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UPDATED: AUGUST 17, 2017
I have always been intrigued by the old gas lights, that exist around downtown Worcester. Their classic style and warm glow of their light attracted me to them at an early age. I even remembered trying to get one of these poles from Commonwealth Gas Co, back in the late 80's, without success.
In 2012, I noticed the 9 remaining old 1940/50's green curved arm streetlight poles were removed from W. Boylston St. These were taken down due to the base of the pole rotting out at the foot, causing a safety concern. Since quite a few old poles were being removed since 2010, this prompted me to do an inventory of what remained of the old lights/poles left in the Worcester inventory.
There are only 27 gas lights that remain in Worcester. The last one that had come down was on Elm St, during the ice storm of 2008 (a fallen tree crushed that light assembly). There are a few that were rescued, years ago, and are used on private properties in and around Worcester. Ill add these to my "Misc Lights" page when I can. I had also received copies of early newspaper stories of the Worcester Gaslights, from a good friend in the streetlight realm. These are located at the bottom of this page. Enjoy the photos and info below.
***NOTE*** Ill be performing another audit, in August 2017, to get an update on these poles so stay tuned.
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Cottage St between West St & Fruit St. Lamp Install 9/3/1897. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Cottage St between West St & Fruit St. Lamp Install 9/3/1897. Post Type: Worcester. |
Cottage St between West St & Fruit St. Lamp Install 9/3/1897. Post Type: Newport |
Dayton Pl off Dayton St. Lamp Install 7/1/1912. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Gladstone St off Southbridge St. Lamp Install 11/27/1899. Post Type: Worcester |
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Gladstone St off Southbridge St. Lamp Install 7/18/1968. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Langdon St between Lamartine St & Lafayette St. Lamp Install 10/1/1900. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Langdon St between Lamartine St & Lafayette St. Lamp Install 10/1/1900. Post Type: Worcester. |
Columbia St off Water St. Lamp Install 10/1/1900. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly. |
Greenleaf Tr, sidewalk between Pleasant St & Midland St. Lamp Install 12/9/1914. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
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Greenleaf Tr, sidewalk between Pleasant St & Midland St. Lamp Install 12/9/1914. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Huntley St between Pleasant St & Midland St. Lamp Install 8/15/1898. Post Type: Worcester. |
Mount Hope & Institute Rd. Lamp Install 9/11/1922. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Mount Hope between Institute Rd & Mass Ave. Lamp Install 1/9/1928. Post Type: Worcester |
Mount Hope between Institute Rd & Mass Ave. Lamp Install 4/2/1928. Post Type: Welsbach #40 w/Bracket Assembly |
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Mount Hope between Institute Rd & Mass Ave. Lamp Install 4/2/1928. Post Type: Welsbach #40 |
Farnum St & Institute Rd. Lamp Install 8/16/1910. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Farnum St between Institute Rd & Farnum Ter. Lamp Install 8/16/1910. Post Type: Worcester |
Farnum St between Farnum Ter and Bancroft Tower Rd. Lamp Install 10/1/1925. Post Type: Newport |
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Oxford St & Oxford Pl. Lamp Install: N/A. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Oxford Pl off Oxford St. Lamp Install: N/A. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Ripley Pl off Ripley St. Lamp Install 9/7/1897. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Grove St & Salsbury St. Lamp Install N/A. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
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Grove St & Salsbury St. Lamp Install N/A. Post Type: Worcester w/Bracket Assembly |
Agawam St off Main St. Lamp Install 11/26/1915. Post Type: Worcester |
Colton St off Southbridge St. Lamp Install 11/22/1912. Post Type: Welsbach #40 |
Washington St between Lamartine St & Lafayette St. Lamp Install 9/1/1906. Post Type: Newport w/Bracket Assembly |
Here are some files that document some history of the Worcester Gas Lights and Streetlights.
Click on the links below and print them out for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
Worcester T&G and other old newspaper articles on Worcester's Gas Lights
WooState's article named "The Flame that keeps on Burning" by Heidi Biron
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