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. 117 PHOTO (3x3" or 3x5"' , black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number Town_ Springfield Address_73 State Street Historic Name United Electric Co. Building (DSMRA) Use: Original offices Present offices Ownership Private individual rivate organization Public Original owner United Electric Co. SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. DESCRIPTION: Date 1910 Source Building Permit Style_ Beaux Arts Classicism Architect Thomas M. James Exterior wall fabric Limestone Outbuildings nene STATE ST Major alterations (with dates) MAIN 1927 - Compatible 3-story addition at rear 117 designed by Kirkham & Parlett Moved No Date Approx.
acreage Less than 1 acre Recorded by Margo Webber Setting_Urban context; State Street main- Organization Anderson Notter Finegold Inc. tains its feeling of an urban area, despite Date June, 1981 several open lots and new buildings to the west. Assessor's Map #307 UTM Ref: 18/699430/4663480 (Staple additional sheets here) Springfield South Quadrangle *Criteria, Sitgtement The United Electric Company Building possesses integrity of location, design setting, materials and workmanship. Built to house the offices of a major utilit company, it represents the growth and prosperity of the city in the early twentieth century. Additionally, it is a major local example of the Beaux-Arts style. Thus, the building 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) This building is a fine, example of the Beaux Arts style, and one of only a few éxamples which exist in downtown Springfield. The exterior has not been altered and retains its original integrity. The bold design of the facade is three bays wide with two-story Ionic pilasters set between the slightly recessed bays. The two upper floor windows are grouped as round-headed openings with ornate spandrel panels between stories. The center entrance has a project- ing iron canopy with nice detail. The building has a prominent frieze and modillioned cornice, above which is aclockface set in Classical framing.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) This building was constructed to house the offices of the United Electric Company, which played a major role in providing electricity to the city from the 1880's onward. In 1881, the first electricity in Springfield was provided by Henry Fisk of Blair and Fisk, lawnmower manufacturers. In 1882, the Springfield Electric Light Company was organized but soon failed. It was re-organized and was able to provide electric lighting for the Boston and Albany depot and for Main Street. In 1887, the United Electric Company was chartered as successor to the earlier company, with capital stock valued at $110,000. Gideon Wells served as its first president and H.S. Hyde as the first treasurer.
Here for the first time, was an organization ready to fully address the city's demand for electric power. United Electric in 1887 adopted the Westinghouse system of incandescent lighting. Within the next year, they built their first power plant at the foot of State Street. It later became the No. 1 Station of the Western Masachusetts Electric Company. Electricity was used to promote and develop the downtown's commercial trade. Forbes & Wallace was among the first company to install street lamps to attract attention to their store. In 1890, the first electric trolleys were providing service on Main Street. In 1904, United Electric installed a 1000-kilowatt Westinghouse steam turbine which greatly increased production capacity. Longmeadow service was initiated in 1912, West Springfield in 1914.
The company continued to expand its service and capacity, except for when it was put out during the 1936 flood. In 1942, United Electric Company was consolidated with the Western Massachusetts Electric Company, the largest supplier of electricity in the western half of the state. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Building Permits The Graphic, June 21, 1894. Springfield Scrapbook, Volume 28, p. 64. 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Form No: Sorinafield 117 Property Name: United Electric ca Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE It is an outstanding Local example of early twentieth century classical revivalism; other related examples include several banking and insurance offices as well as municipal buildings. Its architect, Thomas M.
James, was a Boston architect noted for his many bank designs. Staple to Inventory form at bottom NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States D i el she interier lational Park Se United Electric Co. 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: Working No. 210/82-3625 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: 244/85- 12/25 182 Action: ACCEPT. RETURN/2/27/82 REJECT_ Federal Agency:- -sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria- Reviewer_ Discipline_ Date. _se continuation sheet technical corrections cited below - substantive reasons discussed balow 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification rocont Uoo soocolan 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys es lhe property teen dotanminadoligicia - 7. Description escelle good teie seteriorate uine bech _ unattered atered Chock ene - original shte _ moved dere - sardos the prosont and artotned (il keswal plmpeieed enpoarans summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance arted Anous ol Sionitlcanss , dater at of stgniteeme wlder brehite summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating i significance the resource to context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data ateago of naminasad property - hedrangle name VirT Referenos Peca pumae el boundery doesriatien and jestittcetien 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eratuated etgniticence of thie propparty wtthin the ecase le: - - Retional - state -- oca Beute Hietoric Preservation Officer signeture 13. Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed. Byus - Date /2/22/82 Phone: 202 272 -3504 Comments foranyItem maybe continued onan 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 +u$ Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 31. Hibernian Block Entered In the 1,+÷ .mn ] Ireiaton 32. McIntosh Building Entered In t5e National Regiater 33.
Willy's 'Overland Block Entered In tEe National Register 34. Haynes Hotel Waters Building Entered In t5e lational Eegistar 35. Springfield District Count Substantire RexLer 36. Walker Building Entered In the National Register 37. United Electric Company Building Entered In the National Register 38. Radding Building Entered National Register 39. Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company Entered fi tis Natiqnal Bogister 40. Guenther & Handel's Block Substantive Review teeper Attest tkeeper Attest Keeper Attest Htfeeper Attest Keeper Attest tReeper Attest fKeeper Attest fKeeper Attest HKeeper Attest Keeper Attest Date/Signature DelouBganr spayt.
DtelomByue 2/24/83 delmuByen 444/83 ddiloulge 214/63 Ma Ponye d AeloneByen 4/24/83 WelmuByen 424/83 Selm Byur 1hv/8 Aulmßzur 4p4183 tru112/2418 ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Hed States Depertm el of she lnterier tonal Park Service United Electric Co. 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. 2/10/82 -3023 Fed. Reg. Date:_ Date Due:_ ((18) Action: L ACCEPT 2/24/83 Entered in the - RETURN National Register - REJECT- Foderal Agency:_ - sample - request - appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer Discipline Date _ 8o0 continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below - substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3.
Classification merehe wote Aoouattion 4. Owner of Property u Uee 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Mes Min property tan drerem 7. Description ezcode good smonoraa rume hoca . unartered .atered (I kaownt ? summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity Chack ene - moved 8. Significance Lees of sh ontocso 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 ango of ne wdrenge rem VarT Roterenon tartel boundery dossrlach postifteetier 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evatussed se grotcence of thue proparty atoun tne crsre la etonel atante ...
oca But Mistonc Pruserveton Offcer signeture 13. Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed. - Date _ Phone: 202 272 - 35 C Downtenn Springfield MRA, Ma United Electrio Ca. Bulding 73 Stale St. 10358 61-65 140.0° 77 20 59,50 38 81 59 9.05 17 10993 B-:0300 26 13 1á122 B-.3326. 4 : 71 01901 6?*; 9 92.-54- B-3310 ^3.. 3-33 1554 3. ??0 0... 11821.1.a STREET +01 STATE 13-53 50.0 $,95 517/ 44 25 45=8 4765 96 11; 9916 13"72 B-13699 lUFozi LESL1 2125% B-;B.i 9.5 142 22 1?2.53 STREET 1/8 14893 votcd elegebie. 8-10931 owser E? l'=so Springfiekl MRA 73 State St. #117 United electric Company -41 5237 122