SPT Taking Action

Trust Works to Save Historic House

 The Trust is once again partnering with the City to market a deteriorated, tax-foreclosed Stick Style house at 52 Westminster Street. The 1882 house has more than 4,000 square feet on three floors and sits on a quarter acre lot in the McKnight Historic District. It was converted to a church in 1936 and its entry hall, parlors and dining room were combined into a worship space. The remainder of the house is in original but deplorable condition because its most recent owner, Saint Mark’s Methodist Episcopal Church (now located on Dresden Street) neglected the roof, resulting in damaged ceilings and floors. Lack of proper securing allowed vandalism and theft of the vacant house.

 On June 2, Trust volunteers Linda Langevin, Doug Yaeger, Jasmine Bosworth, Ben Murphy, Tom Kubik, Jim Llewellyn, Mike Plumly, Patty Staples, Jack Hess, Paul Mann and Bob McCarroll spent sweaty hours removing piles of musty clothes, fallen plaster, and other material to prepare for open houses. Bill Devlin made measured drawings of the floor plan and Michael Marcinkewich photographed the building for publicity use.

 The Trust placed classified ads in the Springfield Republican, Worcester Telegram, and Hartford Courant to supplement the City’s legal notices. Press releases were sent to local newspapers and television stations. The Republican and Reminder did articles, blogger Heather Brandon carried a feature in the Valley Advocate; and ABC40 covered one of the open houses. The house was placed on Craigslist.com and Diane Fisher faxed flyers to area realtor offices. Jim Boone, Bob McCarroll, and Jack Hess hosted five Open Houses throughout the month of June. More than 50 individuals and groups toured the house.

 The City is offering the house for only $1,000. Proposals are due on August 15. Because the house now needs total rehabilitation, it is a daunting task. We are hopeful, however, that someone will recognize the potential of this grand house. The Trust is willing to work with the final developer in any way it can. 

Historic Architectural Displays with
Museum Association

 The Connecticut Valley Historic Museum is mounting an architectural display. The display is being put together by Michelle Barker and will be the first in a continuing effort on the part of the Association to highlight architecture in Springfield. The Trust is contributing items to the display and has had conversations with Michelle about the display. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with the Connecticut Valley Museum as our goals of preserving the history of Springfield and honoring its architectural heritage are in concert with one another.

Watch for the opening of this show. Also, remember that support of the Museums Association is still needed and appreciated even though admission for all Springfield residents is now free. 

2007 Awards Ceremony 

The Annual Awards Ceremony of the Trust was held May 9 at Tower Square and was enjoyed by 50 Trust members, guests and Award recipients. Mayor Ryan spoke to the assembled group and praised the efforts of the Trust and acknowledged that our Historic Districts and their supporters are the strength of our city. He offered his congratulations to all those recognized for their efforts in making their homes, buildings, and thus Springfield, a better place. Indian Orchard was especially recognized as three of the awards went to efforts in that community.

The Trust thanks everyone who put forth the extra effort to care for their homes and who go to the effort to restore their homes and buildings in such a way that they respect the architectural integrity of the property and preserve it for generations to come. Our Awards each year reflect everyone’s efforts. 

Award Recipient List

 Frank Scudellari and Victor Anthony – Carriage House located at 35 Firglade Avenue

 Monsignor Richard Sniezyk – New slate roof and exterior restoration of St. Michael’s Rectory

 Father Farland – New slate roof on Sacred Heart Church

 Ms. Tommy Johnson – New construction of two-family at 130-132 Westminster Street

 Springfield Cemetery - Grounds Stewardship

 Ed and Karen Kamuda - Restoration of clock for Indian Orchard Library and establishment of Titanic Museum

 Judy Riordan – House Stewardship.  House at 78 Oak Street, Indian Orchard owned and well maintained by the same family since 1922

 Ron Carle and Merle Steward – Replicated fancy garden fence and gate at 1127 Worthington Street

 Paul Mann - Exterior restoration, siding removal at 14 Virginia Street

 William Carabine and Lilia Neves – Exterior restoration of 506 Wilbraham Road including carriage house and play house

 Brian Hale, President of Indian Orchard Main Street Partnership – “Gallery 137”, Indian Orchard – diner converted to art gallery 

Spring Tour a Great Success; Autumn Tour Being Planned

 The May 20 house tour of Bellevue Avenue and Marengo Park was one of the best-attended tours in several years. More than 360 people purchased tickets, netting the Trust $4,500 after expenses. Following the tour, a cookout was held for all the homeowners and volunteers.

 Local builder and industrialist Diodate Swan, who died in 1895 leaving his children to develop the area, laid out the area known as ‘Belmont Heights’.  Most houses were constructed after 1900 in the popular Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles.  All 3 of his sons as well as his widow lived on Bellevue Avenue.  Tour homes were all Colonial Revival style, which began after the Centennial Exposition of 1876 sparked renewed interest in the country’s colonial past.  It soon became the most popular style in the East. Such houses were more symmetrical than Victorian houses and featured classically inspired decoration.

 Special thanks go to participating owners for sharing their homes: William & Jean Bowdren, Jesse Steele & Tony Keevan, David & Jacqueline Pleet, Chad & Phyllis Thompson, Michael & Jessica Hall, and Ray O’Dell, Tony Navarro, & Joseph Jester.

The Trust Board is now working on an Atwater park Tour for October 21.  Anyone interested in helping to plan or staff the tour should contact Bob McCarroll at 736-0629 or bobmccarroll@juno.com. 

Henry Hobson Richardson, 1836 - 1886

 Few architects are prominent and innovative enough to have an architectural style named after them.  Henry Hobson Richardson was one of them.  His unique American interpretation of Romanesque style has forever linked his name to this powerful massive style.  During the 1870’s his strong personal style evolved by incorporating styles from many sources.

 His arches are frequently not true Romanesque but Syrian, an early creation that springs from the ground level.  He stressed unusual, sculpted shapes in stone, giving his structures great individuality.  Heaviness was an ever-present characteristic of style, emphasized not only by the stone construction, but also by deep windows, cavernous recessed door openings, and banks of windows.  Openings were further defined by contrasting color, texture of stone, or by short robust columns.  Towers occur in about 75% of Richardson’s buildings; a second tower usually occurs in about 15% of his buildings.

 Richardson was immensely popular and designed many public buildings of importance.  Springfield had six of his buildings. His first commission was the Unity Church (1868-1869), now demolished, which was on State St. across from the library. The second and third commissions, the Boston & Albany office building (1867), and the Agawam Bank (1867) are both gone.  His fourth commission, the Hampden County Court House on Elm Street, is still standing.

 His fifth commission, the North Congregational Church on the corner of Salem & Elliot Street, is also standing, but the last Springfield building designed by H.H. Richardson, the Benjamin Bowles house (1873) located at the corner of School & Union, was also demolished.

 Other Richardson designed building in Massachusetts include Trinity Church, Boston; Crane Memorial Public Library, Quincy; Ames memorial Library, N. Easton; the Public Library, Woburn; Thomas Treat Pine estate, Waltham; Baptist Church, Newton; Boston & Albany Railway Station, Palmer; and the Holyoke Railroad Station.

 Trinity Church is among the most famous of Richardson’s designs.  It established him as a truly national figure in the field of architecture.  In the following 10 years he designed approx. 50 buildings, most in the same style.  In each you can see the rich texture of the material and the rhythmical pattern of the opening round arches.

 Advertisement

 Get your very own copy of the famous video, ‘Homes of the City’.  The video was produced by the SPT and is shown on public access TV. This video shows the wide variety of architectural styles in Springfield - from  Federal to the Raised Ranch. After a few viewings of the video, you too will be able to identify your surroundings by architectural style. The video is available from the SPT for a $5.00 contribution. Call the office at 747-0656 or drop a note to us at SPT, 74 Walnut St., Springfield 01105.

 Thank You Linda Langevin 

I want to thank Linda in advance for her leadership and guidance of the Trust from now until the end of October while I am away. Linda’s organizational skills, leadership and imagination make it possible for the Trust to be as successful as we are. Thank You, Jim Boone 

Logo Contest 

In the last newsletter we asked if you could identify the buildings in our new logo.  If you think you know all 9 buildings, complete the contest form (enclosed) and send your answers to SPT, 74 Walnut St. Springfield. All the correct answers will go into a drawing and 10 winners will be chosen.  Good luck! 

Membership information 

The SPT membership roster is growing; we currently have 140 members.  We’ve had a great response to our mailings and several people joined thanks to the Spring House tour.  Jess broke down the membership geographically and 112 members (80%) live in Springfield.  We also have 9 members from Longmeadow (6.4%), 3 members from Agawam (3.1%), 2 members from E. Longmeadow (1.4%), and 1 member from each of the following towns: Monson; Lenox; Ludlow; Hartford, CT; Great Barrington; Southwick; Amherst; Brewster; W. Springfield; Enfield, CT; Williamsburg; Palmer; Ware; and Westfield (all of which make up the remaining 10.1%).

Jim Boone

Bill Devlin

Jack Hess

Linda Langevin

Michael Marcinkewich

Bob McCarroll

Marilyn Sutin, Editor

Want to help preserve Springfield's built environment? Join our organization and become a vital part of the movement to preserve our built environment and promote our architectural heritage. Join now online.

Monthly meetings of the Springfield Preservation Trust are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Mason Wright Retirement Center, 74 Walnut Street.  All Trust members are welcome.