Forget Oakland Or Hoboken. Worcester, Mass., Is The New 'It' Town (Boston: crime, employment)

[MMS02760]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Holy Cross never really involved itself with Worcester. It's "Ivory Tower" location is a metaphore for it's veiw about the rest of the city.

You see it when you come and go.

Holy Cross sits high on a hill where it looks down on the city of Worcester in both a literal and figurative sense.

[Mark 24]

Worcester is a city that you can't get there from here. The WRTA is pathetic with a weak schedule and service that ends early in the evening. Rail to Boston has increased and seems to be doing well as the numbers have increased to making it the most used MBTA line in the system. But, does the city need a better connection to Amtrak? Or rail service south to Providence? This is proposed and will it be used?Schedule

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

Holy Cross sits high on a hill where it looks down on the city of Worcester in both a literal and figurative sense.

As one of the three major, private universities, they are noticable disinterested in Worcester. It DOES look down on the city - literally and figurativly.

I knew many people who took classes at WPI through the consortium. I also met students from other colleges at Clark. I never met anyone from Holy Cross.

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by sheena12

As one of the three major, private universities, they are noticable disinterested in Worcester. It DOES look down on the city - literally and figurativly.

I knew many people who took classes at WPI through the consortium. I also met students from other colleges at Clark. I never met anyone from Holy Cross.

So true. We lived close to WPI, and both my sister and I married boys from there, but I never remember any of my school friends going to Clark or Holy Cross, or even talking about them at all. In a college town, usually a good number of high school kids apply to the local schools, but it doesn’t seem like they did.

[MMS02760]

I am a WPI alum and was in a frat. We interacted with students from several other Worcester colleges. Holy Cross however was not one of them. Had dealings with Becker, Clark, Assumption, and Worcester State students. My roommate's longtime girlfriend was a Clarkie that lived in Wright and later a house on Charlotte Street. Had many students from the four schools above come to frat parties. I can't ever recall anyone from Holy Cross. From my experience, the only interaction WPI students likely had with HC was via ROTC Navy as it was based at Holy Cross. WPI probably had more students from Mt Holyoke and Smith, an hours drive away, attend campus events than from Holy Cross. Holy Cross students all tended to live on campus and kept pretty much to themselves.

In my view, WPI, is probably the most connected school to the city in terms of the private higher-ed institutions. It is the only private school that bears the city name, is non denominational, and unlike the other schools, mostly populated with buildings named after many of the city's important business and civic leaders - Washburn, Salisbury, Higgins, Gordon, Harrington, Morgan, Stoddard, Riley, Goddard, and Daniels. It's open campus is among the closest to downtown and the school has made a significant investment in the city with the Gateway Center development.

[magicshark]

WPI also partners with Worcester Public Schools on this high school. https://www.massacademy.org/
If I remember correctly it is considered the best public high school in the state. It is darn hard to get into though.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

Speaking of Worcester, it is a real shame what has happened to the Higgins armor collection. It is one of the world's largest collections of medieval armor and for a very long time was magnificently displayed at the now closed Higgins Armory. My favorite part of it was the great hall with armor throughout and a simulated jousting scene with horses with armor clad knights situated at opposite ends. Unfortunately the Higgins Armory experienced big visitor declines and a decision was made to close and send its collection to the Worcester Art Museum. Much of it was initially displayed at the WAM but it has now mostly been relegated to mothballs. I visited the WAM this summer and saw just a few pieces oddly placed throughout the museum amongst other non-related items. I inquired about the collection and was told that most of all it was in storage until a fundraising effort can raise enough money to build a new wing for it. When I questioned a planned open date, I was told it was a long way off. It was such a shame that the Worcester area could not adequately support the collection at a single space that was entirely dedicated to display it. I fear that it will never again get the space and proper detail attention it once had.

https://www.telegram.com/news/201811...-armor-gallery

[MMS02760]

Originally Posted by massnative71

https://www.telegram.com/news/201811...-armor-gallery

Saw that. Still years away from being displayed upon years in past storage. Would have been best to have had the fundraising complete and the space already done and ready when when the Higgins Armory closed.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

Saw that. Still years away from being displayed upon years in past storage. Would have been best to have had the fundraising complete and the space already done and ready when when the Higgins Armory closed.

Sure, and for that matter it would have been best that the Higgins didn't have to shut their doors in the first place. But considering, I'm thankful the Worcester Art Museum was able to step up in whatever (and whenever) capacity they are.

[rethcir]

Originally Posted by Mark 24

Worcester is a city that you can't get there from here. The WRTA is pathetic with a weak schedule and service that ends early in the evening. Rail to Boston has increased and seems to be doing well as the numbers have increased to making it the most used MBTA line in the system. But, does the city need a better connection to Amtrak? Or rail service south to Providence? This is proposed and will it be used?Schedule

Very easy to get around Worcester by Uber or Lyft these days.