Franklin Wesson House, High Gothic Victorian house in Main South, Worcester, Massachusetts.
The Franklin Wesson House is a three-story brick building with a distinctive tower structure above its main entrance. The tower features a steeply pitched slate roof with decorative brick banding, while the house has multiple projections including a large bay window with its own peaked roof and narrow rounded-top windows throughout.
Built in 1874 by architect Amos Porter Cutting for Franklin Wesson, a co-founder of the Harrington & Richardson firearms company, the house gained National Register status in 1980. This recognition established its importance as an example of the architectural style of that period.
The house shows how successful factory owners in late 1800s Worcester wanted to display their wealth and status through their homes. The elaborate tower and ornate details reflect the architectural tastes that mattered to the industrial elite of that era.
The house is located on Claremont Street in Worcester and can be viewed from the street. Since it remains a private residence, visitors should only observe the exterior architecture from the public sidewalk.
The house displays distinctive High Gothic Victorian features with its narrow rounded-top windows, a design choice that stood out distinctly in Worcester's neighborhood landscape. These architectural details represented a more dramatic interpretation of the Gothic Revival style than most contemporary homes in the area.
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