Colonial Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colonial Block
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Colonial Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1139-55 Main St., Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Morse, Paseal |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Downtown Springfield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000743 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
The Colonial Block is a historic building in Springfield, Massachusetts. You can find it at 1139-55 Main Street. This special building was constructed between 1902 and 1905.
What makes it unique? It was designed for many uses! It had shops, offices, and even apartments for people to live in. This was unusual for buildings in that area at the time. Most buildings were only for businesses. The Colonial Block helped connect the busy downtown area with the quieter neighborhoods. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
What Does the Colonial Block Look Like?
The Colonial Block is located at the southern edge of downtown Springfield. It sits on Main Street, right next to Stockbridge Street. The building is five stories tall. Its outside walls are made of yellow brick and brown sandstone.
The front of the building on Main Street has eleven sections. These sections are separated by brick columns with stone tops. Some parts of the building stick out, giving it a wavy look. The fancy top edge of the building also follows these wavy shapes. The shops on the ground floor have been updated over the years. They now have large glass windows and entrances that are set back.
A Look Back: The Building's History
A local builder named Pascal Morse built the Colonial Block. He started this project in 1902. He wanted to create a building that could be used for many different things. This was a new idea for the area.
The first floor was made for retail stores. The second floor had offices and other business spaces. The top three floors were designed as homes for people. This mix of uses was quite rare back then. The building helped mark the change from the busy city center to the more residential areas.
The Colonial Block also has special details from the Georgian Revival style. You won't see these details on many other buildings in Springfield. For many years, a furniture store was the main shop in the building.
