Wells Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wells Block
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Wells Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Downtown Springfield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000777 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
The Wells Block is an old building in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built in 1876. This building is special because it was used for two things at once: shops on the ground floor and homes upstairs. This kind of building was not very common back then. In 1983, the Wells Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site in the United States.
What is the Wells Block?
The Wells Block is in downtown Springfield. You can find it on Worthington Street, right across from Stearns Square. Stearns Square is a small park. The building has four floors and is made of red bricks. It's a strong, solid building.
Looking at the Building's Design
On the first floor, there are two shop entrances. These are on either side of a main entrance that is set back a bit. Stone pillars separate these parts. Above them, there's a cool metal trim. The windows on the upper floors have a rounded top. They also have decorative brackets above them. The roof has a simple but nice trim with small block shapes called dentil molding. The building's style is called Italianate.
A Look Back in Time
The Wells Block was built in 1876. It was first owned by Abner Abbey. He used to have a lumber yard there. The next year, Jerome Wells bought the building.
The first floor was always used for shops. Many different stores were there over the years. The upper floors were used as homes. People lived there in apartments or as boarders. It even worked as a hotel for a while.
In 1946, a fire caused a lot of damage to the upper floors. In the 1890s, a two-story part was added to the back of the building. For many years, a famous tea shop called the Grand Union Tea Company was located here. They sold special teas from other countries. When the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the upper floors were empty. The Wells Block is the only building of its kind from that time period still standing in Springfield.
