St. James Apartments facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. James Apartments
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 573 State St.: Five Oak St., Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Reid, William |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003941 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 2020 |
The St. James Apartments is a special old apartment building located at 573 State Street & 5 Oak Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built in 1904 and is a great example of a building style called Classical Revival. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
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What is the St. James Apartments?
The St. James Apartments is a historic building that once housed many families. It's known for its unique look and its place in the history of Springfield.
Where is the St. James Apartments located?
This building is found in Springfield, Massachusetts. It sits on the corner of State Street and Oak Street. It's just southeast of where the old Springfield Armory used to be.
What does the St. James Apartments look like?
The St. James Apartments is a four-story building made of brick and stone. It has a "U" shape, with the main front facing State Street. Both sides of the building that face the streets have cool, rounded sections that stick out. One of these rounded parts is right at the street corner.
The windows on the first floor are set inside round-shaped openings. The windows on the second and third floors have special decorative stones above them called keystones. The building also has interesting bands of stone and different colored bricks that make it look even more unique. A decorative ledge, called a cornice, separates the first and second floors. Inside, the building has eighteen apartments of different sizes.
Who built the St. James Apartments and why?
The St. James Apartments was built in 1904 by a person named Joseph Laliberte. The building was designed by an architect named William Reid. Both Laliberte and Reid were immigrants from Canada who lived in Holyoke, Massachusetts. They likely built the apartments as a business idea, hoping to rent out the units.
The building's construction shows how the number of Canadian immigrants grew in Springfield in the early 1900s. In 1983, the inside of the building had a big update.
Who lived in the St. James Apartments?
In its early days, many different kinds of people lived in the St. James Apartments. These included people who worked in various trades and skilled jobs. Many of the first residents were immigrants from Canada and Ireland, who came to live and work in the city.
