English High School (Worcester, Massachusetts)

English High School is an historic high school building at 20 Irving Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1891, it is a prominent local example of Romanesque Revival architecture, designed by the local form of Barker & Nourse. It served the city as a high school until 1966, and has housed school administration offices since then. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]

English High School
Location20 Irving St., Worcester, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°15′45″N 71°48′26″W
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1891 (1891)
ArchitectBarker & Nourse
Architectural styleRomanesque
MPSWorcester MRA
NRHP reference No.80000601[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 05, 1980

Description and history

The former English High School building is located a few blocks west of Worcester City Hall, at the northwest corner of Irving and Chatham Streets. It is a large three-story building, built out of brick with sandstone trim. The Romanesque Revival building has rectangular massing, with entrances on Chatham and Irving Streets and a five-story, hip roofed chateau-style tower on the corner. The tower features elaborate brick corbelling, gabled wall dormers on each face, and a ring if iron cresting at the top of the roof. Gable sections have decorative brickwork, and the third story windows have arched heads, a feature continued in other parts of the building's exterior and interior.[2]

The building was constructed in 1891 to a design by Barker & Nourse, who featured it in their trade catalog. It was the city's second high school building; the first, designed by H.H. Richardson, is no longer standing. The building served as a high school building until 1966, and as school offices thereafter.[2]

Notable alumni

  • William Howland (1871–1945), operatic bass, voice teacher, composer, conductor and university administrator. Graduated 1889.[3]

Notable faculty

See also

References

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