The following is culled together from a recent Facebook post by the Lowell Historic Board. While The Worthen as a business is steeped in history, the building itself tells a rich story. (All photos courtesy of Lowell Historic Board)

This Federal style building is a rare survivor from Lowell’s earliest years. Built in two stages, the masonry first floor was built ca. 1834 and originally housed a West India Goods store, selling exotic items from all over the world like coffee, tea, and spices. Carpenters built the wood frame upper floors in 1847, maintaining work rooms on the first floor and residences on the upper.

The building become a drinking establishment in 1889 and the current bar, tin ceilings, and overhead belt-driven fan system date from that time. A tavern has operated here since that year, except during Prohibition, with noted patrons including celebrated writers, musicians, entertainers, and politicos. Although increasingly dilapidated, the building survived into the late 1970s without major alteration.The upper floors were vacant and the windows boarded. Brick-textured asphalt siding had also been applied over the front clapboards.

The building underwent one of Lowell’s first historic rehabilitations in 1979 as seen here with work underway.

Shown here nearing completion, the building underwent one of Lowell’s first historic rehabilitations in 1979. The asphalt siding was removed and all of the siding, trim, doors, and windows were replicated in wood. The interior was remodeled in 1989 and the Old Worthen continues to serve patrons to this day as Lowell’s oldest continuously operating restaurant and tavern.