting and builder's supplies," MACRIS continues. "Walker's success in business prompted him to explore other ventures, such as the Exchange Hotel, and later The Walker Building. The construction of commercial blocks such as this by enterprising local merchants played a key role in the continued commercial growth and development of the downtown in the late 19th/early 20th centuries."

At the corner of State and Main streets is the impressive Davis Block, aka the Masonic Temple Building, with a fantastic clock tower.

"Upon original construction in 1893, the building was Richardsonian Romanesque in style," according to MACRIS. "In 1927, the upper floors and clocktower were demolished, redesigned by architect Richard Moore, and reconstructed, creating the building seen today."

Its original purpose was as the headquarters of the local Free Masons chapter, with other commercial space available. After the Masons moved out and the reconstruction was completed, "the building continued to be used for leasable commercial and retail space with typical tenants, including dentists, lawyers, and real estate agents, among others," MACRIS continues.

I continued southeast on Main Street for just a moment. When I looked north along Stockbridge Street, I quickly pivoted in that direction to shoot the building below.

One of the oldest buildings in downtown Springfield, 7-9 Stockbridge Street dates to 1845 and is known as Guenther and Handel's Block. "This building was one of a series constructed in the 1840's on Stockbridge Street," according to old reliable, MACRIS. "The street was laid out in 1839 by Elam Stockbridge, and he followed by building a series of structures similar to this block which formed a cohesive unit of stores and rooms. A grocery store on the ground floor was purchased by Emil Guenther and his brother-in-law, Richard Handel, who in that year established Guenther and Handel Co., a deli and fancy grocery store," MACRIS indicates.

I'm not sure whether this beauty was occupied when I happened by. A sign in the window indicated that the building was being rehabbed, with funding coming in part from the Springfield Historic Preservation Trust Fund, which was created by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and MGM Springfield, the casino around the corner (which I will discuss...right now).

MGM Springfield opened in the Metro Center neighborhood in August 2018, the first full-service gambling house in Massachusetts. The complex includes a casino, hotel, entertainment venues and restaurants. I'll admit that when I learned the city had been awarded a coveted casino license, I was surprised. When Massachusetts legalized casino gambling, the state was split into three regions, of which Western Massachusetts was one. As the largest city in that part of the state, Spriingfield was a logical choice, despite its financial struggles over the years.

(The Chandler Steakhouse is one of MGM Springfield's restaurants.)

I'm glad that MGM put forth some effort to retain historic buildings (or, in some cases, just their facades), and to create the illusion of a series of separate buildings along Main Street, at pedestrian scale. I've written a few times about the Encore Boston Harbor casino complex in Everett, Mass., which is a stand-alone building that dwarfs the buildings around it (see May 4, 2019, "Roll the Dice: Encore!").

"MGM Springfield’s unique urban design integrates the region’s first luxury gaming resort into the architectural fabric of downtown, combining new construction with revived historic architecture," according to this MGM Springfield document I found online. "Designed to celebrate Springfield’s rich past, the preservation and reuse of multiple buildings is a central component of the property."

The building housing the Chandler Steakhouse is new, although the design has an old-world feel. Adjacent to the restaurant is the former Union House Hotel, of which only the facade was retained. The Italianate hotel was built in 1862 and used as a hotel until 1933, according to MACRIS. Other businesses took up residence in the years before the casino was built. If I'd known the history of that building, I would've made a photo.

MGM saved other buildings in their entirety, including: a former state armory that had been damaged in a 2011 tornado, which, in its restored state, is part of the casino's entertainment district; and the French Congregational Church, which was moved and is now the flagship location of Kringle Candle Co.. Other buildings have been saved in part, or architectural elements have been used by MGM.

Across the street from the casino stands a wonderfully restored block of buildings.

The McKinney Building, on the left, dates to 1905 and originally included a meeting hall used by the First Spiritualist Society, as well as commercial space on the ground floor, MACRIS tells us. In the middle is the Bangs Block, which dates to 1870. The building was used as a market and a watchmaker's shop in the early days. On the right is the Burbach Block, which was built in 1882. The building was affiliated with the adjacent United States Hotel, which was demolished in 1915, according to MACRIS.

Each of these buildings looked ready for occupancy by retail or restaurant tenants when I walked by.

At this point, although I wanted to continue heading southeast along Main Street, I turned around and began making my way back toward my car. On the rear of of a building along State Street, I spied another ghost sign.

"Oh, that's pretty cool," I said to myself. I had no idea what awaited me on the front of the building. But first, let's discuss the Court Square Building. Completed in 1892 in the Classical Revival / Victorian Eclectic styles, the building faces Elm Street, and initially included a theater. In 1900, the owner, Dwight Gilmore, added a sixth floor and an ell from Elm to State Street. The theater was demolished in 1957.

Perhaps my dad took in a film with a news reel at that theater when he was growing up.

Now, let's take a look at the facade on Elm Street.

Wow! They don't make buildings like that anymore. I mean, check out the details in the second photo, with the half dog/half royalty hybrid. Insane!

Redeveloped into apartments and now known as ThirtyOne Elm, the building offers "stunning Italian revival design overlooking Court Square," per the web site. Apartment options are one-bedroom, one-plus-den and two-bedroom "with unique architecture, bay windows, historic wood detail and trim paired with modern interior finishes," the web site indicates. The building features a lounge with a catering kitchen, billiard table, work-from-home spaces, a fitness center, on-site restaurant and a speakeasy lounge.

The building is fully leased.

I wound my way around for a bit until I was standing in front of the Whitcomb Building on Hampden Street.

Built in 1896, the Whitcomb Warehouse "was probably initially associated with the plant of the Springfield Cigar Manufacturing Company on Hampden Street," according to MACRIS. "This was the leading cigar maker in the city. It was founded in 1883 under the name of Baer and Carruth at 525-27 Main Street and moved to Hampden Street in 1885."

Later, Colby Manufacturing Co., which made paper rulers, moved in. Currently, the space is occupied by, among other organizations, Parent Villages, whose mission "is to build bridges between parents, youth, advocates, community leaders, and educators to close the opportunity gap and improve the quality of life for ALL children," per its web site.

I cut through a parking lot behind the Hippodrome/Paramount Theater block (see the first post about Springfield).

(The mural was completed by artist Mimi Ditkoff, who was mentioned in the first Springfield post, and Out Now, an organization of LGBTQ+ youth "dedicated to promoting health & well being, self-determination, and community building through anti-oppression organizing & peer support.")

The last two images are of the front and back entrances to the Board of Trade Block, located across from the old Paramount Theater.

In 1862, "John Olmsted had this block built as a combination office and warehouse building," MACRIS says. "It was originally leased by the Bay State Paper Co. During 1895 Olmsted completely remodeled the facade. This corresponded with the move of the Springfield Board of Trade to this building. Their object was to have entire new businesses locate in Springfield and promote the ones that were already here."

The door on the left is the entrance to Christian Hope Ministry.

I hope you've enjoyed this trip through my old man's stomping grounds. I hope to return in the near future!