The house that moved a governor

To build his 1870 mansion at 65 Elm Street, Charles Allen did more than clear a lot. He moved the actual house of former Governor Levi Lincoln Jr. a short distance just to clear enough space for his own project.

Allen was a high-profile Worcester native and worked in law practice with John Davis, another Massachusetts governor. He served as a judge, a state legislator, and eventually became the first chief justice of the newly organized Massachusetts Superior Court. He even turned down an offer of a seat on the United States Supreme Court.

The result is a three-story Second Empire house featuring a mansard roof, a square floor plan with a rear ell, and a front pavilion that projects out two stories. The main roof cornice and the front porch cornice are both studded with modillions.

Allen died in 1869, meaning his heirs likely finished the construction of the house, which they owned into the early 20th century. Today, the house houses professional offices, but it still sits on the north side of Elm Street.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons