The Worcester of eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. Fifty years a city

Introduction

p^ITH the year 1898 Worcester passed the Fiftieth Anniversary of IaJ Its Incorporation as a City. The period of fifty years just closed has been one of continual accretion, rich experience and worthy achievement. Few municipalities have within any single half century been inore favored in everything which could contribute to material prosperity, local expansion, and real advancement in the line of human progress." In the growth of the city, the most sanguine expectations have been exceeded and the most extravagant predictions all but fulfilled. The point now reached in the onward march is one for special commemoration, marking not only the end of a notable period, but also the beginning of a new era with the opening of the twentieth

century.

Worcester has been singularly fortunate in its past, and the record of that past is secure, preserved in the numerous publications which have from time to time appeared. The purpose in the volume here presented has been to deal more especially with the Worcester of to-day, its condition and aspects, its various institutions, its prosperous industries and solid business interests, and particularly the men who have, during the fifty years, helped to make it what it is, and those who are making it what it will be in the future.

To preserve and to transmit to posterity a faithful representation and correct picture of our city as it appeared in 1898, has been the aim

of the publishers.

F. S. Blanxhard & Company.

EDITOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

|HAT the expectation of a ready response to the announced purpose to prepare a volume commemorative of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City, and descriptive of the Worcester of to-day, was fully justified, the matter and proportions of this book are ample proof. The cordial interest and enthusiasm with which the project was received by our most prominent and intelligent citizens at once assured its success, and the labor involved in the organization and carrying out of the plan of the work has been lightened in no inconsiderable degree by their encouragement, friendly cooperation and material assistance. To those gentlemen who have prepared chapters on special subjects, and whose contributions have added so much value to the book, this statement particularly applies. I desire to express mv appreciation of the courteous treatment that I have in nearly every instance received in my quest for information, and of the facilities so freely afforded in every quarter. To the publishers, F. S. Blanchard & Company, my acknowledgments are due for their liberality in acceding to my wishes in regard to the elaboration and expansion of certain departments of the book, and for the profuseness and elegance of the illustrations, which have so largely increased the expense of the undertaking. The mechanical execution of the pages is highly creditable to their taste and skill.

This volume is in no respect to be considered as a history, but rather as a collection of essays and sketches to illustrate with approximate completeness the various institutions and industries, general and particular features, condition and aspect of the Worcester of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-eight, with introductorv sections containing a summary of the administrations of the dift'erent mayors, and the statistics of industries during the half century. To these are added the biographies of past and active citizens who have been, and are, prominently identified with the life of the city. Incidentally more or less historj- is interwoven.

As for my part in the work very little is to be said. I have proceeded with the purpose and desire to make the book as complete and reliable as possible, and I have spared no reasonable effort in this direction. It is hoped that the volume will prove of permanent value and serve as a compendium of ready information. Some shortcomings are apparent. Failure on the part of a few to avail themselves of the opportunity given has prevented an adequate and equal presentation of the enterprises in which they are concerned, and I have substituted in a condensed form such facts as I could gather from general sources. Two or three omissions are to be regretted; notabh' an architectural and particular description of the new City Hall, which was expected, but which, after repeated efforts, I failed to obtain.

Franklin P. Rice.

December, 189S.