Court Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Court Square Historic District
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Court Square
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1812 |
| Architect | Newman, Frederick S.; Pell, F. Livington & Corbett, Harvey W. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Romanesque, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000370 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
Court Square is a special park and historic area in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. It's right in the middle of Springfield's city center. This square has been an important part of Springfield since the city was founded in 1636.
It's surrounded by streets like Court Street, Main Street, and State Street. There's also a nice walking path that goes from the courthouse towards the historic Old First Church.
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A Historic Church in the Square
Springfield's Old First Church has stood in Court Square for a very long time. It was one of the first churches formed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. This was just one year after Springfield began!
The very first church building was put up nearby in 1645. The church you see today was built in 1819. It's the fourth church building on this spot. A special rooster weathervane on its steeple came all the way from London, England in 1750. Many famous people visited this church. Inventor Thomas Blanchard and abolitionist John Brown worshipped here. Daniel Webster, a famous speaker, gave a speech. Even the famous singer Jenny Lind sang inside this historic church.
How Court Square Has Changed
In 1902, people raised $100,000 to make Court Square bigger. They wanted it to reach all the way to the Connecticut River. This was a big project for the city's 50th birthday.
However, in the late 1950s, things changed. The big Interstate 91 highway was built. This highway separated Court Square from the Connecticut River. A large parking lot was also built under the highway.
Important Buildings Around the Square
There are several amazing buildings around Court Square.
The Old Courthouse
To the left of the church, you'll see the beautiful, gothic-style Hampden County Courthouse. It's made of stone and looks very grand. This building was designed by a famous architect named H.H. Richardson. It was built in 1909. Today, it serves as the juvenile court house.
The Springfield Municipal Group
To the right of the church stands the impressive Springfield Municipal Group. These buildings were built between 1911 and 1913. United States President William Howard Taft officially opened them in December 1913.
President Taft said the Municipal Group was "one of the most distinctive civic centers in the United States - and indeed, the world." It has a very tall tower, called a Campanile, which is 300 feet high. For many years, this was the tallest building in Springfield.
The Byers Block
Across Main Street from the square is the Byers Block at 3-7 Elm Street. This part of the historic Byers Block was built in 1835. It's the oldest commercial building still standing in Springfield.
Over the years, this building has been used for many different things. It was once a tree shop. It also held offices for many important Springfield citizens. This included 12 judges and 7 mayors of Springfield!
The Court Square Building
West of the Byers Block is the Court Square Building. This building was originally a hotel and a famous theater. In 1900, a sixth floor was added, along with a tower.
By the 1930s, the hotel became offices. But the Court Square Playhouse remained the city's best live theater. Sadly, it was torn down in 1957. The Court Square Building has a brown brick outside with cool details made of stone and granite.
The entire area around Court Square, including these buildings, was recognized as a historic district in 1974. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
