BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 -- -- Area 3000 Form no. 124 PHOTO (3x3" or 3x5" , black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. -Town_ Springfield Address1139-55 Main Street Historic Name Colonial Block (PSMRA) Use: Original Commercial/residential Present Commercial/residential Ownership:[ Private individual Private organization Public Original owner Pascal I. Morse DESCRIPTION: Date 1902-1905 Source springfield Republican Style Georgian Revival Architect/Builder: Pascal Morse Exterior wall fabric Brick Outbuildingsnone BLISS STOCKBRIDGE 124 CROSSETT WILLOW Recorded by_ Margo Webber Organization Anderson Notter Finegold Inc.
Date June, 1981 Assessor's Map #312 UTM Ref: 18/699580/4663530 Springfield South Quadrangle (Staple additional sheets here) Major alterations (with dates)_ Souther section added, 1905; Storefronts remodelled, 1974 Moved no Date_ Approx. acreageLess than1 acre . Setting_Urban context fronting on Main Street among buildings of similar size and type. CRITERIA STATEMENT: The Colonial Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. Constructed in 1902-05, it reflects the southward expansion of the downtown; it is unusual in its mixed commercial/residential use and serves as a highly visible transition point between the downtown and residential neighborhoods beyond. Additionally, it is a particularly well detailed and executed building of the period which remains nearly intact. It meets criteria A & C of the National Register of Historic Places.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) The Colonial Block is a representative example of Georgian Revival motifs adapted to commercial architecture. Within the downtown survey area, it is unusual in that the upper floors were designed for residential use during a period of development that was nearly entirely focussed on commercial and office expansion. The prominent five-story building has. a rounded bay at its northwest corner. The long facade also features projecting bays which create a rhythmic undulating effect. This effect is carried through at the cornice level, 'where the projecting Classical detailing also projects to follow the forms of the bays along the facade. The northern section was completed in 1902. The southern section was completed in 1905 to match the design of the original.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The Colonial Block was erected in 1902-1905 by Pascal L. Morse, a local carpenter and real estate owner. It was built to house Morse's own Real estate office, but was primarily speculative in nature. The ground floor contained stores and shops; the second floor housed offices and commercial uses, while the three upper floors were residential in nature. The building also contained Colonial Hall, a large meeting hall and clubroom. Over the years, the tenants of groud floor shops changed frequently, ranging from dressmakers, dentists and barbers to men's furnishings and a shoe store. A prime tenant was the Manhattan Supply Company, later to become the Hirschen Furniture Company.
A furniture store has for many years since served as prime tenant; in the 1930's, it was Kane's Furniture, and more recently, Okun's. The building's significance is largely due to its role in maintaining the southern blocks of the downtown area as a viable commercial trade center during the early 20th century, despite the increasing inclination of many merchants to be closer to the train station and North Blocks area. The construction of such a large and handsome block in 1905 was instrumental in strengthening the commercial focus of this area and stabilizing it for continued growth. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Building Permits Springfield Street Directories Springfield Daily Republican, December 29, 1902, p. 4 Springfield Daily Republican, January 1, 1906, p.
6 20M-2/80 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Dopt Interier National Park Servic Colonial Block (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: - sample Reviower's comments: Working No 116/82-3025 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due:/2/9/82 12/25/82 Action: ACCEPT LRETURNCZ 2/82 REJECT_ Federal Agency: - request - appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria - Reviower Discipline_ Date - 800 continuation sheet technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed balow -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification dadur auettie 4. Owner of Property Prasont Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys tie property toon enmmined alrgitta - e - o 7.
Description andtler sotertorate ruins dock ene _ unaitered - atered Chack one _mored acortas the prosend and ertginad (il kaoroml piryeieel aspoerene summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance orle Arees of Sh nolcanas-cn e 81 ignller estlly ulhder Arehitee! summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relation ship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data - el nominatad propert) medrangle nem UNTT Reterenoes Varbel boundery doscrtatlen and jasttcette Plense 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tie ereluated signifioance of thia property wtthin the ecate is: _Rstional _ state -- Buute Mtesorte Proervatton Officer signeture 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerningthis nomination may be directed to Signed - - Date/2/22/82 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 574< Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area State MA Nomination/Type of Review 41. Colonial Block 42. McKinney Building Entered In the Natinnal Pegister Entered In the National Register Entered In National Reglater p 43. Bangs Block 44.
Burbach Block Entered tit National Reglater 45. Apremont Iriangle HistoriC Lubstantive Revtem District 46. WCA Boarding House Entered In the National Register 47. French Congregational Church Entered In tha National Begiater 48. St. Joseph's Church snicred in the National Begister. 49. Milton-Bradley Company icred in the Natipnal Bogtsbar fReoper Date/Signature XelmByus 2/24/83 Attest fReeper Aeluußgen 1/4/t3 Attest /Keeper ZemuBgenethe. Attest /Keeper AeluuByer 4/29/83 Attest Keeper taca ta erg.
5/27/83 Attest FReeper dulmßger 121183 Attest jKéeper delumByer 4/24183 Attest fReeper AelouaByus 2/24/83 Attest fueeper AlilonaByes 4483 Attest Keeper Attest ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES iited States Departm el el the laterier ational Park Servici Colonial Block (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Working No. L/ 10/82-3020 Fed. Reg. Date:- Date Due:. Action: ACCEPT 2/24/83 Entered in the - RETURN National Register - REJECT- Federal Agency:- -sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Rocom. /Criteria - Reviewer_ Discipline- Date - e- continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: _ technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification wke homntattion 4.
Owner of Property Aotu coccl Prosont Ueo 5. Location of Legal Description. 6. Representation in Existing Surveys M aie property tomn t -' 7. Description endtle escelter pood taw renorae ruine doca ane - unertered atered summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity datas check ane _ origenal site mored dera 8. Significance arte Aroes of si sode detee and ol lionttcenoo fos cas pano summary paragraph completeness Clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data JrT Roterensss erbalb 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evat onnoe of thie property wtwn the ecoce i atone! starte .-- raca - Missonc Preserration Offcer eigneture 13.
Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed . Date - Phone: 202 272 - 350 Dewitenn Spring Field MRA, Ma Colanial Black 1139-55 Mainst 8268 311S 18701 /37 EL'E0/ 133 127 g: A68, 89.85 116.5 9714 St9ol 69.88 114.9, PASSAGE WAY 14499 9670 89.02 73 5g Bersto ES 1676 64.18 8z. 78 _7784 82.56 102.04 26211 SL11 MAIN 02. 3187 L.C. 0012 40 8L 2034 2911 5-/! [711 1056 2 6 66 7200 L972 22/78851 t9 b0 /6/19 60.36 60. 123 3926 S511 Zesi ZS+ 9/19/ WILLOW 72 (m.oy) 02- 1c2.65 7,8+è 34 10449 1"=50' SpringPield MRA 6+// 12. . Lti .. 12 12 EziI Sz .2 I PAR E111 SI 1 611 .33 282 Colonial Block #124 1139-1155 Main St. Okun's with the Red Canopy Entrance Colonial+124 RECEIVED C Blcck SEP - 2 1982 MASS. HIST.COMM. MORRIS OKUN JOSEPH OKUN 1139 MAIN ST. TEL. 732-2105 TEL. 739-5605. SPRINGFIELD, MA.
01103 | Sept 1982 massachusetts Historical Covamission 294 Waskington Street Ioston, Mass. 02108 Io whom it may concern, This is to declare our acceptance of nomination to the national Register, for property 1139-1155 main street, sprigfield, mass. We ae delighted to be considered. Please send a copy of the nomination to: joseph okun 160 Lynnwood Drive Fongmeadons, mass. 01106 Please confirm receipt of this letter. Sincerely, Goseph oken DECCECOLS MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State September 8, 1982 Mr. Joseph 0kun 160 Lynwood Drive Longmeadow, MA 01106 Dear Mr.
Okun: Thank you for your recent letter supporting nomination of your property at 1139-1155 Main Street (Colonial Block, #124) to the National Register of Historic Places. The State Review Board will be informed of your position when they consider the Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area on September 8, 1982. A copy of the nomination form is enclosed, as you re- quested. Sincerely, Candace fenkirns Candace Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Commission enclosure CJ/pg