Belle and Franklin Streets Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belle and Franklin Streets Historic District
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Belle Street housing
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architect | Kinsman, Louis G.H.; Fredette, William |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000039 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1989 |
The Belle and Franklin Streets Historic District is a special area in Springfield, Massachusetts. It's known for its old apartment buildings that were built between 1914 and 1916. This historic district includes buildings on Belle Street (numbers 77-103) and Franklin Street (numbers 240-298). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, which means it's an important place to protect.
What is the Belle and Franklin Streets Historic District?
This historic district is mostly made up of apartment buildings. They are located on Belle and Franklin Streets, which run next to each other. These streets are north of downtown Springfield.
A builder named William Lay developed this area. He built most of these buildings between 1914 and 1916. There were 16 apartment houses in total. Half of them were four stories tall and made of brick. The other half were three stories tall and made of wood.
The district also has one building that mixes homes with shops. There's also an even older house from 1862. Even though a big highway (Interstate 291) was built nearby, most of Lay's original buildings are still standing today. Only one of his buildings has been taken down.
How Did This Area Develop Over Time?
The land where this district now stands was first used for large homes in the 1850s. Later, in the late 1800s, more houses were built closer together. This happened because streetcar lines made it easy for people to travel to work downtown.
The land that William Lay developed used to be a large estate. A doctor named Samuel Brooks owned it first. Then, George Fisk, who was the president of a company called Wason Manufacturing, owned it.
In 1913, George Fisk sold his property to John Lester. John Lester then sold parts of the land to William Lay. Lay was a real estate developer and builder who came from England.
Building the Apartment Houses
William Lay first suggested dividing the land into smaller plots in February 1913. By December of that year, he got permission to start building. The first buildings he constructed were six-unit wooden apartment houses on Franklin Street.
The larger, eight-unit brick buildings on Belle Street were built in 1915. One special building at 296 Franklin Street was also built around this time. It has twelve apartments and even includes shops on the ground floor.
