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. 115 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 Address1228-1244 Main Stceet Historic Name_ Walker Building (25MRk) Use: Original_conmercial Present commercial Ownership:- Private individual Private organization Public Original owner T.M. Walker DESCRIPTION: Date 1890 Source Building Department Records Style Richardsonian Romanesque Architect Fuller & Delano (Worcester) Exterior wall fabric brick Outbuildings none ELM ST. 115 Major alterations (with dates) Top floor removed. STATE ST. Recorded by_Margo Webber Organization Anderson Notter Finegold Inc.
Date June, 1981 Moved Date Approx. acreage Less than l acre Setting Urban context; center building within a row of similarly scaled buildings which form a cohesive block streetscape between State and Elm Streets. Assessor's Map #307 UTM Ref: 18/699440/4663580 Springfield South Quadrangle (Staple additional sheets here) riteria Statement: The Walker Building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, naterials and workmanship. Construoted a 1890 by a prominent local merchant, it is representative of the intensive development of the downtown area at the turn of the century. Designed by the Worcester firm of Fuller and Delano, it is one of the downtown's best examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style even though it has lost its top floor. 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 Walker Building is a representative example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style so popular in the late 19th Century. Its adoption to a commercial struc- ture produced a facade of Springfield brick with highly ornamental freestone trim at windows, piers, spandrels, etc. Althoughthe fifth story has been removed, the building retains most of its original surface treatment and relates well in scale, massing and materials to the adjacent Main Street building. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The Walker Building was constructed in 1890 at a cost of $75,000 and was designed by the Worcester architectural firm of Fuller and Delano.
It was built on the site of the old Exchange Hotel, previously owned by T.M. Walker but which had been built in 1820 by Thomas Sargeant, and which was the first brick hotel building in the city. The building was designed to house four shops at street level, and 14 offices on each of the upper floors. Among early tenants of the stores were Sawtel1 & Lane, a men's hat store, and Brewer and Coburn Company. T.M. Walker (1815-1904), original owner of the building, came to Springfield in 1842 from Brookfield, where he had been a painter. Walker successfully started and built up the T.M. Walker Company as a leading manufacturer and dealer in woodwork, painting and builder's supplies. The company was founded in 1820.
It moved to several different locations and eventually in 1869 to #31-41 Market Street, where a 6-story building housed the manufacturing plant for paints, plate glass, blinds, doors and other woodworking materials. Walker's success in business prompted him to explore other ventures, such as the Exchange Hotel, and later The Walker Building. The construction of commercial blocks such as this by enterprising local merchants played a key role in the continued commercial growth and development of the downtown in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Walker was also a generous benefactor of the Springfield Library. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Building Permits The Graphic, August 19, 1894, p. 19. Building Records, 1890.
Progressive Springfield, June, 1891 20M-2/80 VATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Inited States Dep terie iational Park Servict Walker Building (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No.- 1110/32-3625 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due:1/9782- 12/2 3783 Action: ACCEPT RETURN/2/2 7/82 REJECT. Federal Agency: - sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer Discipline. Date - so0 continuation sheet technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed balow 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification rosont Uen oqalattion 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys -e ie property boon eetemmieed oligeble? - 7ee - ne 7.
Description dtlo excella good tair teriorated ruins hock one uneltered vtered Check ene _ moved acordo the prosond and ertotmad (il kasuai pirpaieds cnpesrames summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Torter Aroas of ste poolle datee at of si 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 peago of nominated property medrangie name VNrT Roterenoes ppeene prma 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eraluated significance of thie property wtitun she state le: - netional -state -- loca' Beate Historic Preservetton Officer aigneture eete 13.
Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed - Date - 12/22/82 Phone: 202 272 -3504 Commentsfor 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 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 .t:.mn7 Prriaton 32. McIntosh Building Entered In the National Register 33. Willy's 'Overland Block Entered In tEe National Register 34. Haynes Hotel Waters Building Entered In tEe National Begister 35. Springfield District Count Substantive Rerlen 36. Walker Building Entered In the National Register 37.
United Electric Company Building Entered In the National Register 38. Radding Building Entered In National Register 39. Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company -Entered fi Natiqnal Bogister "40. Guenther & Handel's Block Substantive Review tkeeper Attest tkeeper Attest Keeper Attest eeper Attest Keeper Attest fReeper Attest /Keeper Attest tKeeper Attest HKeeper Attest Keeper Attest Date/Signature DelomBzan 224r DelonByu 2/24/83 AelurByeu 4/21/83 delmlzen 44/63 Ma Poane d AlelonBye 2/1/83 ShlruBzen 424/83 Sulmua Bezun 344/a submßsur 424/63 tru-1012/29/5= ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES tod States Degartm el of she lnterier donal Park Sarvic Walker building (Downtown Springfield MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN S. resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No.
//10/82-3025 Fed. Reg. Date: 217.84 Date Due:_ Action: ACCEPT4/24/83 Entered in the - RETURN National Register - REJECT- Federal Agency:- - sample - request appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria _ Reviower_ Discipline- Date _ Beo continuation sheet technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification ledu Proson Uos Mone soodetton 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hes oe property bewn e 7. Description escede gooc Mtenorate rume Joca ene _ unartered atered Chack ene __ ongmei arte _ moved dare 1100 au summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity ant.c 8.
Significance wlder drek - Men coo paroo 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 rand poson Versel boundery dosertad 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evetusted I aspretoanoe of thie property wtten ne ec l phonel .. aca Hessonc Preserracon OMicer eigneture 13. Other Maps -Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed - Date _ Phone: 202 272 - 35 C IOs BR DRESS SHOP MAIN MUSIC SICA NUTTE GOODK PTEAROOM: BOK Shoe Brox. Deuntens Springfield Mrs, Ma Walker Buldling 1228-1244 Mainst Walker Buildin, #115 1228-1244 Manst. ("=sO Sprinytiell MKA 107.58 N 291.23 696/7 B 30570 3-1.
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