Springfield Preservation Trust

2024 Preservation Awards
2024-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
The Preservation Awards honor people and organizations helping to restore historic structures in Springfield. The 2024 awards ceremony will be hosted at Loophole Brewing, in the historic downtown building located at 51-59 Taylor Street. A cash bar and snacks for purchase will be available by Loophole Brewing. We hope you will join us for this special event. Learn more and RSVP by May 13 on Eventbrite.

Walking Tour: Valentine Mansion & the Ames Hill/Crescent Hill Historic District
2024-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Valentine Mansion, 270 Maple Street, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
Tour the Valentine Mansion and surrounding Ames Hill/Crescent Hill Historic District, home of some of Springfield’s largest historic mansions.
Join local historian Derek Strahan on a walking tour of the Ames Hill/Crescent Hill Historic District. The tour will focus on the mansions lining Maple Street, Pine Street, and Crescent Hill and will kick off with an interior tour of Valentine Mansion, the circa 1879 home at 270 Maple Street, historically known as the Frederick Harris House and admirably perched on the crest of the hill on Maple Street.
The tour will begin at 10:30 a.m. on May 11th at the Valentine Mansion (270 Maple Street), and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The tour route is about 1 mile in length, along a path that gently ascends the hillside neighborhood, mostly along well-maintained, paved sidewalks.On-street parking is available on side streets, and limited accessible parking will be available at Valentine Mansion. Please be sure to not block driveways or fire hydrants.
The tour is $15 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $20 for non-members, payable in advance via Eventbrite or check (payable to “Springfield Preservation Trust” and mailed to our office).
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums. The 2024 Second Saturday walking series is sponsored by Daboul Family Charitable Trust.

Forest Park Photography Walking Tour
2024-04-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Washington Boulevard & Magnolia Terrace Springfield, MA 01108, Washington Boulevard & Magnolia Terrace, Springfield, MA, 01108, United States
Do you love historic homes and architectural detail? Do you have a camera? Come tour the Forest Park Heights Historic District!
Do you love historic homes and architectural detail? Do you have a camera? Come tour the Forest Park Heights Historic District surrounding Springfield’s Forest Park with architectural photographer and SPT board member Kate Benson. Whether you’re bringing a smartphone, cellphone, digital camera, or even film camera, Kate will be on hand to answer all your questions about photographing historic homes and landscapes, and there will even be a special guest!
Bring your camera and your questions and join us for this installment of our Second Saturday Walking Tour!
LOGISTICS
The tour will begin at 10:30 a.m. on April 13th at Washington Blvd at Magnolia Terrace, and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The tour route is about 1 mile in length, along a level path mostly along well-maintained, paved sidewalks. On-street parking is available on Washington Blvd and side streets. Please be sure to not block driveways or fire hydrants.
TICKETS
The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $10 for non-members, payable in advance via Eventbrite or check (payable to “Springfield Preservation Trust” and mailed to our office). Exact change or checks are accepted on-site, prior to the start of the tour.
THANK YOU, SPONSORS
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and generously sponsored by the Daboul Family Charitable Trust.

Nurturing Minds: A Journey through Women's Education & Historic Educational Institutions in Springfield
2024-03-14 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an enlightening virtual lecture as we delve into the rich history of women’s education in Springfield, Massachusetts. We’ll explore private institutions such as The Elms and MacDuffie, as well as the challenges and triumphs faced by women seeking access to quality education in the city’s public schools. From the struggles for equal funding and resources to the efforts to integrate schools and promote diversity, we’ll uncover the stories of the women who fought tirelessly for educational equity while looking at some of Springfield’s lost schools such as Chestnut Middle School, Buckingham Junior High, and The Technical High School.
We’ll also explore the evolution of special education in Springfield, tracing its origins from early efforts to provide specialized instruction for students with disabilities to the development of comprehensive programs aimed at meeting the diverse needs of all learners including Three Rivers, Springfield’s only residential treatment program housed in a historic building. We’ll highlight the contributions of pioneering educators and advocates who have worked to ensure that every student, regardless of ability, has access to a meaningful and inclusive education.
This virtual lecture will take place on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page at facebook.com/PreserveSpringfield.
The Springfield Preservation Trust celebrates Women’s History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

Annual Meeting 2024
2024-03-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Kimball Towers, 140 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Join the Springfield Preservation Trust, On March 3rd at 1:00pm, for the SPT Annual Meeting at Kimball Towers, 140 Chestnut Street.
The meeting will be open to SPT members and the public and will feature an overview of the past year, election of the board of directors, release of the 2023 Annual Report, a look at the year to come, and the announcement of the 2024 Most Endangered Historic Resources List, followed by a brief talk by guest speaker Catherine Ratté.
Programming will include:

Election of the 2024 Board of Directors
Introduction of the 2024 Most Endangered Historic Resources List
Community Preservation Act update
The Year in Review
The Year Ahead
A brief guest talk on the City of Springfield’s Neighborhood Investment Plans, by Catherine Ratté, Director of the Land Use/Environment Department at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Programming is expected to last about 75 minutes.
Please email info@springfieldpreservation.org to reserve your spot(s) by February 25th.

The Legacy of Primus Mason… Revised (Black History in Springfield)
2024-02-22 19:00 - 20:30
Regine Jackson, board member of the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), will delve into the history of black entrepreneur, real estate investor, and philanthropist Primus Mason. Mason settled in Springfield in the 1830s, and his purchase of land in the city became a catalyst for transforming its architecture, leading to the development of well-known neighborhoods like Mason Square.
This lecture is presented in partnership with the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), a museum that links the African Diaspora to Springfield, MA and surrounding communities.
This virtual lecture will take place on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page at facebook.com/PreserveSpringfield.
The Springfield Preservation Trust celebrates Black History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of African Americans in American history.
About the Speaker
Regine Jackson is a writer who was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Being an avid reader since she was a child, Jackson always wished to write, specifically stories where the main characters looked like her and the people around her. While Jackson mainly writes within the science-fiction, horror, and fantasy genres, she also writes prose and poetry revolving around her life living in an inner city. She hopes to not only hone her own craft but also to bring more creative work to her city and encourage more BIPOC women to write their truths. To learn more, visit Regine’s website at reginejackson.com.
About PAHMUSA
This lecture is presented in partnership with the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), a museum that links the African Diaspora to Springfield, MA and surrounding communities. PAHMUSA was founded in 1995 by Lujuana Hood and is located at Tower Square (1500 Main Street) in Springfield. To learn more, visit its website at pahmusa.org.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve, protect, and promote properties in Springfield that have architectural or historic significance. As the only non-profit, non-government advocacy group for historic preservation in Springfield, the Trust will continue to be the voice of preservation into the future. To learn more, visit its website at springfieldpreservation.org.

For the Love of the City—A Valentine Soirée
2024-02-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Valentine Mansion, 270 Maple Street, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
The Springfield Preservation Trust’s 2024 Winter Fundraiser—with the theme “For the Love of the City—A Valentine Soirée”—will be held at the Valentine Mansion, the bed and breakfast and events venue at 270 Maple Street, courtesy of homeowner and host Katherine Prewitt.
The event, taking place on February 4, 2024, at 1:00pm, will feature music, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beverages, a silent auction, and gorgeous city views from the home’s sweeping ballroom and expansion hosting spaces.
Support the Springfield Preservation Trust in its mission to preserve and protect properties in Springfield, Massachusetts which have architectural, historic, educational, or general cultural significance—including properties such as this one!—by attending our Annual Winter Fundraiser this year!

History of the Home and It Original Owners
Built in 1879, 270 Maple Street is a 30-room historic mansion is an impressive 11,102 square feet in size, with a 40-foot grand ballroom, ornate floor-to-ceiling hand-carved fireplace, 12 bedrooms, and what might be the best residential view of Springfield.
The home is historically known as the Frederick Harris House, as it was built for Frederick Harris and Emily Osborne, who were married in 1879 and shortly thereafter, moved into this fantastic home perched on the crest of the hill on Maple Street.
The house started out as the carriage house of Jotham G. Chase, who built a house next door on the site of what would become the Nathan Bill House. The exterior of the Chase house was built around 1873-74, and the carriage house may have been built around the same time—the masonry beholds an “1877” mark, which could be indicative of its age. However, Chase ran out of money during the Panic of 1873 and couldn’t finish the construction. In 1879, he sold the carriage house to Harris, who hired a contractor to convert it into a house in time to move in after his and Emily’s September 1879 wedding in Auburn, New York.
When the house was completed in 1879, it was considerably smaller than its current appearance. The first major expansion came in 1886, followed by the addition of a ballroom in 1900, reportedly built by Italian artisans over two years of construction.
Frederick Harris was a banker—who succeeded his father, Frederick H. Harris, as president of the Third National Bank of Springfield in 1911, when his father passed away. This would explain the hidden vault behind the dining room wainscotting! He was also active politically, and served as an alderman and as a member of the school committee.
Emily came from an even more prominent family. Originally from Auburn, New York, her father David was a prominent businessman and mayor, but her family was even better known for social activism. Her grandmother, Martha Coffin Wright, and her great aunt, Lucretia Coffin Mott, were both leaders of the abolitionist and women’s rights movements, and her brother, Thomas Mott Osborne, was the warden of Sing Sing and an influential prison reform advocate. Her sister was Helen Osborne Storrow, the philanthropist who founded Storrowton Village at the Big E. Helen’s husband was James Jackson Storrow II, a Boston businessman who briefly served as president of General Motors in the company’s early years.
Frederick and Emily had two children, Florence and Helen, but they were hardly the only residents of this house. Like other wealthy families of the era, they regularly employed multiple servants who lived here. In the 1900 census, they had three, and by 1910 they had four: a housekeeper, waitress, cook, and laundress. Florence moved out after her marriage in 1907 to Frederic Jones, and the couple later moved into a nearby house on Maple Street. Like his father-in-law, Frederic Jones would later go on to serve as president of Third National Bank.
Frederick died in 1926, and two years later he was memorialized in the naming of the Frederick Harris School, an elementary school on Hartford Terrace in the East Forest Park neighborhood. Emily lived out her life in the home until her death in 1940, some 60 years after she first moved in. Daughter Helen (Harris) Smith then moved into her mother’s home—she was the last family member to own the house. An alumna of Smith College, Helen was president of the Visiting Nurse Association, trustee of the Springfield Hospital, and vice president of the Wesson Maternity Hospital.

Helen lived in the home until her death in 1974. The home was willed the following year to the MacDuffie School for Girls, who sold the home that same year to MaryAnn and Robert Cornell. The Cornells lived in the home and operated it as an art gallery—from 1975 to 1984. In 1984, Thomas A. Valentine purchased the home—with much of the remaining art still hanging on the walls. Valentine retained ownership through various trusts until 2019 when he sold it to current owner, Katherine Prewitt. Prewitt lives in the home and operates it as a bed and breakfast, which she named after Mr. Valentine and happens to have purchased on Valentine’s Day. Fitting!
The mansion has the distinction of being the only house on Upper Maple Street to be in continuous ownership by one family for almost 100 years.
Since then, the house has remained well-preserved on both the exterior and interior. The side porch overlooking the city was damaged in the June 1, 2011 tornado, but was restored. The mansion remains as an important part of the Ames/Crescent Hill District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Join Us at the Winter Fundraiser!
The Trust looks forward to hosting its annual winter fundraiser at this home and is grateful for Katherine Prewitt for opening it up to us in support of our mission to protect, preserve, and promote historic properties of Springfield.
This event is sold out, but you may be added to the wait list by contacting info@springfieldpreservation.org.

SPT Day at the Springfield Museums
2024-01-20 10:00 - 17:00 | Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Free admissions to the Springfield Museums is available to all Springfield Preservation Trust members on Saturday, January 20th. Visit the Museums on “SPT Day” to take advantage of free admissions to all five museums on campus!

“Built in Springfield: Colonial Houses from Springfield’s Original Borders” with Derek Strahan
2024-01-18 19:00 - 20:30
“Built in Springfield: Colonial Houses from Springfield’s Original Borders” with Derek Strahan. Join historian Derek Strahan as he explores the history of some of the surviving colonial-era buildings that were originally built in Springfield. During the 1700s, Springfield’s borders extended far beyond the present-day city, and included surrounding cities and towns such as Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, West Springfield, and Wilbraham. Today, there are no known surviving colonial-era buildings in Springfield, but there are several dozen in these surrounding communities that were built in what was, at the time, the town of Springfield. This online lecture will highlight the historical and architectural significance of these buildings, while also examining the border changes that led to the present-day boundaries of Springfield. This lecture will take place on Jan, 18, 2024 from 7:00 – 8:30pm. This will take place on Facebook Live (Virtual Lecture). Please also reserve your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/built-in-springfield-colonial-houses-from-springfields-original-borders-tickets-778910170287?aff=efbevent&fbclid=IwAR0-tawL8K0xK7l3S0aFAih8KVUCt0b5p5TcPLyDqQV3vmKiUA3H7Gp-AtY

2023 Preservation Awards
2023-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Community Music School of Springfield., 127 State St, Springfield, MA
The Preservation Awards will be held, on November 14, 2023 in person at 7:00pm at the Community Music School of Springfield. If you have questions or want to attend, please email info@springfieldprreservation.org. Please reserve your spot here Preservation Awards 2023 Tickets, Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
The Springfield Preservation Trust Preservation Awards honor the people and organizations that are helping to restore historic structures in Springfield. Every year the Trust showcases exemplary properties that represent the best preservation in Springfield over the previous year. Preservation Awards are commonly given to properties that have restored the historic look of a building by removing inappropriate siding, repairing or replicating original details, or generally bringing back a building that was in disrepair. Additionally, if you have questions, please email info@springfieldpreservation.org.

Springfield Cemetery Architecture & Symbolism Tour
2023-10-28 13:00 - 14:30 | Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street, Springfield, MA, United States
Once known as Peabody Cemetery, the Springfield Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the City of Springfield. Despite being located in the heart of the city, the cemetery itself was designed in the landscape tradition of the rural cemetery with sloping hills and meandering paths through the graves that date back to the first burial in 1841. Stones, tablets, and remains dating to 1664 were relocated from the Old First Church shortly after the opening of the cemetery.
Within the Springfield Cemetery’s unique landscape are some of the most architecturally interesting stones and burial crypts in New England, featuring traditional cemetery symbols mixed with modern motifs and designs. This tour of the cemetery highlights some of these, explaining the significance behind some of the most common (and not-so-common) symbols of death and mourning.
The tour will take place on Saturday, October 28th at 1:00pm. Please meet at the Cemetery main office, at 171 Maple St.

Voices from the Grave: Cemetery Tour
2023-10-15 13:00 - 14:00
On October 15, learn about important figures in Springfield history at the 10th annual “Voices from the Grave” historic cemetery tour. Hosted by the Springfield Preservation Trust and developed by SPT Secretary Michael Stevens, the tour is an hour-long experience through Springfield Cemetery. It is led by docents who take visitors on a tour to graves of interesting cemetery residents, where costumed interpreters will speak about each person of intrigue.
Hour-long walking tours will depart every fifteen minutes starting at 1:00PM at Springfield Cemetery. Please enter through the Pine Street gate to Springfield Cemetery, which is opposite 45 Pine Street. Purchase a ticket for $15, and non-members will purchase a ticket for $18.

Maple-High and Six Corners Second Saturday Walking Tour
2023-10-08 10:30 - 12:00
Learn about the legacy, architecture, and neighborhood that surrounds one of Springfield’s most important historical business figures—Daniel B. Wesson, of Smith & Wesson fame.

On this walking tour, Preservation Trust Board Member Katherine Anderson Benson will provide a history of the Wesson Hospitals, the C.W. Porter School, and the beautiful homes that line the streets of the Six Corners neighborhood, where these structures reside. The walking tour departs from the rear of the High School of Commerce (Springfield Honors Academy entrance) and ends at the same.

The Six Corners neighborhood of Springfield once encompassed two of the city’s premier medical facilities—Wesson Memorial Hospital and the Wesson Maternity Hospital—founded by Daniel B. Wesson, also the co-founder of Springfield-based firearm manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Surrounded by beautiful homes, the neighborhood was also once home to Miss Charlotte Porter’s School, a preeminent private school for girls.

The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Mattoon Street Arts Festival Day 2
2023-09-10 10:00 - 16:00 | 45 Mattoon Street Springfield, MA
Join the Springfield Preservation Trust at the 50th Annual Mattoon Streets Art Festival, which gathers more than 90 exhibitors, food vendors, strolling musicians, and community organizations and non-profits, like us! We’ll be debuting the 2024 City of Homes Calendar, which features the Forest Park Heights Historic District. Come by and learn about historic preservation, Springfield’s Most Endangered Historic Resources List, and how you can get involved to preserve and protect Springfield’s unique and important historic buildings. Plus, enjoy the historical beauty of Mattoon Street—the only street in Springfield to feature Victorian row houses on both sides of the street.
These homes date in the 1870s and 1880s and are in the heart of Springfield’s Quadrangle–Mattoon Street Historic District. Lined with herringbone brick sidewalks, London Plane trees, and cast iron street lights, Mattoon Street is a historic district unlike any other in the region, evoking scenes of Boston’s Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods. Come visit us and see the true excellence of architectural craftsmanship on Mattoon Street.

Forest Park Heights Historic District: Second Saturday Walking Tour
2023-09-09 10:30 - 12:00
Join local historian Derek Strahan on a walking tour of the Forest Park Heights Historic District neighborhood. The tour will focus on the homes on the southern side of Sumner Avenue, with an emphasis on the variety of architectural styles within the neighborhood. The tour will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9 at the Florentine Gardens circle, and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The tour route is about 1.5 miles in length, on mostly level ground.

On-street parking is available on the neighborhood streets. Please be sure to not block driveways or fire hydrants.

The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Mattoon Street Arts Festival
2023-09-09 10:00 - 16:00 | 45 Mattoon Street Springfield, MA

Annual Historic House Garden Party Fundraiser
2023-08-20 13:00 - 16:00 | 48 Park Edge Avenue, 48 Park Edge Avenue, Springfield, CT, United States
Join us for the Springfield Preservation Trust’s Annual Garden Party Fundraiser, featuring music, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beverages, and a gorgeous garden setting, courtesy of homeowners and hosts Vana Nespor and Alfred Whitehouse at 48 Park Edge Avenue in Forest Park Heights Historic District. This event will take place on August 20 from 1 -4 pm. Please buy your tickets through Eventbrite.
From voluminous hydrangea to healing echinacea, the flowers, herbs, and green-thumb prowess displayed in these gardens will have you dreaming that summer never ends.
Support the Springfield Preservation Trust in its mission to preserve and protect properties in Springfield, Massachusetts which have architectural, historic, educational, or general cultural significance—including properties such as this one!—by attending our Annual Garden Party Fundraiser this year!

Springfield Food History Second Saturday Walking Tour
2023-08-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Curious about food history in Springfield? Come learn about the city’s delicious past—and taste a bit of the beauty along the way!’
Join James Johnson, Executive Vice President of Springfield Preservation Trust, on the August Second Saturday Walking Tour. This walking tour will leave from Springfield Museums on August 12 at 10:30 am and be filled with historic buildings of restaurants and local attractions. Additionally, there will be extra surprises on this tour for each visitor—if you want to learn what those might be then you must attend the tour! This walking tour departs from the Springfield Museums.
The tour is free for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $5 for non-members, payable at the outset of the tour.
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Second Saturday Springfield Art Walking Tour
2023-07-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
On July 8, Bob McCarroll, board member of the Springfield Preservation Trust since its establishment, will lead the Springfield Art Walking Tour, which will explore historic works of art scattered throughout Downtown. The tour will depart at 10:30 a.m. from Springfield Museums.
This walking tour departs from the Springfield Museums. The tour is free for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $5 for non-members, payable at the outset of the tour.
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Historic Homes Tour & Social in Forest Park Heights Historic District
2023-06-25 13:00 - 18:00 | 73 Washington Rd, Springfield, MA 01108, 73 Washington Rd, Springfield, MA, 01108, United States
Tour historic homes in Springfield’s Forest Park Heights Historic District, then enjoy hors d’oeuvres, music, and libations at the post-tour social.
Springfield Preservation Trust is excited to announce the return of its annual Historic Homes Tour, taking place this year in the Forest Park Heights Historic District.
The event will take place on Sunday, June 25, 2023 from 1:00-4:00pm, followed by a social gathering at 73 Washington Rd, from 4:00-6:00pm, where hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served and multiple live entertainment acts will entertain.
Homes & structures that will be featured include:

70 Bellevue Avenue
83 Magnolia Terrace
23 Washington Road
68 Washington Road
361 Sumner Avenue (Trinity Church)
4 Garfield Street (Straitway to Heaven Church)
73 Washington Road (post-tour social location)

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the striking beauty of these historic homes and structures, on the inside and out.
This year, the tour will focus on the Forest Park Heights Historic District, one of the largest local historic districts in Massachusetts. Abutting Springfield’s 735-acre Forest Park, from which it gets its name, the neighborhood features 600 homes that reflect the most popular styles from the 1890s to the 1920s. Forest Park Heights received its local historic district designation in 1975 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The neighborhood is touted for its proximity to Forest Park, which features walking trails, playing fields, a zoo, lakes, ponds, and more—and also hosts Bright Nights at Forest Park, the northeast’s premier annual holiday lighting experience.
Past historic homes tours have opened hundreds of homes, showcased the wonderful neighborhoods of Springfield, and even encouraged people to buy homes in the city. Previous tours have included homes in Colony Hills (2019), Atwater Park (2018), Maple Street (2017), and McKnight (2016). The tour was canceled in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tickets are $45 (tour+social), $35 (social-only), and $15 (tour-only) for SPT members, and $55 (tour+social), $40 (social-only), and $20 (tour-only). All tour proceeds support the Springfield Preservation Trust’s mission of preserving and protecting properties in Springfield which have architectural, historic, educational, or general cultural significance.
The Historic Homes Tour & Social are made possible by sponsors and ticket sales, as well as by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council.

70 Bellevue Avenue (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Jeff Morgan)

83 Magnolia Terrace (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Derek Strahan)

23 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

68 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

361 Sumner Avenue, Trinity Church (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

4 Garfield Street, Straitway to Heaven Church (Photo courtesy of Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

73 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

The Underground Railroad in Springfield, presented with PAHMUSA
2023-06-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Tower Square, 1500 Main Street, Springfield
Visit locations and meet people that salute the perseverance, ingenuity, and resilience of some of Springfield’s unsung early residents. The Underground Railroad was comprised of many people and places—Springfield was an important destination for freedom seekers and activists like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and John Brown.
Join the Springfield Preservation Trust, in partnership with the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA) for this Second Saturday Walking Tour. Special thank you to PAHMUSA Executive Director Sam Bradley for leading the organization and research of this tour.
This walking tour departs from the Tower Square. Docents will meet you at the Main Street entrance and guide you to the tour. The tour is free.
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Mass Cultural Council.

Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Forest Park Second Saturday Walking Tour
2023-05-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Carriage House at the Barney Estate, Route 5, Springfield, MA, United States
The May 13th walking tour will be presented by John Bilodeau who will give a tour of the Carriage House at the Barney Estate. The Second Saturday walking tour will be at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate in celebration of the 140th Anniversary of the Springfield Park Department, join us for the Second Saturday Walking Tour of The Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Forest Park. Please enter through the Route 5 entrance, say you are there for the Carriage House and they should give you a ticket. Then proceed to the parking area and once you park the car please meet the guide at white tent. Parking is free for attendees of the tour.
Guests will learn the fascinating history behind the carriage house, built during the Victorian era. Once an integral part of the vast estate of inventor and philanthropist Everett Hosmer Barney, the carriage house is one of the only original structures still standing on the grounds. The Carriage House was built in 1890 and has been lovingly restored and reinvented. Its timeless charm and beauty is something to behold. The Second Saturday Walking Tours season is sponsored by Mass Cultural Council, Springfield Cultural Council, and the Springfield Museums.
This tour will be free. The tour group will start at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate at 10:30 AM on May 13 and leave promptly to start the tour.
Brought to you by the City of Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management. The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Mass Cultural Council.
Park Instructions: Come in through the Route 5 entrance

How to Save a House: Pathways to Preservation
2023-04-27 19:00 - 20:00
How do you save a property from the wrecking ball or insensitive alterations? There is a large toolbox available to would-be preservationists, but it takes forward thinking to ensure a house survives into the future. We will cover the menu of options available to protect properties: the National Register, historic districts, preservation easements, and more! We’ll discuss how these tools differ from one another and when you should consider each.
This is a virtual lecture that will be broadcast through Facebook Live on April 27 at 7pm. This virtual lecture will be presented by Historic New England Senior Preservation Services Manager Dylan Peacock.

Great Houses of the McKnight Historic District (Walking Tour)
2023-04-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Thompson Triangle, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
Join us for the “Great Houses of the McKnight Historic District” walking tour, part of our Second Saturday Walking Tour series.
The McKnight Neighborhood contains 800 homes and was developed from 1870-1900 by the McKnight Brothers. The city’s first Street Car suburb, it is still the largest intact wood frame Victorian neighborhood in New England.
Participants will learn about the history and architecture of the McKnight neighborhood and see some of the great houses that led to Springfield being called “The City Of Homes.” We will wander down Dartmouth Terrace, Worthington Street, Ingersoll Grove, and parts of Florida and Bowdoin Streets. These areas developed in the 1880s feature some of the biggest, most grand houses built in the neighborhood.
The tour will be conducted by Jim Boone, who is a long-time Springfield Preservation Trust Board Member and boasts 47 years of residency in the McKnight neighborhood. The tour begins at Thompson Triangle, the intersection of Worthington St and Saint James Ave.
The Second Saturday Walking Tour series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is sponsored by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council and the Mass Cultural Council.

Introducing the 2023 Most Endangered Historic Resources List (Virtual Lecture)
2023-03-23 19:00 - 20:30
Join the Springfield Preservation Trust, as we review this year’s Most Endangered Historic Resources List.
The 2023 Most Endangered Historic Resources List highlights historic properties in immediate danger of demolition or disrepair. The purpose of this list is to make public notice of important properties worth saving, through actions such as advocacy or redevelopment. The Trust’s hope is that individuals or organizations experienced or interested in historic preservation will take interest in acquiring and restoring these iconic and important properties, which add character and vibrancy to our city.
Join Springfield Preservation Trust’s Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator Kira Holmes in the unveiling of this list, first released to the public at our 2023 Annual Meeting on February 26th. This virtual lecture may be viewed through Facebook Live on March 23, at 7:00 – 8:30pm.

Preservation Massachusetts: Historic Preservation at the State Level—Who We Are and What We Do (Virtual Lecture)
2023-02-28 19:00 - 20:30
With a mission founded on the principles of education, advocacy, and empowerment, Preservation Massachusetts works collaboratively in all 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth to promote the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes as a positive force for economic development and the retention of community character. Join Preservation Massachusetts staff members Stacia Caplanson and Joe Ritter to learn more about Preservation Massachusetts’ projects and collaborations, and discover how they advocate for a better understanding, appreciation, and utilization of Massachusetts’ historic built and natural landscapes in communities just like yours.
This is a virtual lecture, taking place on Facebook Live. RSVP on Facebook.

Annual Meeting 2023
2023-02-26 13:00 - 14:30 | Overland Lofts Springfield, MA, 151 Chesnut Street, Springfield, MA, United States
The Springfield Preservation Trust (SPT) will hold its 50th Annual Meeting at the former Willys-Overland building at 151-157 Chestnut Street on February 26, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

The meeting will be open to SPT members and the public and will feature an overview of the past year, election of the board of directors, release of the 2022 Annual Report, a look at the year to come, and the announcement of the 2023 Most Endangered Historic Resources List.

The program will feature:

Year in Review, by President Derek Strahan
Introducing the 2023 Most Endangered List, by Kira Holmes
The Year Ahead, by Erica Swallow & James Johnson
Historic Preservation & Redevelopment in Springfield, by Charles Irving, President of Davenport Companies

Attendees must pre-register by February 24 by emailing info@springfieldpreservation.org.

Parking: Use the Worthington Street parking lot adjacent to the building or look for an on-site space (meters are free on the weekend).

"Lost Colonial-Era Buildings" Virtual Lecture
2023-01-19 19:00 - 20:30
The Josiah Dwight House, featured in an article in this newsletter, was one of the many important historic buildings that once stood in Springfield. Join Springfield historian Derek Strahan for a virtual lecture as he explores the history and photographs of some of the other lost colonial-era buildings from Springfield’s past. The lecture will take place on January 19 at 7 p.m. by Facebook Live.

Free Springfield Museums Admission for SPT Members
2023-01-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
All day on January 14 members of Springfield Preservation Trust members may visit Springfield Museums. Visit the 2022 SPT Preservation Awards a collaborative exhibit between SPT and Springfield Museums in the Wood Museum and then explore the other museums. Show your membership card or membership confirmation receipt at the admission desk in the Welcome Center to receive free admission. Thank you Springfield Museums for this partnership and membership perk for SPT members.

BID's Holiday Market
2022-12-21 11:00 - 15:00
Today, The 2023 City of Homes calendar will be sold at BID’s Holiday Market on Dec. 21. This is the last opportunity to buy and have your calendar for the holiday. Visit Tower Square from 11a.m. – 3 p.m today, and buy a $15 calendar. If you buy a calendar online at this point https://springfieldpreservation.org/2023-calendar/ it will not arrive till after Dec. 25.
