Walking through Worcester
perrin_o_ravnos and I are rebuilding the bec de corbins we use. While doing that we wanted to clean up the parts.
The fumes from this were so bad that I decided to go off some where until they cleared.
I decided to take a walk around downtown Worcester.
I parked on top of the garage next to the train station downtown. The first two floors were full of cars, but my car was the only one above level 3. I had the roof to myself.
It is a very nice view from the top.
You can see where my wife works from there. But, it doesn’t look like she was waving.
Worcester has the main line from Boston to Chicago and the line down to Providence in RI. The train station is on the junction.
The train tracks through the center of town have led to some strange buildings. For instance, Saint Vincent’s Hospital sits over the train tracks. The trains go through a tunnel on the side of the building.
I exited the garage through the train station. It was the first time I had been there since the remodeled. It’s very nice.
For reasons not entirely clear to me in front of the station on the traffic circle is a statue of Christopher Columbus. After all, we’re 40 miles inland and 1500 north of where Columbus sailed.
As near as I can tell from the long rambling dedication plaque, the person who paid for the tower restoration was a Columbus fan.
I went under the tracks towards the center of the city.
Just on the other side of the tracks is a memorial to the soldiers of the Korean War.
Then, I headed between St. Vincent’s and the DCU center.
One of the reasons I took the walk and the pictures of it was I feel that a lot of the new buildings in Worcester are very bland. It’s true of the hospital, the front of the DCU center, the row of hotels they’ve built or the huge AT&T building.
The back of the DCU center isn’t too bland, but I still can’t say I like it.
Not, mind you that old buildings are always good looking either.
At least the train bridge after the hospital is interesting.
Now, for any of you who remember my story about almost stealing the elephant, this is the area where it all happened. And, there was some evidence it history might be repeating itself.
Down at the end of the road is the Auditorium where the vans were parked that night.
Here is the tunnel where we decided we shouldn’t bring the elephant.
(At the time, there was only 1 track through. I don’t know when in the last 28 years they put the second one in. I’m glad it wasn’t there at the time.)
Of course, the tunnel runs under the Worcester police station.
So, even if we got it to the tunnel, we probably would have had trouble there.
And, across from the auditorium is the Worcester Court House.
It says across the top “Obedience to the Law is Liberty”.
I have no idea where cold elephants seeking warmth would have rated with that...
That same corner at the court house with the big statue is where I experienced my wife and the car door back on our way to the movies that first week we met.
Passing those old landmarks, I turned onto Main street. Personally I like the buildings here more then WCB.
This hardware store has been there since 1782. That’s the year after the American Revolution ended. So, I guess the put down their guns and picked up hardware.
The buildings along main street are older. I’m sure they aren’t as nice and new on the inside. But, to me at least, they have more character.
This building has an interesting history
It is where the Massachusetts teachers association was founded as well as the site of the first women’s right’s convention.
Back when I lived in Worcester, the AT&T tower had a big microwave dish on top for city to city phone calls. It’s all fiber optic now and the antenna is gone. I’m not sure about the nets on the side of the building. Maybe some people are depressed about fiber optics?
Of course for more than 30 years downtown has had the big glass erection. So, I can’t say bland buildings are a new thing.
And, I’m not saying all new buildings are bland. They just redid the library and it isn’t bland.
(OK, I’m not saying I really like that look either. But, it’s not bland.)
Then, back under the train tracks to the parking garage.
When I got to the garage, I cheated and took the elevator to the top.
But, look closely under the plastic bit where the display is.
Isn’t that the Vulcan IDIC symbol?
So, does this mean Vulcans are running parking garages in Worcester?
Is it just Worcester?
Not wanting a mind-meld memory erase, I got my car and headed home.
I looked back as I drove over the ridge.
I don’t seen any Vulcans...
do you?