On the afternoon of August 21st, we had the privilege of touring the Bancroft Tower in Worcester Ma. Our guide was Susan Ceccacci, author of Living at The City’s Green Edge, Bancroft Heights, a Planned Neighborhood in Worcester Ma. Without going too deep into the Bancroft Family history, essentially, George Bancroft, former Secretary of the US Navy, among other things, was honored by his friend, Steven Salisbury 3rd with the development of a beautiful neighborhood and park. At the top of this wonderful property, stands a tower, modeled after an English Folly, or a structure placed within a property to resemble a significant item from the past; in this case, a castle in ruins.
In the early 1900’s, the hill was relatively bare, providing unobstructed views. People would travel by horse to picnic and enjoy the cool breezes in the Summer months, away from the downtown area. Today, some of those views remain, especially picturesque in the Fall. The park, owned now by the City of Worcester, is maintained and still visited by those who are curious and enjoy photographing the Tower, which is closed to the public, all but a few times each year, and boasts secret rooms along with fireplaces.
Aside from an interesting history lesson, which I encourage people to discover through Susan’s book, our group discussed future programs, which might include; a discussion around the skilled labor shortage, a specifications presentation and a tour with Preservation Worcester in a historic building under renovation.
Please look for programs in our Newsletter that you might find interesting, and join us for food, drink and knowledge during our 2018/ 2019 season.