The site of the American Temperance House Hotels serves to commemorate the so-called Butman Riot of 1854 when a federal marshal came to Worcester to arrest a fugitive slave, openly operating a barbershop in town and was ‘run out’ of Worcester. Worcester’s citizens were, on the whole, vehemently against slavery. The Free Soil (anti-slavery) Party was founded here in 1848. The Butman riot in 1854 is another example of the strong sentiment of the times. Asa O. Butman was a slave hunter paid to find fugitives in the North. Through deceit he managed to gain custody of two fugitive slaves in Boston and, despite violent mob protest, he was successful. As a participant later related: ‘Crowds assembled from every quarter, the Court House was chained up to keep them out, the United States military guarded the prisoners, and they were sent back to slavery at the expense of about $15,000.
Word got out that Butman was coming slave-hunting in Worcester. The Massachusetts Spy posted notices that Butman, the kidnapper was in town and citizens formed a vigilance committee to watch the Temperance Hotel where he was staying. In fear of the mounting rage, Butman pulled a pistol out of his pocket, whereupon a warrant was issued, and he had to appear in court the next day. By morning the crowd was huge and furious. Fearing for his life, Butman asked for protection. It was granted after he promised never again to come to Worcester. As anti-slavery men escorted him out of town, he suffered punches, kicks, and a lot of well-deserved verbal abuse and assault with eggs and other objects. This was the last attempt to execute the Fugitive Slave Law in Massachusetts.
You can read more in this 2008 Worcester Magazine article, The Slave Catcher’s Riot.