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. 34 .- LTown_Sprinfield I~Address_250-264 Worthington Street LHistoric Name_Wells Block (PS MRA) 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. Use: Present Commercial Original commercial/residential DESCRIPTION: Date 1876 Source city Style Italianate Architect _unkown Exterior wall fabric brick Outbuildings_ none 34 WORTHINGTON ST. Major alterations (with dates) - STEARNS sQ.
ST DWIGHT masonry addition-rear-1890's restoration-1981 Moved -no Date_ PRIDGE ST- kecorded by Fred Clarke, Ed Lonergan, Candace Jenkins Organization Sprinfield Historical Commission on Stearns Square Date 1979 Approx. acreage less than one Setting urban context; faces directly Assessor's Map #309 UTM Reference-18/699010/4664040 Springfield South Quad (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and The weyalustock (29524 orthi uind banteheherABiey inasa mixed use commercial/residential building is a four story Italianate building. The upper three floors were originally designed for tenement housing and continued in that use until a fire in 1946. The first floor contained two commerical storefronts. The south facade (most ornate) is capped with a decorative metal cornice and metal eyebrow window heads on the second to fourth floor.
The windows are wood double hung two over two lights with brownstone sills which pucuate fired red brick facade with thin mortar joint. The ground floor store front and entry includes cast iron moldings, pressed metal composite capital pilaster, decorative plaster, and miscellaneous metal modings which have been partially HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state (cont.) history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) The Wells Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. Its combination commercial/residential use at the time of its construction i 1876, represents the transition the downtown as a whole was experiencing. Additionally, i is a well preserved example of the local commercial/Italianate style. It meets criteria A & C of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Wells Block was built in 1876 for Abner B. Abbey on the site of his former lumber yard but due to financial problems the building was sold at public auction to Jerome Wells in 1877. The four story Italianate structure contained two stores on the first floor and tenements on the upper three floors. The upper floors have been predominately housing use. They were converted to a boarding houses around the turn of the century and operated by a Bridgett Kennedy. In 1916 the boarding house rooms became the Avon Hotel and remained so until 1946 when a fire on the second floor (right bay) destroyed most of the interior. Since that time the upper floors have been essentially unoccupied. The storefronts on the first floor have been the location of several trade/service oriented businesses which supported the North Blocks development east of Main Street.
The variety of uses have included frame makers, specialty tea company, furniture dealer paint and wallpaper store, trucking service and a restaurant. The most significant uses include a variety of frame makers and specialty tea company. Guthrie, framemaker, occupied 254 Worthington and subsequently W.H. Moreton and Wells & Wells Pciture Frames occupied the space into the 1930's. Worthington Street east of th BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) (cont.) King's Handbook of Springfield, Ed. Moses King, 1884, p.271 Springfield, Scrapbook, Volume 38, p.179 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Form No: 3000 34 Property Name : 250-264 Worthington Street Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
Architectural Significance concealed or altered. Original wrought iron balconies and subsequent fire escape additions have been removed but otherwise above the first floor the building retains its original appearance. The west and north (rear) elevations are common brick with double hung (two over two) windows. Window openings contain masonry relieving arch and sills and west elevation has a stepped masonry parapet consistent with the sloped wood roof. The building is approximately 48' wide and 70' deep and separated into bays by a masonry party wall. The interior detail was limited to panel doors and simple wood window trim. A two story masonry addition was connected to the rear (north) facade in the mid 1890's for office and garage use. Historical Significance: site still retains a number of galleries and frame makers.
The Grand Union Tea Company a store of considerable notoriety to Springfield, provided choice teas, coffee, spices and other specialty items from the storefronts at 264 Worthington from 1907 through The Wells Block is an architecturally significant building which represents quality design and workmanship which is consistant with the North Blocks develpment as commercial/manu- facturing moved east of Main Street and north toward the railroad. The building is a typical response to housing and retail needs generated by industrial development but the building is unique in terms of scale and architectural detail represents the remaining example of this building type.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Jnited States Dopar , of the lateries National Park Servici Wells Block (Downtown Spring field MRA) Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No 1/0/22-3125 Fed. Reg. Date Date Due:12/1/8 --14/25/82 Action: ACCEPT RETURN 1227/12 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 below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification morshig ble se aatettier 4. Owner of Property toson Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys e thie property boon etormined oligtbte?ree-no 7.
Description 200 fele eeteriorated ruins chack eme unaltered aitered hock ene - moved sarte the prosent and eriginel (i knowel pioyeteed appoerene summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Parter Aross of Sioniticemss. Ipoelfle detee ebomont of Signitea kder Are summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification ofareas checked relating significance to the resource context relation ship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data lareago of naminatad property. duadrangle nemo - UNIT Rotoranoms tone bater, eeataten anl athatie kleaxe provede 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eratunted algrificance of thie property wlthin the atate le: - Rationa!
- state -- oca Bate Hletonk Preservatton Oficer aigneture 13. Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed. yen - Date/2/22/82 Phone: 202 272-3504 Commentsfor any item maybe continued on an attached sheet MPS Form 10-900-a 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 , 19 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group dnr-11 Name State Downtown Springfield Multiple Resource Area MA - Nomination/Type of Review J. Whitcomb Warehouse Entered in the National Register "2, Patton Building Hatered In the Mational Regieter 3. Patton and Loomis Block Entered in the National Pegister '4. Carlton House Block Entered in the Natlonal Register X6123 5. Stacy Building Substantive Review 6.
Springfield Steam Power Company Block Entered in the National Begister V. Bicycle Club Building. Entered in the National Regiater 8. Wells Block Entered in the National Register 9. Worthy Hotel Intered in the National Begiater R 10. Smith Carriage Company District Substantiva Review Date/Signature Tkeoper Auburbzen sut? Attest TReeper Selrußyen 224/8 Attest HReeperR demßzur 1/24/83 Attest tKeeper MluByen 7/27/83 Attest Keeper frun loa magl 5/2/27 Attest frkeeper Attest fReeper AiomBizun 2/24/03 Aelru Byer 2p1/83 Attest Keeper Attest fireeper Attest delre Bjun sps/s3 AelouByen /21/83 Keeper Attest ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Itond Part sampertmo el of the lnterk WELLS BLocK (DOWNTOWN SPRINGRIELD mRA) HAMPDEM CO EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: Reviower's comments: Working No.
210-$2/3025- Fed. Rog. Date: å 7.54 Date Due: - 44/ Action: ACCEPT2/2463 Entered in the . RETURN National Regiater REJECT_ Federal Agency:- -samplerguestappeal - NR decision Recom. / Criteria - Reviewer. Discipline. Date - 800 continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification -erek Wate sootottion 4. Owner of Property Prosomt Ues 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys has hie property treen - nº 7. Description ezceler pood menorme rume doca eno unartered Atered (W Laoue) summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity datas Check ene moved 8.
Significance Parter Aroes ef dode ader brotk summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas Checked relating significance the resource to context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data eoge of - mnad prosery edrangte name UBIT Roteranen 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evetased segrafioenoe of hile property wtpen he eci etonei etarve Hessonc Praservation OMicer etgnetun 13. Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed. Date _ Phone: 202 272 - 350 733-11 FELICE FRANKEL PHOT GRAPHER 202 Ellington Rd. Longmeadow Ma. 01106 (413) 567-0222 Darnitaieon Springtreld MRA Wells Block Worthingten st. 39 40 60 64 65.73 ='a...
21.06 20 144 23 WORTHINGTON 126.50 2+G 25 2 c° 2 74 tu ST 24536 01.59 10/59 101.47 #34 Wells Block 250-264 Worthinfton St. 1''=5D' Springkleld MRA Fi // (DEED) 97:90 30 42.9 SEE DETAIL riTt 2536 N + + 5072 30 denalested 10031 96. 8 - YLOR 1897 83 37 LI. 30 A1 43 FM045 47 49 51 51½ 5 3 5 98 (5175 34 0020: AL 33° 1-119 CO 5238 25G 71 5185 165.4 STREE POWER W KAYNOR ST 240