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. 114 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 _Address_ 1600 East Columbus Avenue Historic Name Springfield District Court (DSMRA Use: Original Police Court Present Municipal offices Ownership:-] Private individual Private organization Public city of Springfiela Original owner Hampden County DESCRIPTION: Date_ 1930 Source Springfield Union, 12/14/30 Style_ Neo-Classical Revival Architect_E.C. & G.C. Gardner Exterior wall fabric_Limestone Outbuildings -- none I-91 COLUMBUS PUNCHON ST. Major alterations (with dates)_none EAST Moved _na Date_ COURT ST.
Recorded by_Margo Webber Approx. acreage_less than 1 acre Setting_Urban context is somewhat lost by Organization_Anderson Notter Finegold Inç. new highway and interchange to west and Date June, 1981 north; fronts on E. Columbus, directly west of Municipal Group and is compatible in design and materials. Assessor's Map #306 UTM Ref: 18/699170/4663580 Springfield South Quadrangle (Staple additional shroets here) CRITERIA STATEMENT The Springfield District Court possesses integrity of !ocation, setting, de- sign materials, and workmanship. Built to house an expanding court, it represents the growth of the city in the early twentieth century as well as its important regional civic role. Additionally, it is a well conceived expression of the austere later phase of the classical revival. 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 Springfield District Court is a fine example of Neo-Classical Revival arch- itecture and is typical of much public architecture from the 1920-1930 period. The büilding was designed to be a compatible neighbor to the Municipal Group, and succeeds at this with its bold scale and similar limestone facing. The handsome facade is nine bays wide with a wide decorated frieze. The three center bays are set in antis behind two full-height columns. The doors and windows feature decorative spandrels and brass trim.
It is a well des, nec lccal HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The first known district court in Springfield was established in 1823 at the corner of Main and Sanford Streets. In 1874, the court relocated to the new County Courthouse on Elm Street, including the police court, which was pro- vided for in the City Charter of 1852. Judge James H. Morton first presided over the court, followed by Judge Gideon Wells. Prisoners were paraded from the old police building (which stood next to the District Court) in front of the First Church of Christ and on into the Courthouse. Public outcry that the prisoners should not be paraded past the church led to relocation of the police court in the police building.
By 1929, the Court had outgrown its quarters again, and plans for the present building were initiated. Caseloads had already grown to 18,120 cases annually, so the new facility was designed to handle up to 100,000 cases per year. It was designed by local architects Gardner & Gardner and constructed for $400,000. It was built under the direction of County Commission chairman John G. Maxfield, and Commissioners Charles W. Bray and Edward J. Stapleton. Judge Wallace R. Heady served as first judge in the new building. The new courthouse handled all district court business, both civil and criminal, for the City of Springfield and for the surrounding towns of West Springfield, Agawam, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Ludlow and Hampden.
A basement passage- way was built to connect the police building and courthouse for bringing women prisoners to court, and an overhead bridge nicknamed the "Bridge of Sighs" was used to bring male detainees to the court. (Continued on next page) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES City Atlases Springfield Union, December 14, 1930 Springfield Union and Springfield Republican, December 21, 1930 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Form No: Springfield 114 Property Name : Springfield District Court Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Continued) The district court was built of steel and cement with lavish marble interiors, The first floor contained the civil and criminal courtrooms, offices, judges' rooms, a library, probation quarters and medical offices.
The building remained in use as district court until the 1970's, when the new County Courthouse at Court Square was completed. It now serves as City Hall Annex. Staple to Inventory form at bottom YATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States Dop She Interier Mational Park Servic Substantive Heview Spring field District Court (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Roviower's comments: Working No. 4lN82:3025 Fed. Reg. Date: Dato Due: 12/9/82- 12/25762 Action: - ACCEPT - RETURN/ 2/22/82 REJECT Federal Agency: sample _ request __ appeal - NR decision Eligible unde Ciiteria A + C, propectu needs v.b.d. Recom.
/ Criteria Reviewer Miceuad Discipline_ hhal Date- 12/22/82 - 800 continuation sheet technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification enpotettion 4. Owner of Property moson Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys en lhle property beon detarminad olribla? - 1es - no 7. Description eteriorated ruins Chack ane . unaitered .aitered chock ene - moved acortos the prosont and ertotmal (Il kaoroa) pirpeiaed anpeerame summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance Perled Aroes of Stenitcam posifle detee atomont af Stontfeenoo (on elkder krehk paragran 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 X10. Geographical Data laroogo of naminated property bedrangle name UNTT Poterances varbel bouadery dosertatten and jaatihoetien x Please perle 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated stgnificance of shie proporty wlthin she ecate is: netional _ state loca' Du Mietoric Praservetion OMficer signeture 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to LmCluland signed 2 Mecuuad - Da1o 12/22/82 Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet NPS Form 10-900-a 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 4u$ Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area Nomination/Type of Review 31. Hibernian Block 32. McIntosh Building 33. Willy's 'bverland Block 34. Haynes Hotel Waters Building 35. Springfield District Count 36.Walker Building 37. United Electric Company Building 38. Radding Building 139. Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company 40. Guenther & Handel's Block Substantive Revieu Entered In the 1T.+:.
Frrioton Entered In t5e National Reglater tkeeper Attest Tkeeper Entered In tEe National Register Attest Keeper Entered In tEe National Eegistar Attest feeper Attest Substantire Rerier Keeper Attest Entered In 1 the Nationa1 Reglster fReeper Entered In the National Register Attest /Keeper Entered i National Register Attest tKeeper Entered In t Natippal i0gistom Attest Akeeper Attest Keeper Attest Date/Signature DelonBgan 2lyt: AelonBzua 2/21/73 DebrusByen 424/83 Sdelmlzen 44163 tauea ha Poayd c/ain KlelonByu 4/21/83 AelmuBzen 4/24/83 Selrue Byus 114/8 Ailouaßzur 4241163 ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES itted States Dopartmant of thhe latarter tional Park Service Substantive Review' Springfield District Court (Downtown Springfield MRA) .Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No.
1/co/y2 - 30z,- Fed. Reg. Date: 2.7.84 Date Due:_ 4/1/83 Action: - ACCEPT 2/24/83 - RETURN - REJECT - Federal Agency:- sample - request - appeal - NR decision Recom. / Criteria AtC daan Reviewer. Uu /1rg Discipline. 1.(1 Date. 2/24/82 continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification wate soodarior 4. Owner of Property Prosont Ueo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Mos Mie property been en 7. Description esceler Jood hoer rutne Joca em . unertered atered (W ku summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dat Check ene ongenar site moved dare - 8.
erle Significance Areas ef Sionieame 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 JIT Reterenes 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The erel eend agrefioence of thhie property withen he scstei etonal etare loca tatone Praservaton Omcer etgnerun 13. Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Signed. - Date Phone: 202 272 - 35C ONYaS Deunteun Spring Fild MRA, Ma. Spring Field Distrit Cart COURT 04.40 Aoune.. ROUTE 9| 12/ 87 50.97 132 3-..3÷ /14 14C 7574 EAST COLUMBUS .- r-J atmadeg NO 05: AVE PYNCHON 164.83