Pressurized Space Suits

The first Pressurized Space Suits and Anti-G Suits were developed in Worcester at the David Clark Company on Franklin Street. 

As if that wasn’t enough firsts, the David Clark Company also created the space suit worn by astronaut Ed White in the first U.S. space walk in June of 1965. The company manufactured all of NASA’s Gemini space suits. Another company invention was the famous “Anti-G” suit that prevents pilots from blacking out when pulling out of high-speed dives . Pilots who wore the suits included Chuck Yeager and Neil Armstrong.

1st U.S. Nobel Prize Winner in Science

The first ever U.S. Nobel Prize in the sciences was awarded to Clark University professor Albert A. Michelson, for his experiments relating to his calculation of the speed of light.

The Smiley Face

Worcester resident Harvey Ball invented the Smiley Face in 1963.

Birth Control

The Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research was founded in Shrewsbury and developed the first oral contraceptive pill (birth control).

Baseball's First Perfect Game

Major League Baseball's first ever perfect game was thrown by Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters, of the National League, on June 12, 1880. 

The site of the perfect game is now on the campus of Becker College.

American Psychology Association

The first ever American Psychology Association meeting was held at Clark University in 1892.

The Term "Postmodern"

In his 1958 essay, "The Present is Prologue," Worcester native and poet Charles Olson coined the term "postmodern."

Shredded Wheat

Worcester's Henry Perky became the first person to mass produce shredded wheat in 1892. He opened up a bakery in Worcester in 1895.

Shredded wheat premiered at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893. The Kellogg Company attempted more than once to purchase Perky's shredded wheat patent.

First Women's Rights Convention

The first Women's Rights Convention was held in October of 1850. Notable speakers present included Abby Kelley Foster, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass and Lucretia Mott.

The Rickshaw

The first Rickshaw was created in Worcester not Asia.

Despite their immense popularity in Asia, the first Rickshaw was a Worcester invention. In 1846, Albert Tolman built what was described as a “man-drawn lorry” for a missionary on his way to South America. From there, the Rickshaw made its way to Asia.

The Typewriter

The first practical typewriter was invented by Charles Thurber of Worcester.

Patented in 1843, this bulky version had all the essential characteristics of today’s modern machine. Thurber was the first to place the paper on a roller and give it the ability to do accurate letter and word spacing. Thurber created the machine so that people with visual impairments could feel the raised keys and it could help the “nervous” with poor handwriting skills.

Pizza Pie Mix

The first Pizza Pie Mix was marketed in Worcester.

In 1947, Frank A. Firoillo had the first pizza stand in Worcester. In 1952, he became the first person to market a pizza pie mix.

Philadelphia Phillies

In 1892, the Worcester Worcesters were dropped from Major League Baseball's National League and the franchise rights were sold and moved to Philadelphia. Soe of the players on the Worcesters packed up their things too and and played on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Insane Asylum

Worcester State Hospital was the first publicly financed Insane Asylum in the state.

Worcester Insane Hospital opened on January 12, 1833. During the first year, 164 patients were received. It continued to operate until on July 22, 1991 Worcester State Hospital, as it was known then, was mostly destroyed by fire and ending up closing later that year.

The Bicycle

The first bicycle made in America was built in Worcester.

The idea for the first bicycle originated in England so it was appropriate that it was  made by an Englishman, W.H. Pierce. It was constructed in 1878 at Stowe’s shop on Cypress Street in Worcester. In April 9th of the following year, the Worcester Bicycle Club was formed. Bicycles continued to gain in popularity with 175 sold in Worcester during 1888.

Monkey Wrench

The first monkey wrench was invented in Worcester.

In 1840, Worcester knife manufacturer Loring Coes, of the Coes Knife Company, invented the first monkey wrench which was patented in 1841. For the next eighty-seven years, the Coes family filed numerous patents and manufactured extensive  wrenches at their Worcester plant.

The Curveball

In 1867, Candy Cummings, of Ware, MA and while pitching for the Brooklyn Stars, threw the first ever curveball in Worcester. 

Modern Rocketry

Robert Goddard, "The Father of Modern Rocketry," was born in Worcester and worked at Clark University. The site of his first rocketry experiments was Packachaog Hill, behind Holy Cross College. 

Candlepin Bowling

Candlepin bowling was invented in Worcester in 1880. It is truly a New England-centric sport, with only two other places in the country with candlepin bowling lanes. 

The Valentine

Worcester’s 
Esther Howland was the firstperson to mass-produce valentines in the U.S.

Esther Howland, a graduate of Mount Holyoke, was an artist and businesswoman who generated the Valentine’s Day greeting cards mass appeal in this country. In 1847, elaborate Valentine’s were only imported from Europe and were not available to the average American. Howland was a Worcester native, whose father owned the largest book and stationery store in Worcester so armed with supplies, she made up a dozen samples at home. Her brother took them out on his next sales trip and returned with $5,000 in orders. By 1874 she was using the name “The New England Valentine Company.” Her business eventually grossed $100,000 per year and she became known as ‘the Mother of the American Valentine”.