The history of Mechanics Hall begins in the mid-19th century when Worcester was developing into an industrial powerhouse.  With the arrival of the railroad to the city in the 1830s, the ability to transport materials and manufactured goods improved dramatically. As a result, Worcester grew rapidly from a relatively small, isolated community to a manufacturing center. More and more people moved to the city as men filled a growing need for mechanics, craftsmen, and tradesmen. In turn, this emerging industrial workforce needed to acquire new technical skills, as well as learn how to navigate the economic and social changes impacting their lives.

A group of Worcester men, including inventor and wire manufacturer Ichabod Washburn, recognized these converging needs in their city and, in late 1841, formed the Worcester County Mechanics Association.  By February 1842, the Association had attracted 115 members and held its first event, a well-attended debate of four questions:  Are the laboring classes in our community enjoying their full share of influence? Which is the most economical as an article of fuel, wood or coal? Are morals in the country in a progressive state? Were our forefathers justified in their treatment of the (American) Indians?

A library of technical books was assembled and made available for young men starting out in the world of manufacturing—a significant benefit for those who did not have access to such resources in smaller communities. Classes on such topics as mechanical drawing, pipefitting, and blueprint reading were held, and in 1848 the Association organized its first Mechanics Fair, a comprehensive exhibition of machinery, manufactured goods, inventions, and other displays related to industrial innovation.

By 1854, the Association had outgrown its rented spaces and embarked on a plan to build its own hall on Main Street. Under the guidance of Ichabod Washburn, the Mechanics hired architect Elbridge Boyden to design and construct the building. Ground was broken in July of 1855 and on September 3 of that year, the cornerstone was laid with great ceremony, including a parade of dignitaries led by the Boston Brass Band, the City Guards, and the Worcester Light Infantry. When it was dedicated on March 19, 1857, Mechanics Hall represented the state-of-the-art in mechanical systems and construction techniques—a testimony to the skill and ingenuity of the artisans and tradesmen of Worcester County, which defined them as leaders in America's Industrial Revolution.

More than 165 years later, with the Great Hall’s outstanding acoustics and strikingly elegant design, Mechanics Hall is now a cultural cornerstone of Central Massachusetts. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it has been judged by architectural historians as the nation's finest pre-Civil War concert hall. Throughout its rich history, the organization has reflected changing times and tastes, experiencing broad fluctuations in popularity, use, and physical condition. During the mid-20th Century, as newer venues became more sought after as locations for cultural events, the Mechanics Association resorted to renting the Hall out for professional wrestling matches, roller skating, basketball, dance lessons, 4-H club meetings, and a variety of other sporting and community events.

Over the years, misuse and neglect of the interior took a serious toll on the building, and, in the early 1970s, the Association was finally forced to decide between tearing it down or revitalizing it. When word got out that Mechanics Hall might be demolished, the entire city rallied and raised $5 million to restore it to its original splendor.  In 1977, a grateful community rededicated the beautifully renovated and preserved Hall, a testament to the value of excellence fostered by the Mechanics Association and an architectural treasure to be enjoyed and cherished by generations to come.

Source:

Margaret Erskine, Mechanics Hall, Worcester Bicentennial Commission, Worcester, MA, 1977