Like Rome, Worcester has its 7 hills – Worcester Telegram

George Barnes Telegram & Gazette Staff @georgebarnestg

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Worcester. The two cities also have in common the idea that they are defined by their seven hills. Worcester is one of many cities around the world that claim to have been built on seven hills. This includes Somerville; Seven Hills, Ohio; Providence; Seattle; Turku, Finland; Thiruvanananthapuram, India, and many more. In Worcester's case, there are at least 15 hills, and possibly more, depending how a hill is defined. The Worcester Historical Museum and the city's website agree on seven interesting, historical and beautiful hills. All the Worcester hills were once wilderness, but beginning in the 1700s a city was carved out of the virgin forests. Today, many of the hills are covered with homes and businesses, but some have been set aside as parks for the public to enjoy.

Seabury Heights Apartments seen across Bell Pond on Chandler Hill [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

To the north, Chandler Hill is difficult to distinguish as a hill. It seems more like a plateau and a jumping-off point for Green Hill and other hills that rise to the north of Belmont Street. Looking at the hill from the south and east, there is no question. It rises 741 feet almost straight up from behind Cristoforo Columbo Park and would afford a pretty good view of Shrewsbury Street, if there were fewer trees. At the top of the tree-covered hill are Bell Pond, Bell Hill Park and Seabury Heights apartments. There is also a former road along the top of the ridge. Chandler Hill is bordered by Belmont Street to the north, Shrewsbury Street to south and east and a densely packed neighborhood of mostly apartment buildings to the west. A hiking trail runs from Cristoforo Colombo Park to the top of the hill. That trail also links to Green Hill Park.

Chandler Hill can be seen in the background through Cristoforo Colombo Park. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

A runner races up a steep slope in Green Hill Park as a couple descends. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

It is not a surprise that Green Hill Park is one of the gems of the city's park system. The prominent family for whom the 780-foot hill and park are named valued beautiful landscapes. Andrew Green, who once owned the property and donated it to the city in 1905, was associated with famed landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted and is known as the father of Central Park in New York City. As a planner he also played a key role in developing other New York institutions, including the Bronx Zoo, the New York Public Library and the American Museum of Natural History. The 780-foot Green Hill is not far from Chandler Hill. It is at the northern end of Green Hill Park near the golf course. Visitors will see Green Hill Pond, where people fish, occasionally boat and picnic on its shores, a Little League field, the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial and many trails to hike and run. The park encompasses three hills, Green, Crown and Millstone. Green and Millstone are the same height, and Crown a little shorter.

A Green Hill Park sign. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Bancroft Tower. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Bancroft Hill rises 720 feet and overlooks Park Avenue, across the street from the WPI athletic complex. Its most prominent feature is 52-foot tall Bancroft Tower, which is at present closed to the public. The hill is part of Salisbury Park, and the tower and hill are named for noted Worcester resident, historian and statesman George Bancroft, who grew up at the base of the hill. Bancroft Tower was built in his honor by his friend Stephen Salisbury III. Mr. Bancroft served as secretary of the navy and later as U.S. minister to Great Britain. He also founded the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Among his historical works is the History of the United States from the Founding of America.

Directional marker at the base of Bancroft Tower indicates points south. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Directional marker shows way to points of interest to the north. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

An apple tree and flagpole at the summit of Newton Hill [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Newton Hill, at 672 feet, is down Park Avenue from Bancroft Hill - across Park Avenue from Elm Park. It is part of the park, formerly the Newton farmstead. There is still a field at the top of the hill where the city erected a flag pole. The hill offers hiking trails, exercise stations and a disc golf course. At the foot of the hill is the Rogers-Kennedy Memorial donated to the city to illustrate the history of Massachusetts as a colony. The park is maintained by volunteers, including a group of teen-age park rangers who were out in force last week, picking up trash and making minor repairs.

Sign for Newton Hill [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

A home near the top of Hancock Hill [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

John Hancock not only had a large signature he affixed to the Declaration of Independence, he also owned a pretty big hill. Hancock Hill rises 780 feet between Salisbury and Forest streets. At one time it was owned by Hancock, but it is now one of the citys nicer neighborhoods, dotted with good-size single family homes. To get there, you take Hancock Hill Drive off Forest Street, up to Montclair Drive. This photo was taken near the top.

A sign for Hancock Hill Drive. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Looking down Dorchester Street from Union Hill. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

Union Hill is one of the citys most historic locations. It is also a hill of many names. At times, the 625-footer has been known as Sagatabscot, Dungarvan, French, Crow and Oak hills and generally as the Grafton Hills. There are a series of hills each side of Grafton Street, but at top of the hill best defined as Union Hill are Union Hill Elementary School and Worcester Academy, a private boarding and day school. The traditional neighborhood consists of apartment buildings and small markets. The hill was home to the citys first permanent settler and one of its more unfortunate. Jonas Rice settled on the hill in 1713. He served as a Worcester selectman, first schoolmaster and a justice in the court of common pleas. Mr. Rice settled in the area even though just 12 years before, Digory Sargent, who also lived on the hill, was killed in his home by Indians. The hill was named Union Hill because inexpensive land was made available in the area after the Civil War. The land also took names relating to French and Irish families who settled there.

Jonas Rice historical marker. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

View from atop College Hill [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

College Hill, also called Mount St. James and Pakachoag Hill is aptly named for its modern use. An increasing amount of the hillside is covered by College of the Holy Cross. Near its top and along its north, south and east slopes the College Hill neighborhood includes a mix of single-family homes. The college originated in the 1800s. The name Mount St. James comes from the Mount St. James Seminary founded by Rev. James Fitton, who bought a farm and set up a Roman Catholic school there. The property was sold in 1843 to the Diocese of Boston to develop a college. Before the seminary, the land was farmed. The Native American name Pakachoag Hill is said to mean Hill of Many Springs. From the college, the hill offers a nice view of southwest Worcester.

Sign for the College of the Holy Cross. [T&G Staff/George Barnes]

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Like Rome, Worcester has its 7 hills - Worcester Telegram