McKnight, Springfield, Massachusetts (and Mason Square) facts for kids
The McKnight National Register Historic District is a special neighborhood in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was one of the very first neighborhoods in the United States that was carefully planned out before it was built. Even though it's one of Springfield's smaller neighborhoods, covering about 306 acres, it's full of history and unique homes.
A Planned Community's Beginning
In 1870, two brothers, William and John McKnight, along with other business people, decided to create a new neighborhood. They planned the McKnight District as a place for people to live. Most of the homes were built between 1870 and 1900.
The land where McKnight was built was once thought to be "un-improvable." This means people didn't think it was good for building. This was back in the 1780s when the Springfield Armory was first set up.
But things changed a lot by 1868. Horse-drawn streetcars, like early buses, started running on State Street. This street was just south of where the McKnight District would be. This made the area much easier to reach.
Exploring the Neighborhood
McKnight is famous for having the largest collection of Victorian houses in Massachusetts, outside of the Greater Boston area. There are about 900 beautiful, old homes in the neighborhood. They are part of a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important for their history and design.
Much of the western part of McKnight is also a local historic district. This is the second largest of Springfield's six historic districts.
The people who first developed the community also built several small, pretty open spaces. These spots still make the neighborhood beautiful today. They include places like the "Dingle," also called McKnight Glen. There's also the Thompson Triangle and three smaller triangles along Bay Street. A decorative path called Dartmouth Terrace leads from Thompson Triangle to McKnight Glen.
To the west of McKnight, you can find the Springfield Armory. Part of it is now the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. You'll also find the Springfield Technical Community College and downtown Springfield nearby. I-291, a major highway, runs along the northern edge of McKnight. This makes it easy to get to the neighborhood.
Mason Square: The Heart of McKnight
Mason Square is the main business area of the McKnight District. It used to be called Winchester Square. It was renamed after a kind person named Primus P. Mason.
This square has a branch library and the original building of the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company. You can also find American International College here. There's even a monument marking the spot where the very first basketball game was played at Springfield College.
Mr. Mason gave the land for the square to the city for public use. He made his money in a few ways. He was a gold prospector in California. He also sold a lot of land to the McKnight Brothers. This land became the neighborhood named after them.
