Endangered Historic Properties of Springfield

The properties on the 10 Most Endangered List have architectural and historical significance and have great importance to the city of Springfield.

They are listed here to raise your interest and support for the reuse of these valuable assets. It is always easy to destroy: it takes imagination and effort to save. A community is a product of its collective memory and that memory is anchored in its stories and its built environment.

When we turn our backs on our past and on the things that those before us left in out keeping, we become nothing more than wanderers through life without roots. Go out and look at these buildings and think how you might help in saving them.

These ten properties represent a cross section of Springfield's built environment. While this list is far from inclusive of every endangered property in the city, it includes properties that need help soon or they will be lost forever.

Lend your moral support to Historic Preservation, because it is our City and our community and is only as good as we are.

2009 Most Endangered List

Charles J. Blackstone - Peter S. Bailey House
Address: 25-27 Elliot Street | Year Built: 1873 | Style: Second Empire

In January 2008 a horrible fire ripped through the historic double house at 25-27 Eliot Street, destroying much of the interior, especially the third floor mansard roof. For a long time the house remained open to the elements, causing additional damage as time went by. More recently a temporary roof was finally added to the structure to protect the interior.

The owner of the property at the time received over $700,000 from insurance, and then proceeded to request permission from the Springfield Historical Commission to tear the building down. SHC had tabled the motion until more information was presented to them by the owner, but before the next hearing the owner had sold the building to someone else. The new owner didn't seem to have the resources for such a large restoration, (especially since the old owner had kept the insurance money) so the property was put into receivership.  The SPT has and will continue to advocate for the restoration of this very historic resource.

Solymon Merrick House, Ansel Phelps House
Address: 83 Maple Street | Year Built: 1841 | Style: Greek Revival

This home was built for Solymon Merrick, the inventor of the monkey wrench. Later it was owned by Ansel Phelps, the fourth Mayor of Springfield. It is also one of the oldest buildings in the city. After being foreclosed on by HSBC bank, the building was let to fall into disrepair. The property was purchased by an abutting property owner from the bank almost a year ago and has deteriorated further.

John Hall House
Address: 52 Westminster Street | Year Built: 1882 | Style: Queen Anne/Stick Style

This large home sits on the periphery of the McKnight Local Historic District (LHD), near the State Street corridor. From the protection of the LHD it has not been demolished so far. SPT cleaned out the city owned property a couple of years ago and advertised to try and find a developer. Unfortunately a developer wasn't found and  it continues down the path of decay. SPT holds out hope that a passionate person will come along and restore this magnificent house.

Moore House
Address: 74 Yale Street | Year Built: 1888 | Style: Queen Anne

This home in the McKnight neighborhood is one of the more blighted properties in the area. The neighborhood council is actively advocating for the restoration of the property. This represents the bigger problem of historic homes in the city that are abandoned and vandalized. While it is within a National Historic District, it is not in the Local Historic District, so it has no protection from inappropriate changes, such as the removal of its porches.

Westinghouse Complex/Office Bldg
Address: 655 Page Boulevard | Year Built: circa 1915 | Style: Industrial

The Westinghouse industrial complex is located in the East Springfield neighborhood on Page Boulevard. This historic industrial complex is endangered because  of a recently proposed retail development that will demolish the over 900,000 square feet of historic office, manufacturing and warehouse space, representing all the structures on the site. The complex, while not officially surveyed or inventoried as historic, are in fact important structures for both their historic and architectural significance.

Historically some of the manufacturing buildings were the site of the Stevens-Duryea plant before it was sold to Westinghouse. Stevens-Duryea was the maker of the first mass produced automobile in the US. The complex was also the site of the founding of radio station WBZ, which is now the oldest surviving radio station in New England. The presence of the radio station can still be seen through the large antennas on the roof of  the building pictured at right.

The complex is also significant to the region's history as a manufacturing center, representing one of the largest historic manufacturing facilities still left in Western Massachusetts. The complex is also architecturally significant through the large scale manufacturing space, and details like the porcelain decorations on the Westinghouse office building, which is uncommon for Springfield.

While the developer has made it clear that none of the existing structures will be used in the retail development, it is hoped that the developer will have a change of heart and save the most significant structures on the site.

Our Lady Of Hope Church
Address: 474 Armory Street | Year Built: 1925 | Style: Renaissance Revival

One of the most prominent churches to be closed in Springfield by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield is Our Lady of Hope Church.  This elaborate church represents the heritage of Irish Catholics in the Hungry Hill neighborhood of Springfield. The landmark building has a campanile that can be seen throughout many parts of Springfield, and is one of the highest points in the city. Concerned residents have requested that the property become a local historic district, which the Springfield Historical Commission has voted to support. The designation would protect the building from inappropriate exterior changes, including demolition.

Immaculate Conception Church
Address: 21 Parker Street | Year Built: 1904 | Style: Tudor Revival

In its plans to consolidate, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield decided to close a number of churches in the region, including the three churches listed on this list. Immaculate Conception represents the heritage of Polish Catholics in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield, and is a landmark building. The parish is actively appealing the closing, and also has requested that the property become a local historic district, which the Springfield Historical Commission has voted to support. This designation will protect the building from inappropriate exterior changes, including demolition. Unfortunately the Catholic Diocese of Springfield does not have a good track record with historic buildings they no longer have a use for. Saint Joseph's Church in the city's South End is a recent reminder of the possible fate of these landmark buildings.

Holy Family Church
Address: 235 Eastern Avenue | Year Built: 1905 | Style: Gothic

One of the three Catholic Churches to be closed due to the Catholic Diocese of Springfield decision to consolidate, Holy Family Church is a landmark building within the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield. SPT hopes that the building will be able to be used by another religious organization or find a new use for one of the nearby colleges.

Putnam Vocational Tech High School‎
Address: 1300 State Street | Year Built: 1938 | Style: Classical Revival

Built as the Trade High School for Springfield, this complex was designed to compliment its neighbor across the street, MassMutual. Currently the City of Springfield plans on building a new school at the back of the site and using the old school until the new one is finished. The plan is to then demolish all of the old school and put open space and parking lots between the new school and State Street.

It appears the city is demolishing the front section of the complex for the sake of demolishing it, as the building does not use up space that is necessary for the new school complex.  The City of Springfield has not done due diligence in researching possible reuses for the building. The building is directly across the street from the largest company headquartered in the state. It may be feasible to convert the building into a residential use, offices, business incubators, even a charter school. It could also be mixed-use. A good example of a school being converted to residential use can be found right down the street at Classical Condominiums. Classical sits on a smaller piece of land, of which the building takes up most of, and it works well.

Technical High School
Address: 53 Elliot Street | Year Built: 1904 | Style: Renaissance Revival

The Technical High School started life as the Springfield Industrial Institute in the mid 1890s  and eventually became a public school. The local firm of Eugene & George Gardner designed the main building, which these pictures depict. Soon after it was built, additions were made to the building, which brought the building all the way across the block to Spring Street. These additions have since been demolished, leaving only the small front section of the building. The school was closed in 1986 when it and Classical High School were combined into the new Central High School.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is currently planning to build a data backup facility on the site. Its plans have shown that only parts of the facade are going to be used, and some areas of the facade will have no building behind. SPT is advocating that the front and two side facades be retained; early plans have shown that very little of the side facades will be used. SPT feels this will be detrimental to the historic district.