The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-24
ELIHU BuRRITT's HOME.
Real Estate Happenings In and Out of
Worcester.

The estate at the northwest corner
of Chatham and Crown streets, which
has been mentioned as suitable site
for the new ward eight school house,
is a spot full of historic memories.
There lived Elihu Burritt, who was ia
nous throughout the world for his ed
vocational work and his powers as a
linguist. He was Familiarity known as
1.-THE Learned Blacksmith" having
worked as a blacksmith in his early
life, and obtained his eaHcation in the
spare moments during his work 1t was
while living in this house that he wrote
his most famous book, Thoughts on
Things at Home and Abroad" pub
lished in 1854.
1t is interesting to note the hands
the property has gone through since it
was owned by Mr.. BurrrIE, a complete
record of which has been kept by the
present owner. 1t will also show how
real estate has increased in value dur
ing the fifty years which have passed.
On November "a, 1849, Isaac Davis
decided to Elihu Burritt this land for
$500; on December 10 of the same year
it was mortgaged to Freeman Walker
for $3.50, which mortgage was dis
charged August g. 1853. In 1857 it passed
into the hands of William H. Harring-
ton for the sum of $40, and after pass
ing through several more hands it be-
came the possession of Samuel R..
Howard, November II, 1858, for $500,
and was sold to the present owner Aug
ust l, 1863
The land is prettily situated at the
top of the hill on Chatham street and
commands view of the city. The house
is quaint and old fashioned, with snug
hooks and cosy corners. The Antiquar-
ian Society has had the advisability Of
placing a memorial tablet on the spot
under consideration for some time.
The estate of Peter J. Hagan, corner
Vernon street and Union avenue, has
been sold to the st. Johns school of
Worcester The property consists OF
6445 feet of land with cottage house
and a brick one story building on the
Union avenue side of the lot. The prop
erty adjoins the grounds of the convent
of Notre Dame and will probably be
used in connection with the erection OF
the new convent which is in contempfa-
ton. The sale was through agency Of
c. S. Mannix.
The Webb Granite and Construction
Company has received the contract for
an eight-story mercantile building at
the corner of Chauncy and Essex
streets Boston. Winslow & Wetherell
of Boston are the architects. The
building will be of brick, iron and
limestone trimmings, 150x100 feet. Only
the first two stories are to be finished
at present. The owners are in a syn
dictate. of which c. E. Getting is the
trustee. The building will cost S175,-
OOO
The contract for the erection of a res
idence for Fred A Mann on Lenox
street. Richmond Heights, has been
awarded by L. w. Briggs, architect, to
Scoville & Wheeler. The building will
have II rooms. the portion on the first
floor being finished in oak. The specifi-
cations include two fireplaces and man
tells concrete basement, laundry, open
plumbing and steam heat.
Norcross & CO. have been awarded a
contract to make extensive alterations
to the building of the United States
Trust Company, 2S Court street, Bos-
ton.
Alderman Barrett and Councilman
James Hunt, representing the commit
Zee on education of the city council,
looked over the sites proposed for the
new high school building at the south
end Saturday. Several lots are under
consideration within the district bound
ed by Hammond, Richard, fainter and
Main streets. and there is a strong
probability that a move will be made
for q high school building in this sec
ton before the close of the year.