Hampden Savings Bank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hampden Savings Bank
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Hampden Savings Bank
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | Max H. Westhoff |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Metro Center, Springfield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000750 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
The Hampden Savings Bank building is a really old and important bank building located at 1665 Main Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, in 1918, for the Hampden Savings Bank. This bank was started way back in 1852! A famous architect named Max H. Westhoff designed this beautiful building.
Today, the Hampden Bank has its main office a few blocks away. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's officially recognized as an important place in history!
About the Building
The Hampden Savings Bank building stands on the east side of Main Street in downtown Springfield. It's surrounded by other old commercial buildings from the early 1900s.
Building's Look
This building has two stories and is made of strong materials like stone or brick. It shares walls with the buildings next to it. The front of the building looks like a classic Greek or Roman temple. This style is called "Classical Revival."
The main entrance is in the middle and has a fancy triangular decoration above it, called a pediment. The windows on the second floor are tall and elegant. They are set back a bit, with tall, decorative columns called Ionic pilasters on each side. At the very top, there's a panel that tells you what the building is. Above that, there's a decorative ledge and a fancy wall at the roofline.
Bank's History
The Hampden Savings Bank first opened its doors in 1852. It was created to help the many railroad workers in Springfield save their money. The city was growing fast, and these workers needed a safe place for their earnings.
For a while, the Hampden Savings Bank shared its space with another bank, the Agawam Savings Bank. This lasted until 1871. Then, in 1899, the bank moved to a building at Main and Front Streets.
First Dedicated Home
The building we are talking about, at 1665 Main Street, was the first building built just for the Hampden Savings Bank. It was finished in 1918. The architect, Max H. Westhoff, had just moved to the area from Saranac, New York. He designed this special building to be the bank's main office.
The bank stayed in this grand building for many years. However, in 1952, the Hampden Savings Bank moved to a brand new main office at 19 Harrison Avenue. Even though the bank moved, this old building remains an important part of Springfield's history.
See also
