Friedrich Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Friedrich Block
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Friedrich Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Holyoke, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Alderman, George P.B. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001473 |
| Added to NRHP | December 5, 2002 |
The Friedrich Block is a historic building in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It's located at 449-461 Main Street, right on the corner with Sargeant Street. Built in 1908, this building is special because of its unique design style, called Renaissance Revival. It was designed by a local architect named George P. B. Alderman. The building is also important because it's connected to the E.H. Friedrich Company, which made metal parts for buildings. In 2002, the Friedrich Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a protected historical site.
What is the Friedrich Block?
The Friedrich Block is a four-story building made of brick. It stands out in downtown Holyoke at the corner of Main and Sargent Streets. The building has many different design elements from the Renaissance Revival style on its sides that face the streets.
A Look at the Building's Style
The bottom floor of the building is made mostly of smooth brown stone. Over the years, the shops on this floor have changed its look a bit. The upper floors have groups of windows set into the brick. Some windows stick out a little, forming bay windows made of metal. The bricks are laid in a special way that creates patterns, like bands or shapes that look like keystones above the windows.
Windows on the second and third floors are rectangular. However, the windows on the top floor have rounded tops, like arches. At the very top, the building has a fancy metal trim called a cornice. This trim is decorated with garlands, small block shapes (dentils), and other decorative supports (modillions).
A Building with a History
The E.H. Friedrich Company built this block in 1908. This company made metal parts for buildings and had a factory in Holyoke. It's possible that some of their own metal parts were used to build the Friedrich Block.
When the building was constructed, the city of Holyoke was trying to build homes that were more resistant to fire. Many older wooden homes could burn easily. This new building was designed to have fifteen apartments and three shops on the ground floor.
Over the years, the building hasn't changed much on the outside. The biggest changes have been made by the different shops that have used the ground floor. The Weinstein Furniture Company was the longest-running business there. They operated from 1926 to 1995. Samuel Weinstein, the owner, bought the building in 1948.
The apartments in the building were home to many different families, mostly factory workers. The apartments became quite worn out over time and needed repairs. Recently, the building has been fixed up and improved. Today, the commercial space on the ground floor is used by the Monte de Santidad Apostolic Christian Church.
