BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM A - AREA MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA. 02108 Form numbers in this area Area letter 64, 66, 104, 105, 106, 69 A-park B Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Town Springfield Name of area (if any)_Apremont Triangle Historic District (Dcrintrrin springfild MRA), Tct. Pear! Hillman, Bridge, and chestnut. General date or period 1910-1926 Sketch map. Draw a general map of the area indicating properties within it. Number each property for which individual inventory forms have been completed. Label streets (including route numbers, if any) and indicate north. (Attach a -.. chant if cnaca hara ic nnt cuffirient) 64 BRIDDE 66 HIALMAN 69 105 104 L CHESTNUT A 69. YMCA Building 64. Tarbel1-Waters Building 66. Hotel Kimball 104. Green Block 105. Harris Block 106. Birnie Block A.
Apremont Triangle Park PEARL 106 OJe MG3G x fo FUG JOKK Assessor's Map # #313, 402, 403 UTM Reference-18/699340/4664080 Springfield South Quadrangle Recorded by Fred Clark; Margo Webber- Organization_Springfield Historical Commission; ANF Inc. Date March 1979; June 1981 (Staple additiona sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE of area. (Describe physical setting, general character, and architecturally significant structures). The Apremont Triangle is a triangular green space/park which is well-contained on all sides by a grouping of buildings designed expressly to harmonize with one another and to complement, in scale and massing, the design and scale of the park. The park is bounded by sidewalks on all three of its outside edges. A paved path runs from the center of the western edge to a flagpole near the center of the park.
Landscaping consists of several large trees near the outside edges of the park and a low, u-shaped hedge of shrubs at the flagpole. A bronze plaque, commemorating the Battle of Apremont, France, is affixed to a rough-hewn slab of granite near the park's western edge. The Hotel Kimball is the highlight of the district and forms the western edge of the grouping. Its rich detail and bold massing work together to draw attention to this end of the park. The Birnie,Harris and Green Blocks were all designed by the Samuel M. Green Company as compatible neighbors for one another and to form a clear edge to the ability to design using a variety of stylistic vocabularies. These buildings were HISTORTEAL "SICHFICANEE steareant sexplarn developuent oft are area. area, o,ficat cansethit, con'd) and how it affected community; be specific).
The Apremont Triangle is one of the few public open spaces provided in downtown Springfield for public use. It was developed in a formerly residential area, but not until 1924. Although the Hotel Kimball was completed in 1910, the rest of the area did not become commercial until 1924. In that year, Pearl Street was realigned to join Hillman, and Bridge Street was extended east to form the triangle. The park was dedicated as a World War I memorial and is named after the famous World War battle at Apremont, France. Commercial development of the area was a logical outgrowth of expansion in the downtown. Located on a rise above 'the downtown, this area boasted cleaner air than in the now congested downtown, and it also could command a fine panoramic view of the Connecticut River to the west. For auto showrooms,larger spaces were needed that the old Main Street blocks could afford.
It was logical to locate these showrooms as close to downtown as possible, but also within range of the auto manufacturers, which were mainly in East Springfield and Brightwood. The area has remained commercial in its orientation, but retains a quieter pace than the rest of downtown. This is in part due to the conscious effort made to create a park-like setting for the building. The district meets criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Bui Iding Permits Springfield Street Directories Western New England, April 1911, P. 34, February, 1912, pp. 59-60 Albert Winston Cobb, National Encyclopedia of Biography, 1925.
Springfield Scrapbook, Volume 20, p.70 Springfield Union, April 18, 1926 Industries of Western Massachusetts, 1928, Volume 1, pp.77-78 2M-6/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Commmity: Form No: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Springfield Area B Property Name : Apremont Triangle Page 3 Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. The first floor was originally occupied by Arthur E. Center Inc., which was the local agency for Pontiac Automobiles. in 1933, A.E. Center moved across the Triangle to the Birnie Building but retained this store for used car sales. Samue1 M. Green Co. occupied most of the second floor until Mr. Green's death in 1934. Mr. Green had formed his company of architects and engineers in 1908. The company was particularly well suited for large technical projects and earned an international reputation. 105.
Harris Block; 454-472 Bridge Street; 1925. Architect-Samuel M. Green Co., Style-Commercial (classical). This building is one of three similar structures designed by the Samuel M. Green Company at Apremont Triangle. Its two-story height, limestone facing and rhythmically spaced openings are harmonious with the other buildings facing the Triangle and help to define the strong context of the park. The entrances and cornice decoration are characteristic Classical motifs which add visual interest to the design. These builidings replaced the former large house lots of what had previously been a residential neighborhood. The building is named after Daniel L. Harris, whose home formerly stood on the site. The building was designed to house five stores, with entrances on Bridge Street. Upstairs were professional offices.
The corner store was first occupied by Rolls Royce of America as their branch office and showroom. In 1920, Springfield had been selected as site for the American headquarters and plant for the company. Until this building was complete, all sales were handled at the East Springfield factory. For several years, Rolis-Royce played a major role in the industrial development and auto industry boom which Springfield experienced in the 1920's. The showroom houses three custom-built auto bodies manufactured locally. It played an important role in the Apremont Triangle image as an auto-related commercial area. Several auto repair shops located nearby on Winter Street; and in the 1920's, several other auto showrooms also were located at the Triangle. The area's proximity to the central downtown made it a convenient and accessible locale for auto sales. 106.
Birnie Block; 109-121 Chestnut Street, 1923. Architect-Samuel M. Green Co; Style-Commercial (Moderne). This is a two story building which is faced with limestone. Its 19205 scommercial design is enlived by Moderne details. This is one of three commercial buildings designed by the Samuel M. Green Company at Apremont Triangle. It is named after William Birnie whose houses formerly occupied the site. Six stores occupied the Chestnut Street frontage, while two larger stores were on Pearl Street. These latter stores served as showrooms for several automobile dealers. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : E9,0,10 Springfield 105, 106, Property Name: Apremont Triangle Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
represent a conscious effort to create a visually cohesive area, which was typical of city planning attitudes during the first quarter of hte century. 64. Tarbel-Waters Building; 144-154 Chestnut Street; 1924-1926 Architect-H.L. Spraque; Style-Commercial with Gothic Revival Details The building serves as an edge to the northwest corner of the Apremont Triangle district. Its five-story height creates a transition between the taller Hotel Kimball and the two-story Birnie Building. Architecturally, the building is an interesting example of 1920's design. It combines Gothic Revival details at the cornice and upper stories with large windows achieved through modern steel con- struction techniques. The storefronts remain largely intact. Edward Tarbell and Franklin Watters formed a company in 1915 to distribute auto parts. Their business grew rapidly with the growing automobile trade.
By 1923 they were able to hire h.L. Sprague, Springfield's prominent architectural fir, to design a five-story building. Iwo years later, another building permit was filed to build and adjoining large two-story building. This is the present structure. The auto supply business occupied the first floors and the remaining portion was rented. In the mid-thirties most of the tenants were doctors. 66. Hotel Kimbal; 134-140 Chestnut Street; 1910 Architect-Albert W. Cobb; Style- Renaissance Revival. This is an important local example of Renaissance Revival design elements adapted to a contemporary hotel structure. Its setting, adjacent to the open space of Apremont Triangle, highlights the large scale and bold massing of the facade. Careful attention to detail creates a very grand appearance for the hotel.
Sty- listic details include the rusticated stone base, arched window openings with stone voussoirs, vertical stone banding, which creates a "quoined" effect, and a richly articulated cornice profile of Classical derivations. The Hotel Kimball was the first commercial structure in the Apremont Triangle area and marked the transition of the area from residential to commercial use. It was built in 1910 by a partnership of 50 leading businessmen who formed the . Hampden Hotel Company in response to a recognized need for new hotel rooms to meet the city's growing role as a regional trade center. Col. Charles H. Tenney, George W. Sweeney and Charles W. Shean headed this group and were largely respon- sible for the hotel's early success. William M. Kimball, whose name the hotel has retained,served as its first manager.
Reflecting the prosperity and confidence of the times, the hotel was built at a cost of $1,000,000 and was considered the largest and finest hotel in the city. It has the largest ballroom of any area hotel. In 1923, an addition was built, bringing the total rooms to 309. It could accomodate 500 guests and boasted every modern convenience in hotel accomodations. The building was designed by Albert Winslow Cobb, who was better known for his revival style residences than for his commercial projects. He also designed the Steiger's store in Hartford and the Poland Springs Hotel in Maine. He is also remembered for spearheading the drive to save the Bulfinch Statehouse.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom 69, INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Commmity : Form No: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Springfield Area B Property Name: Apremont Triangle Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 69. YMCA Building; 114-122 Chestnut Street; 1916,1929 Architect - Shattuck & Hussey; Style-Classical Revival The YMCA Building relates well to adjacent buildings in terms of scale and massing, and with them defines an edge of the Apremont Triangle district by enclosing its southwest corner. The scale maintains the strong western edge begun by the Hotel Kimball, while the building's northeast corner wraps around the corner of Hillman Street to effectively orient its corner bay to the Triangle. Architecturally, the YMCA features Classical Revival detailing of white stone to accentuate the east and north facades.
This includes stone coursing at the ground and second floor levels and two projecting three-bay balconies at the second story of the east facade. The balcony bays are further articulated by five story brick piers which extend upward to frame round-arched window openings at the sixth story. The first floor windows have arched heads, keystones, and are trimmed in stone. The top story repeats and elaborates upon the Classical theme in its even bolder use of stone coursing, window trim and richly modelled frieze beneath a projecting stone cornice. The YMCA building is significant to Springfield's growth as a commercial and bus- iness center well into the first third of the 20th century.
The Springfield YMCA was founded in 1857 to provide decent housing and services to the growing influx of travelling businessmen who visited the city during its early years as a rail- roading and commercial crossroads. First located close to the railroad station for proximity to its clientele, the YMCA later moved to its own building at the corner of State and Dwight Streets. These quarters, a prominent Romanesque Revival structure, were again outgrown, prompting the 1915 construction of the Chestnut Street facility adjacent to the Hotel Kimball, recently opened and very prestigious among local hotels. The YMCA provided a relatively inexpensive hotel facility for travellers to the city and was very popular. This led to the 1929 construction of a seven story addition at the southern side of the original building, enabling the YMCA to offer 130 hotel rooms.
The lower floors of the building contained recreation facilities for use by guests, as well as by local residents. The decline of Springfield's commercial economy from the 1930's onward included a lessened demand for hotel facilities. The. YMCA's emphasis shifted to recreational programs for community residents and youth groups, and the hotel rooms were adapted to long-term boarders. The YMCA moved to a new facility in 1968. 104. Green Block; 486-496 Bridge Street; 1925. Architect-Samuel M. Green Co., Style-Commercial (Classical). This is a two story building which is faced with limestone. Its 1920's commercial design is enlived by a richly detailed classical cornice. This is one of three commercial buildings designed by the Samuel M. Green Co. at Apremont Triangle in the mid 1920's. One large store occupied the first floor while offices were on the second floor.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Form No: Springfielld Area B. Property Name: Apremont Triangle Page 4 Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. The auto showrooms occupying the major ground floor spaces of the block contributed to the Triangle's image as an automobile-related commercial area in the 1920's. Proximity to downtown commerce and Winter Street auto repair shops made this an ideal location for the growing auto-related sales industry, which was supported by the many local companies, whuch as Durea, Smith Carriage and Rolls Royce, who were manufacturing autos and auto parts.
Acreage: 3.8 acres Verbal Boundary Description and Justification The district includes the Apremont Triangle, a small early twentieth century park, and the six period buildings which enframe it. Boundaries were selected to highlight this relationship. Please refer to assessor's maps #313, 402, 403. Staple to Inventory form at bottom VATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States D ol she lnterier lational Park Servi Substantive Reviey Apremont Triangle Historie District (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Working No. 110% 82-3625 Fed. Reg. Date: Dato Due: 12/9/8== 5/8 Action: ACCEPT RETURN/4 /22/8 REJECT.
Federal Agency:- - sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Aand Destriet is eligible undu critedid C aud mantes a rumsei g gane Recom./ Criteria architeckral exaxpt Bearly 2arhtete. com- Discipline_ Hhot Propety o keing retusned Date - 12 - 600 continuation sheet fer techmeal -Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below conectmo (H10) -substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification anershu be lo odonti 4. Owner of Property Aetur ssocola hoson Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys en fote property beon doerrained olrgicia? - 79 - no 7.
Description endtlor ercetter good foir Ietertorate ruine hock em _ unaitered Wtered chack ene .moved sartes the prosont and ertoinad (il kesomna) pinyeteed anpoeramo summary paragraph Jcompleteness larity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Perted Aroes ef S4 poaile dates atemont of Signilleen summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification ofareas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data ed naminased property- rangle name UMT Rotorance Pleaae Aromule acrnse Iertel X leperiptien and jstifice plene pisvedl 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tie evatuated significance of thie property adltrn the scate le: Metiona!
.state -- toca Htetorke Preservation Officer signeture X13. Other Maps - Photographs Pleare indicake distrct boundanes on sketchmap. Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Leads MClulang Signed Anccullad - Dato 12/22/82 Phone: 202 272 -3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group szys Name Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area State Nomination/Type of Review 41. Colonial Block 42. McKinney Building 43. Bangs Block Entered In the Matinnal Pegister Entered In the National Regiater Entered In National Regiater 44. Burbach Block Entered National Regiater 45.
Apremont Triangle HistoriC Eubstantive Reviem District 46. WCA Boarding House 47. French Congregational Church 48. St. Joseph's Church Entered In the National Register Entered In the National Register inicred in the National Begister ccred in the Natipnal E0g2s1621 49. Milton-Bradley Company 50. Date/Signature fReeper 2/21(8) Attest fReeper delou1Azen 2/24/83 Attest /Keeper 2heuBgen1et/8.
Attest Keeper AeluuBye 2/24/83 Attest Keeper tace lualeny $/27/P3 Attest fReeper selmByes 42183 Attest fireeper MelunByen 4/24183 Attest fReeper AelouByus 2/24/83 Attest fkeeper Klelmabyes 424pr3 Attest Keeper Attest NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States Deparimo at of the lnterier Netional Park Service Substantive Review EYALUATION / RETURN SHE Apremont Triangle Historic District (Downtown Springfield MRA) MA, Hampden County resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Roviower's comments: NERBAL BOUNDARY DESCAPRON AND JOSTIFCATION PRIVIUES Working No.10.11.82-3025 Fat. Re0. Date: 212583 Date Due: Action: ACCEPT 5/27/83 - RETURN REJECT. Federa! Agency:_ -sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Rocom.
/Criteria LecEDT - Ate Reviower - Ma DOULAL Discipline_ A.lt- Date_ 5.21.82 - s00 continuation sheet _ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. 3. Location Classification Prosont Uen 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys this property 7. Description montorates ruine bock em unertered Itered el (I keeee) po summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates Sheck ene -moved a. - moved 8. Significance summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the- resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification aperty sigun the crate is: les!
13. Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Signed - Date_ Phone: 202 272 - 350 Commentsforany Item may be continued on an attached sheet ONE WAY Intonio 's RINDERS ANTONIOS & No. II 106 Dowiten, Springhie e/MRAA Aprenest Transle A.D. 001 000C Bar RESTAURANEY 00000000 BAR & GRILL LEASI TE 190E MARKARIAN & MARKARIAN INC. SINCE 1895 ORIENTAL RUGS BROADLOOM CARPETS 105 lea,tom SprinFreda MRA, ARA,Ma Aprement Trianle It,D. CANNON. CANNON RESTAURANT 00800000 105 Dowstewn Spring FieldMRA Ma Aprenent Tringle 12.0, ON 64 Denntem Springfielel MDA.MA Aprenest Trenshe H.0. PEARL ST CHESTNUT ST ONE TAY 69 - eringfida MRA, A Apresnent ent Trienge H.D. POR RENT -NO* PARKING ANY TIME 134-140 ChestautSt. db Downten spring Frel MRA, Na Aprc nout Tria, 4.D. GRAPHIC ARTS INC 104 Deuntons Springiel MRA, Ma Aprenat Tranga HD.
BAR % MARKARIAN & MARKARIAN INC Deunteun Springfreld MRA Ma Apremest Trangl H.D? I Think