NEW: Redesigned Key to City to be Presented to at Tonight’s Council Meeting
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
This key to the city was presented by Mayor Joseph M. Tinsley, who was Mayor in 1971, 1973 and 1984-85.
Keys to the City of Worcester are an important symbol of welcome and accomplishment given to visiting dignitaries, heads of state, and local residents for significant and outstanding achievements.
The new brass keys were made by the students in the Machine Technology Program at Worcester Technical High School.
Farnsworth is expected to attend tonight’s City Council meeting, when the key will be presented.
“My grandfather loved this city and was proud to represent Worcester as Mayor and later as a member of the Governor’s Council. I am sure he is smiling down at this moment watching the last of his three grandsons accept a key that will hold a place of distinction at the Worcester Historical Museum,” Farnsworth said. “I appreciate Mayor Petty's decision to resume that practice of the presenting the original Keys to the City and having me accept the first new edition on behalf of the Worcester Historical Museum and in memory of my grandfather.”
The loop of the key, was heart shaped to represent the Heart of the Commonwealth, the shank stated on one side the words, “A Town 1722 – A City 1846.” On the reverse side of the shank was the word “Worcester.” A large W completed the likeness to a key. The keys were about six inches long and brightly finished to the appearance of gold.
After researching the original key, Petty met with Sheila Harrity, Principal of Worcester Technical High School and asked if the students would be able to make the new keys.
Brian Cummings, the Machine Technology Instructor at Worcester Technical High School added, “Students recreated the historic Key to the City from the original cast design by: researching and understanding the significance of the Key to the City; determining sequence of operation, creating part and processes with Mastercam software; programming and generating G-Code for the CNC machines, cutting raw material, creating fixturing, set tool, and work offsets as well as deburring and finishing operations.”
While the technology is different, the new keys are very similar to the keys designed back in 1924.
Eleven students worked on the project: Nicholas Clark, Benjamin Erickson, Margarita Hardy, Danny Hernandez, Dana Kelley, Timothy Plant, Eric Sanchez, Justin Steele, Peter Thach, Christin Boyce-Tambeau, and Natalie Valentin. The students will be at the City Council meeting to present the first batch of keys to Mayor Petty.
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