By Laura Porter
If you pay attention, there are remnants of Worcester’s past on every block: a cornerstone from a different century; distinctive arches above a set of windows; a building’s original name preserved in stone.
Although much has been lost to time and new construction, there are also a surprising number of historic homes across the city that survive. Built by Worcester’s most prominent citizens, their wealth often rooted in industry, houses impressive in style and materials continue to dominate quite a few neighborhoods.
Many are in good shape, occupied by families or adapted for business or nonprofit use. But mistreatment and neglect have nearly destroyed others, leaving them ramshackle and broken, both inside and out.