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. 48 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 andlnr STEA SARNS sQ. ed on. ST 1Town_Springfield Address_289 - 309 Bridge Street Historic Name Stearns Building (DSMRA) Original Owner: Dunlap Realty Group Use: Present_retail and office Original stores and effices DESCRIPTION: Date1912 Source Building permit Style ,20thC. Commercial/Gothic Revival de- tail Architect Samuel M. Green Co. Exterior wall fabric stucco Outbuildings none BRIDGE 48 BARNES Major alterations (with dates)_ storefronts mid 20thC. HILLMAN ST Moved no Date- Approx. acreage one acre or less Recorded by : Ed Lonergan, ed.
Candace Jenkins, Setting urban context; within an area Organization Springfield Historical Commission ef similarly scaled buildings dating Date 1978 from the mid 19th to early 20th centuries. Assessor's Map #309 UTM Reference: 18/699180/4663920 Springfield South Quadrangle(Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community.) The Stearns Building is a rather early example (1912) of Gothic Revival motifs adapted to steel and concrete office buildings. The lower stories present a fairly restrained design, with decoration limited to pilaster capitals between shopfront and columnettes between second-story paired windows.
It is not until the cornice line that exuberance of Gothic detailing is fully expressed in amarray of squat lancet-arched reliefs, tracery corner parapets and small turrets between the bays. This is Spring- field's only example of an early twentieth century office tower with historically Gothiç Revival detail. . Alterations have been minimal, including reconstruction. or HISTORICAL" SIGNffTEANEE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) The Stearns Building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. Constructed in 1912 it represents the rapid expansion of Springfield's downtown and the introduction of taller office buildings during that period. It is the downtown's best example of Neo-Gothic design and survives nearly intact.
It meets criteria A & C of the National Register of Historic Places. This building is a modern steel and stone structure of six stories which incorporated the unusual feature of concrete floors. The first floor accomodated seven stores with offices on the upper floors. Samuel M. Green & Co. the engineers and architects for the building laid out the sixth floor especially for their offices. The Green company was involved in many varied architectural and engineering projects all over the world and at the time of the erection of this building they were "the largest firm in this line of business in New England outside of Boston(i) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date, and publisher) Building Department, Building Permits. (1) Western New England, August 1913, p.
367 10M - 7/82 VATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States Der - Interier lational Park Servk Stearns Building (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: 1/1082-3025 Working No Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: 12/9/82- 122s Action: ACCEPT RETURN REJECT- Federal Agency:. 2/27/82 - sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria _ Reviewer Discipline_ Date _seo continuation sheet technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification -mershig volle hoouettier 4. Owner of Property rosont Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hes thie property beon eeterminad olrgible? - rt - no 7.
Description esceller pod toie emterioratec ruins check ano unattered aitered Chock ene - moved acortes the prosant and ertoinel (il kaoronl ptopaieel anpeerenes summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Pertor Areas of s1 later t e su mitarnso ( and jastily baker Bullder Arekttoe summary paragraph compieteness 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 mago el nominatad prosorty undrangte name UNIT Reterenoss Peeae prondem 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tho eratuatad sigriticence of ohle property auttrin she atate la: - Pationa!
-state - oce Bate Mietoric Preservation OMficer signeture date 13. Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to_ Signed Byu - Date/2/22/82 Phone: 202 272 -3504 Comments for anyItem maybe continued on an attached sheet X.6/23/83 NPS Form 10.900-9 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For NPS use only received date entered Continuation sheet Item number Page zarf Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area State - R Nomination/Type of Review 11. Downtown Springfield Railroad District Date/Signature Keeper Bucd 5/27/8 Attest Intered In the 12. Chapin National Bank Building Nat1ona1 Reristantkeeper Attest 18.
Henking Hotel and Cafe Entered In the National Register tKeeper OelouByer 2/24/83 slueByur 2/24/83 14/ Massachusetts MuQ/9YNER ÖBJECTION Insurance Company Substantive Xeviow Attest Determined #11g1ble Keeper Aua hn arzel 2/24/13 Attest ~15. Old Post Office Substantive Reviou Keeper Attest '16. O1msted-Hixon-Albion Block Entered fi fhe National Register TiKeeper delurByus 4/2183 Attest Vf. Hampden Savings Bank tkeeper KelBzen 2/4/83 18. Fuller Block InFered In the National Register Enfored In the National Register 19. Stearns Building Enfered ih the National Register Attest tReeper Attest f*eeper Attest WlunByun 2/21/83 AeluaByun 4/4/83 ,''20.
Morgan Block subatantiye Aovo Keeper Bna ba Beg l 5/22/837 Attest ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES atted States Depertmont of the Interia ational Park Service Stearns Building (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: Reviewer's comments: Working No. 1/10/82-3025 Fed. Reg. Date:. 2,7,84 Date Due: 7/1183 Action: LACCEPT 2/24/83 Entered in tha - RETURN National Register - REJECT - Foderal Agency:- - sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer_ Discipline- Date &- Continuation sheet technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Prosoos Uen wlle M plottier 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys Me he property beer 7. Description 2000 Menoree rume doca ene - unartered - aftered summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity datos Check ene - moved 8. erer Significance Aroas of sionihes teto e S6 ontaenso la cos penoono 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 AT Reterenos 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eetm sgren cence of the property wien he sste is atonel etave loca Heatonc Praservetton Officer eigneture 13.
Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed - Date_ Phone: 202 272 -350 POLL JEWVELK - PHARM-A-CITY MRISCRIPTIONS Ralph PHARM - A - C DeunteniSpringfield MRA, Ma Stears Burlding. ELDO PHER AX C. KAYE OINS - STAMPS GREEN'S SHOES Sir Speedy CENTER Poige alc 48 289-307 Budge Acuntean SpringFreld MRA, Ma Stewrns Bulding 310 4000 1S CO BARNES HILLMAN Stearn's Buildin #48 289-309 Bridee St. 1"=50' SpringPield MeA S 284 :Honi - 7 2.»: 291 297 301 FC3 Tas 309 28. 28e 29c 292 291 24A 3 c 0 308 53 &.L 19.86 Air,. 13321 18.59 20238 STEAF PASSAGEWAY .9.2= STREET 33 333 341 34 15 349 1343 435< 357 STR m 1266 ECEr N H271 12t0 DWIGHT 3 352 3 36L 3.4 N 1a.