Whitcomb Mansion, Worcester

Built in 1879, the Whitcomb Mansion, also known as Whitcomb House, is a high Victorian Queen Anne-style mansion. It was designed by renowned Worcester architect Stephen Earle. It served as the home of George H. Whitcomb, a leading businessman and philanthropist of the era. The mansion is one of the few surviving examples of Earle's residential designs, making it a significant architectural and historical landmark in the city.

George Whitcomb, originally from Templeton, Massachusetts, amassed his fortune in the envelope manufacturing industry and also engaged in extensive real estate dealings in Worcester and beyond. He was well-known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the field of education across the United States. After Whitcomb's death in 1918, his mansion was bequeathed to the Society for the Blind, showcasing his lasting commitment to charitable causes.

Architecturally, the Whitcomb Mansion is an asymmetrical, polychromatic, three-story granite structure. Its front facade is divided into three sections, with the central section featuring a projecting gable-ended entry. This entryway includes a front door flanked by sidelights and topped by a half-round window, all set within a recessed archway. Above the door on the second level, a pair of windows is adorned with a decorative cast iron balcony. A carriage house with a steep slate roof and cupola stands behind the mansion, constructed from local stone.

Recognizing its architectural and historical significance, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places twice: individually in 1977 as Whitcomb House and as part of a multiple resources listing in 1980 as Whitcomb Mansion.