Robert Goddard's boyhood home in Worcester sold, to be used for science education

WORCESTER — The boyhood home of rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard has been purchased by a couple that plans to preserve the landmark property and use it as an educational resource.

Charles and Marcia Slatkin are the new owners of 1 Tallawanda Drive in the city's Webster Square neighborhood.

The two-family house in which Goddard grew up went on the market in October. It sold for $459,900, according to the Registry of Deeds.

The Slatkins announced their purchase of the house in a recent news release.

Realtor Joe Abramoff knew about Charles Slatkin's long-term interest in Goddard, Slatkin said, so when he heard about the sale of the house he informed Slatkin, who was out of town and kicking himself for not being able to purchase the childhood home of one of his icons.

"Initially I was really depressed because it looked like the house was going to be sold within hours," Slatkin said. "I shook my head about another wasted opportunity. And then over a few hours I pulled myself together and said this would be a great tragedy for Worcester and the nation if this gets lost."

Slatkin said he called Abramoff and bought the house, without even viewing the property in person. He said the sale closed Dec. 3.

"I went from depression to mourning to a spontaneous act," he said. "I really expected some other institution to be excited by it and scoop it up, but once it was apparent that wasn’t happening I felt it was my duty to somehow save it."

The Wonder Mission will work with the city, local colleges and the Webster Square neighborhood to determine how best to preserve the Goddard House and “create something shareable, Slatkin said, such as a private museum.

While Slatkin said the interior is in great condition, the house will undergo some structural maintenance to ensure it's safe and visitor friendly.

In addition to a private museum, Slatkin said another idea he has is establishing Goddard House Fellows. The second floor of the house could be set up as a residence for a physics student at WPI or Clark, who could live in the house as a caretaker and “live in Goddard’s shadow,” Slatkin said.

Slatkin said he's contacted City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. about preserving the house, as well as an idea for a Rocket Trail, Worcester's version of Boston's Freedom Trail.

If the Rocket Trail were established, Slatkin said it could start at Goddard's home, leading to Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he conducted early experiments, to Clark University where he did PhD. work, to the site of Goddard's first successful liquid rocket launch at Pakachoag Golf Course in Auburn.

Slatkin said he feels his life and Goddard's are intertwined with similarities.

"Somehow we have shadowed each other in a very fortuitous way," he said with a chuckle.

Slatkin, like Goddard, graduated from Clark and has a deep interest in space science beginning with a childhood love of science-fiction. His affection for space led to him starting a non profit called the Wonder Mission, dedicated to inspiring others to take an interest in space and science.

Goddard, known as the father of modern rocket propulsion, lived with his family in what many in the neighborhood call the Goddard House.

In 1907, while studying as an undergraduate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Goddard fired a powder rocket inside the basement of the college's physics building. Goddard's first successful rocket using liquid fuel was launched in Auburn March 16, 1926.

Slatkin said he wants to get Goddard back on the general public's radar.

"Every kid knows about the Wright brothers and yet you mention Robert Goddard and people don’t really know," he said.

"We certainly want to use the house as a catalyst for promoting Goddard’s connection to Worcester, the Webster Square community, Clark and WPI, and certainly to great contributions in space exploration," Slatkin said.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester boyhood home of rocket scientist Robert Goddard sold