baɪ ðə mˈɪd twˈɛntiəθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, dˈaʊntaʊn wˈʊstɚ hæd dᵻklˈaɪnd, ænd ðɪ ˈeɪdʒɪŋ bˈɪldɪŋ fˈɛl ˌɪntʊ dɪsfˈeɪvɚɹ æz ɐ mˈiːɾɪŋ plˈeɪs.
By the mid-20th century, downtown Worcester had declined, and the aging building fell into disfavor as a meeting place.