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. 42 PHOTO: (3x3" or 3x5", black & white) staple to left side of form Photo number SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Indicate north. N.CHURCH AVE STEARNS STEARNS SQ. BRIDGE ST. Town Springfield Address 300-308 Bridge Street Historic Name Fitzgerald's Stearns Squ BPcl OSMRA Ownership: Stearns Sq. Realty Corp.
Original Owner: Patrick Fitzgerald Use: Present Commercial Original_ Commercial/Residential DESCRIPTION: Date 1871 Source - Springfield Directory, 1871-72 Style Italianate/Panel Brick Architect Perkins and Gardner Exterior wall fabric brick Outbuildings Major alterations (with dates)_ storefronts mid 20th century Recorded by Ed Lonergan ; ed. Margo Webber Organization Spfld. Historical Commission Date Jan, 1980; Aug, 1982 UTM Ref: 18/699140/4663930 Springfield South Quadrangle Assessor's Map #309 (Staple additional sheets here) Moved no Date_ less than one acre Approx. acreage Setting_ Corner block within a continuous row of historic structures of similar size lining the north side of Bridge Street. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community.) The Stearns Square Block meets Criteria B and C.
It is associated with local developer Patrick Fitzgerald and is an important example of the early work of noted local architect E.C. Gardner. This is the earliest known commercial design by the firm of Perkins and Gardner who worked in Springfield in the 1860's and '70's'. Other works of theirs still standing (Continuation Page) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) Patrick Fitzgerald was a prominent real estate developer in downtown Springfield in the early 1870's. He is known to have built five three-story brick blocks in the downtown including this one and others on Worthington at Stearns Square, Harrison Avenue, Worthington and Fairbanks Avenue and are at Bridge and Water Streets. This is the only one which remains extant and retains its full integrity.
Little is known of Fitzgerald other than that he was a man of means active in the 1870's. Hard times must have hit for several of his mortgages were foreclosed in 1878. The building relates to the first phase of commercial development in the post-Civil war years and illustrates the transition of downtown streets from residential to commercial use. The upper floors originally housed ten tenements. The architectural style is a good example of early Panel Brick commercial design in the downtown and is the only remaining example of its type. Other examples of the Panel Brick style such as the W.F. Young Co. and Clark Block (N.R.), both on Lyman Street are both later in date and more elaborate in design. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date, and publisher) Springfield Directory; 1869 - 1875, p. 26. Centennial Map of Springfield, 1875 Picturesque Hampden; 1891, p.
32 Springfield Daily Republican, December 13, 1906, p. 5. ibid, December 16, 1929 The Shingle Style and the Stick Style, Vincent Scully Vertical File: Springfield Library; E.C. Gardner. 10M - 7/82 - INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Springfield Form No: 42 Property Name: Fitzgerald's Stearns Square Block Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (cont'a) include the 27-35 Mattoon Street rowhouses (N.R.), the Rufus Chase House, W.M. Allis Mansion and First Congregational Church Chapel at Court Square (N.R.) and Powers Paper Block (N.R.). E.C. Gardner also gained fame as a publisher of pattern books. He then proceeded to become the city's most prominent and most prolific 19th century architect.
This building is one of the few remaining early Panel Brick commercial blocks in the downtown. The decorative brick treatments create window hoods and cornice decoration is an interesting application of Panel Brick motifs during the style's early years. New signage is inappropriate but has been tacked on above the earlier masonry piers and lintels without damage to historic fabric beneath it. The block retains its integrity of location, design, setting, materials, feeling and association. Staple to Inventory form at bottom -NAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES / she Interier Inited States Dopar National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Fitzgerald's Stearns Square Block (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Roviower's comments: Working No 4/10/82-3025 Fed. Reg.
Date: Date Due: -12/25/8 Action: ACCEPT RETURN 12/2 2/82 REJECT- Federal Agency: -sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Rocom. /Criteria - Reviewer Discipline. Date - 800 continuation sheet technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification morshig Mtte Aeopetettien 4. Owner of Property tocon Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Mee taie property toon determtned elrgibte? - Fo - no 7. Description aodto excelle teu eeteriorsted ruins Chock ene . uneitered - aitered Chock ene - moved unespoee bocrdoo the prosnt and ertained (ll kaaoml pirpaiads anpeanend summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance Perte Aroes of Btgnither anee-Chook and justily bote poallie dates abomsont of Stgnifeam Mder krebhte 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 harogo ol nominarad property badrengie ramo. UNIT Posterences verbel poundary doscrbacten and patthoatten X Pleuse prowde 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evatuatad stgrilticance of thie property wtgmin she stato le: national _ state ate Hastortc Praeervation Officer signeture dorto 13.
Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed - Date_/2/22/82 Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for, anyItem maybe 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 UND IVU. 1UC4-UU18 EXP: 10/31/84 For NPS use only received date entered Pagé 3 y / Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group x 61= 3:83 R Name State Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 21. Cutler and Porter Block Entered in the NationalRegister Jtecper Date/Signature AelouBgun 2/24/83 Attest 22. Produce Exchange Building Entered in the Mational Register /Keeper dilomByen 2/21/83 Attest 23.
Edisonia Theater Block Hpatankive Review DOE/OWNER OBJECTION DotoreoaehDryy 5/2/3 Keeper Attest Baystate Corset Block Intered In thie Hational Begister fReeper MelouaByar s/24/83 / 25. Attest Smith's Building Substantive Review Keeper Bamc/heDryd 2/29/83 26. I.W.C.A. Building Substantive Revien DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest Determined bitgte Keeper Domu hanbon 12/2910 Driscoll's Block v 27. Entered in the Nátional Regiater Attest foReeper OelonaBzur 3p7/83 v 28. Fitzgerald's Stearns Square Block Entered in the National Register Attest fKeeper Stelmßgen 2p4183 V29. Trinity Block Entered in the National Begtster Attest fKeeper Attest SlraByus 227183 '30.
Kellogg's Envelope Block Substantive Revion Keeper Attest NAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES intted States Dopartment of the leterter ational ParkService Fitzgerald's Stearns Square Block (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No. 1/c0/82 - 3625 Fed. Reg. Date:_ 237:8 Date Due: Action: ACCEPT 774/83 Entered in the RETURN. National Register REJECT. Federal Agency:- - sample - request - appeal - NR decision Recom./Criteria. Reviewer. Discipline- Date . see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: -_ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification ootton 4. Owner of Property Prasont Uos 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys Mas this property baen taner pes 7. Description eetonormed ruins Jock em - unertered - atered Chock ane - moved orte the proe ad ertginel (il keownt physieal appoerene summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates 8. Significance erle Ances el Stonttcemo ontacass fon eno persores older Aretiter summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance fo the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data sago of nam rangle rem VNrT Roterenons farbel beundery doesrtatten and festmcetten 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eratuee ad signiltcence of thie property wrn she ecate i ational _ strte -- oca Metonc Preservatton Omcer eigneture dete 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed - Date - Phone: 202 272-350- Commentsforany Item may be continued onan aftached shee! SHOE EASTERN REPAIR FES I EASTEMA alony opticians alony opticians 60 alony opticians GE ST P.E.MURPHY OPTICIANS 42 Dehnteun SpringField MRA, Ma Fite goald's Sterns Squore Block 126.50 -g/ +8/ OLI 99, WORTHINGTON 158 12 20 21.06 oz 1057 F1986 1033 $73 1571 38 39 40 09'L01 $5101 Fitzgurale's Stearn Square B1AcL #42 300-308 Bridk St 1"=50' Spriigrield MRA Gol 511+ 2151 2365 35471 PASSAGE WAY = E.
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