Springfield’s Lost Riverfront (A Walking Tour)
2025-06-14 10:30 - 12:00 UTC | Riverfront Park, Springfield, MA
Come learn about the historic Springfield riverfront, including histories of the bridges, steamboat access, buildings, and even the sewage system.
Derek Strahan will be leading the Second Saturday Tours series on June 14th at 10:30am. It will start at Riverfront Park, at the parking lot directly across from the end of State Street. The Springfield Preservation Trust walking tours this season are sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
This walking tour departs from the Riverfront Park at 10:30am and ends at 12pm. The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and $10 for non-members, payable in advance on Eventbrite or at the tour’s outset.
The Second Saturday Tours series explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About the Tour Guide
Derek Strahan is a former board member and former chair of the Educational Programming committee at the Springfield Preservation Trust, which is focused on protecting, preserving, and promoting historic properties in Springfield. He was on the board from 2017-2024 and served as president of the nonprofit from 2019 to 2023. He leads historic walking tours of Springfield, presents lectures about Springfield’s history, and has also been a costumed interpreter at several of the organization’s annual “Voices of the Grave” cemetery tours. Aside from his work with the Trust, Strahan also runs the local history website LostNewEngland.com, and he is the author of “Lost Springfield, Massachusetts” and “New England Then and Now,” and is the host of the Western Mass History podcast. Derek has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Science degree in Regional Planning from Westfield State University, and currently serves as a land use and environmental planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. He and his wife Melissa are proud owners of a circa 1760 farmhouse, where they are raising their two young sons.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

The Grand Homes of McKnight Historic District: A Historic Homes Tour
2025-06-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Thompson Triangle, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
Explore restored Victorian gems on this self-guided tour through the storied residences of Springfield’s McKnight neighborhood.
Join us as the Springfield Preservation Trust proudly presents its beloved Annual Historic Homes Tour, returning in 2025 with a spectacular focus on the grand, storied residences of the McKnight Historic District—a neighborhood that quite literally gave Springfield its nickname: The City of Homes.
From 1870 to 1910, the McKnight neighborhood blossomed into Springfield’s first true suburban development, and today remains New England’s largest collection of wood-frame Victorian homes. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Local Historic District, McKnight stands as a living testament to an era of craftsmanship, charm, and architectural ambition.
Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, this rare opportunity grants interior access to a curated selection of homes that have long captivated passersby. If you’ve ever admired these elegant facades from the sidewalk, now is your moment to cross the threshold and experience the intricate woodwork, vintage details, and timeless charm that lies within. Don’t miss this immersive journey into Springfield’s architectural past—where every doorway tells a story.
This year’s self-guided tour offers rare interior access to some of the most stunning and meticulously restored homes in the district. These aren’t just beautiful facades you’ve admired from afar—now, you’re invited to step inside and discover the hand-carved woodwork, vibrant period details, and the rich character that makes each home a masterpiece.
Many of these homes underwent passionate restorations during the Victorian revival of the 1970s, with homeowners honoring the original architecture and decorating interiors to reflect the elegance and spirit of the late 19th century. On this tour, you’ll witness the very best of those efforts—a celebration of authenticity, artistry, and reverence for the past.
🎟️ Tickets are $30 for non-members and $20 for members and include a detailed tour map with historical notes for each home. All homes are located within a three-block radius, making the experience an easy, scenic walk through tree-lined streets and timeless beauty. Tickets can be picked up at Thompson Triangle (the park in the triangle between St. James Avenue, Worthington Street, and Clarendon Street.) Ticketing opens at 12:45pm. Doors open at 1:00pm. Remember to check in with your tickets by 2:00pm at Thompson Triangle or buy tickets in person by 2pm on June 22. Street parking at Ingersoll Grove or Florida Street.
✨ Whether you’re a preservation enthusiast, an admirer of fine architecture, or simply curious to peek behind the doors of Springfield’s most iconic homes, this is your chance to wander, wonder, and be transported.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

Underground Railroad: Springfield’s Contributions to Emancipation (Tour)
2025-07-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Tower Square, 1500 Main Street, Springfield
Immerse yourself in the history of Springfield by visiting locations and meeting people who embody the perseverance, ingenuity, and resilience of some of the city’s early residents. The Underground Railroad, a network of many people and places, played a significant role in Springfield’s history, making it a destination for freedom seekers and activists like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and John Brown.
This walking tour departs from the Tower Square at 10:30am and ends at 12pm. The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums & PAHMUSA members, and $10 for non-members, payable in advance on Eventbrite or at the tour’s outset.
The Second Saturday Tours series explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About PAHMUSA
This event is presented in partnership with the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), a vital institution dedicated to connecting the African Diaspora to Springfield, MA, and its surrounding communities. Founded in 1995 by Lujuana Hood, PAHMUSA is located in Tower Square (1500 Main Street) in Springfield, MA. To learn more about its mission and exhibits, visit pahmusa.org or follow them on Instagram at @pahmusa1619.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

Rushville: Springfield’s Oldest Craftsman Neighborhood (A Walking Tour)
2025-08-09 10:30 - 12:00
The early 20th century saw the rise of the Craftsman style architecture. It grew out of the Arts & Crafts movement, a reaction to the ornate styles and decor of the Victorian era. Its arrival in Springfield coincided with a building boom in single-family houses in neighborhoods such as Pine Point, Forest Park, Liberty Heights, and East Springfield. The popularity of Craftsman homes also occurred at the same time as use of concrete block for foundations and sometimes for entire houses.
The tour will focus on some of the earliest and more unusual Craftsman houses in Springfield. It will leave from the corner of Berkshire Avenue and Dewey Street. On-Street parking is available on Dewey, Hobson, and Elizabeth Streets.
The Second Saturday Tours series explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About the Tour Guide
Bob McCarroll has been a significant force for the preservation of Springfield’s historic properties since the mid-1970s, when he was part of the reactivation of the Springfield Preservation Trust into an advocacy organization.
Between 1972 and 2002, he worked in the Springfield Planning Department, where he helped create five of the early local historic districts. Now retired, Bob served for 11 years on the Springfield Historical Commission and has served on the Springfield Community Preservation Committee since its formation in 2017. Bob has served for more than 45 years on the board of the Springfield Preservation Trust, where he has organized house tours, worked on self-guided walking tour brochures, and applied for and coordinated grant work at 77 Maple Street. Bob is a long-time resident of the Mattoon Street Historic District and coordinates the annual Mattoon Street Arts Festival, the region’s oldest arts and crafts show. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University.
Bob is a recipient of the 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Awards Local Preservationist Award, the 2018 Preservation Massachusetts K. Julie McCarthy Community Spirit Award, the 2018 Order of William Pynchon Award, and the 2024 Mass History Alliance Bay State Legacy Award.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

Flora & Fauna: Historic Carriage House Tour & Garden Party Fundraiser
2025-08-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Carriage House at the Barney Estate, Route 5, Springfield, MA, United States
Flora & Fauna: Historic Carriage House Tour & Garden Party Fundraiser

Join us for the Springfield Preservation Trust’s Annual Garden Party Fundraiser, featuring a historic tour, opera performance, Victorian era music, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, and a lush formal garden setting at The Carriage House at the Barney Estate. This event will take place on August 24 at 1pm. Tickets are $40 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Garden Club members and $50 for non-members, and can be purchased online via Eventbrite.
Purchase Tickets Here
Highlighting work by the Springfield Garden Club and the Springfield Department of Public Parks, the event features floral and garden designs fit for Victorian era garden strolls—Carriage House plantings information will be provided for those interested in how the Garden Club and Parks Department curate the estate’s gardens and planters.
Take a stroll through history as well, with a tour of the historic Carriage House, including the second level, which among other gems, features Mr. Everett Barney’s office, including a restored pastoral mural and a grandfather clock which has stood on the property since the Barney’s ownership.
Finally, hear youth artist Baillie DiStefano in an operatic performance in the Carriage House ballroom, as she performs “Deh, vieni, non tardar,” from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”.
Summer florals and fauna-inspired patterns encouraged, to celebrate the “Flora & Fauna: A Forest Park Garden Party Fundraiser” theme!
Bountiful hors d’oeuvres will be served, and historic and contemporary items and experiences will be featured in the silent auction. Cash bar available for libations.
Parking is off of Route 5

About the Carriage House & Gardens
The Carriage House at the Barney Estate was built in 1883, alongside Pecousic Villa, the towering mansion of Everett Barney, a local ice skate manufacturer who owned much of what is now the western section of the park, accounting for 175 acres. Pecousic Village was devastatingly demolished in the 1950s for the construction of Interstate 91, but the Carriage House stands the test of time, along with Barney’s well-landscaped grounds, including ponds, fountains, a waterfall, bridges, and a network of paths.
The Carriage House sits snuggly within Forest Park—at 735 acres, it is one of the largest municipal parks in the country. The park was established in 1884, when Orrick H. Greenleaf—one of the city’s park commissioners—donated 65 acres of land on the south side of Sumner Avenue. The city accepted this offer in 1884, and soon allocated funding for acquiring additional land adjacent to this property. This marked the start of Forest Park, which would steadily grow with further donations—including the largest donation by Barney Everett—and land acquisitions throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Springfield Union, one of the city’s newspapers, praised Barney for his landscaping work in his obituary in 1916, writing:
“Forest Park is Springfield’s great breathing ground, and a trip there always includes a visit to Barney’s front yard. There he showed his passionate love for nature and that he was an expert horticulturalist. He planted there rare shrubs and trees from Europe, Egypt, China, Japan and India, and there he planned and maintained lily ponds containing nearly all varieties of lilies. There, too, he maintained a lotus pond. Mr. Barney’s nature was a restless, untiring one, and he changed his lawns and flower gardens frequently. His taste ran strongly to mathematical arrangement of flower beds and shrubs, and one is constantly startled by coming suddenly on a stone deer or other piece of statuary.”
Today, The Carriage House is a frequent wedding and events venue, and is home to the Springfield Garden Club, which manages the plantings and gardens around the structure.
Some historical excerpts from Lost New England & the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

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!
Tickets are $40 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Garden Club members and $50 for non-members, and can be purchased online via Eventbrite.

Photo above: Performer Baillie DiStefano (right) performs in opera Acis and Galatea.

About Guest Performer Baillie DiStefano
We are honored to have youth artist Baillie DiStefano performing with us at the event. Baillie will be performing “Deh, vieni, non tardar” (from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”).
Among notable performances, Baillie has performed as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” and was a choir member for the “Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds” show at The Bushnell, with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. She was also recently an ensemble member for opera Acis and Galatea while also serving as understudy for the part of Damon in that opera. She has also performed as a supporting vocalist with Grammy-winning artist Mr. G at multiple festivals and shows, including the Green River Music Festival.
Baillie was honored as a Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts’ 18 Under 18 recipient in 2023. She attended the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts and New England Music Camp for summers. She currently attends the University of Hartford, double majoring in vocal performance and music education.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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.
About the Springfield Garden Club
Organized in 1917 and federated in 1928, the Springfield Garden Club is “rooted in the past and still growing with a mission to create interest in the art of gardening, stimulate the promotion of civic beauty through horticulture and conservation, and encourage the appreciation of the visual art of designing with plant material. The club is a proud member of National Garden Clubs, New England Garden Clubs, Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, and Tower Hill Botanic Garden. To learn more, visit its website at: springfieldgardenclubma.org.

Springfield Armory: Hill Shops Walking Tour
2025-09-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Springfield Armory National Historic Site, 1 Armory St #2, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
Join us for a walking tour of the historic Hill Shops at the Springfield Armory, with Springfield Armory National Historic Site staff member and tour guide Carl Steele. Learn about the unique architecture around the green and what the buildings were used for when the Armory was in operation.
This is your opportunity to visit the Springfield Armory National Historic Site that commemorates the role of the nation’s first armory by preserving and interpreting the world’s largest historic U.S. military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings and landscape. Learn more about the Armory at: https://www.nps.gov/spar
The tour departs from the Springfield Armory. The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $10 for non-members, payable in advance on Eventbrite, or in cash or check at the outset of the tour.
The Second Saturday Tours series explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

Made in Springfield: Places & People of Springfield's Industrial Legacy
2025-10-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Explore downtown Springfield and learn about the places and people who invented and created in Springfield in its industrial heyday.
Springfield is the home of the first gas powered automobile, the monkey wrench, basketball… and so much more. Come see what made Springfield the center of innovation in the late 19th Century, and examined the geographies and buildings where it all began.
The tour departs from the Springfield Museums Welcome Center at 10:30am. The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums members, and is $10 for non-members, payable in advance on Eventbrite, or in cash or check at the outset of the tour.
This tour is part of the Second Saturday Tours series, which explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About the Tour Guide
Erica Swallow is president of the Springfield Preservation Trust board of directors. She also serves as a Springfield Museums Advancement Committee member and Forest Park Civic Association board member, and is a local REALTOR®. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and other degrees from NYU Stern and Simmons University, with nearly two decades of marketing experience in the fields of technology and education. Raised in Arkansas and educated in New York and Boston, she chose Springfield as home out of love for its deep history, cultural diversity, and progressive energy. She has served on several Springfield City Council committees and is proud and honored to live in the Forest Park Historic District. She is the mother of two cats.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

“Voices from the Grave” Cemetery Tour 2025
2025-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street, Springfield, MA, United States
Learn about important figures in Springfield history at the 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 speak about each person of intrigue.

Hour-long walking tours will depart every fifteen minutes starting at 1:00PM at Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street.

Tickets are $20 for Springfield Preservation Trust members, and $25 for non-members. (Use the “SPTMember” promo code to receive $5 off per ticket.) Please enter through the Maple Street entrance and check in at the registration table 5-10 minutes before your tour. This event is held rain or shine!

Hour-long walking tours will depart every fifteen minutes, on October 20 starting at 1:00PM at Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street.

Free Springfield Museums Admissions for SPT Weekend
2026-01-10 10:00 - 2026-01-11 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 10th and Sunday, January 11th. Visit the Museums during “SPT Weekend” to take advantage of free admissions to all five museums on campus!
While you’re there, visit the Springfield Preservation Trust exhibit at the Wood Museum of Springfield History.

Lost & Reused Springfield: Wins & Losses for Historic Springfield Architecture
2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:30
Lost & Reused Springfield: Wins & Losses for Historic Springfield Architecture
Learn about historic Springfield buildings which have been lost to demolition or neglect—or saved by preservation and reuse. Join presenters Jayden Bermudez and Jim Boone in this digital lecture which overviews some of Springfield’s most iconic properties—whether Lost or Reused—and their journeys from original use to current fate. Buildings will include beautiful mansions, civic buildings, schools, and more. Come learn about the architecture which made Springfield “the City of Homes” and the “City of Firsts.”

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, where attendees are encouraged to bring their questions about historic preservation and architecture in Springfield. This event will be on January 15, 2026, at 7:00pm. Please register through here.
About The Lecture Series and Presenter:
This virtual lecture is part of the Donald Courtemanche Winter Lecture Series, co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield City Library, and generously underwritten by Bob McCarroll. The lecture will be streamed on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page.
This lecture will be co-presented by Jayden Bermudez and Jim Boone:

Jayden Bermudez served as the Educational Programming & Instructional Intern for the Springfield Preservation Trust in 2025. He is currently studying to become a Secondary Education teacher with a double major in History and English at Springfield Technical Community College.
Jim Boone has been on the board of the SPT since 1977. He is a retired school counselor who worked with special needs students and retired 30-year realtor, who specialized in historic houses. He lives in Springfield’s McKnight Historic District, where he has been a resident since 1976, restoring three homes. Jim has written and lectured about house restoration, Springfield, and McKnight District history; overseen restoration of five SPT house projects; and is a docent at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Jim is also on the board of Vinalhaven Land Trust, where he has served for 15 years, organizing summer programs and lectures. He has previously served on the Springfield Historical Commission.

Festive in Flannel—2026 Winter Fundraiser for Historic Preservation
2026-02-01 01:00 - 16:00
Festive in Flannel—2026 Winter Fundraiser for Historic Preservation

Celebrate this winter season at the stately Tudor Revival Edward Coats House in historic McKnight. Festive flannel attire encouraged!

The Springfield Preservation Trust’s 2025 Winter Fundraiser—with the theme “Fireside in Flannel”—will be held at the circa 1899 Edward Coats House, the stately Tudor Revival mansion at 1090 Worthington Street, courtesy of homeowners and hosts Jesse and Emila Lederman.
The event, taking place on February 1, 2025, at 1:00pm, will feature music, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beverages, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a historic home tour of the mansion. Purchase tickets here.
Step inside the Edward Coats House and settle into a scene straight out of the late Victorian era—where the glow of winter lights dances across dark wood paneling and leaded glass. Guests are invited to dress festive in flannel—layered with woolen scarves, soft knitwear, tweed, or velvet, blending modern comfort with turn-of-the-century charm. Imagine the gentle hum of conversation filling the rooms, much as it might have in 1899 when the home first welcomed winter callers. Whether wrapped in plaid, fleece, or tweed, attendees can bask in the home’s historic warmth and enjoy ambient respite befitting a grand Tudor Revival winter gathering.
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!

Home History
This house with Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival details was designed by architect G. Wood Taylor, son-in-law of William McKnight, who developed much of the neighborhood with his brother John. Taylor designed houses also in Forest Park Heights and Ridgewood. The first owner of this home was E. M. Coats, a liquor distributor.
About the Architect
The Edward Coats House was designed by G. Wood Taylor, a prominent Springfield architect around the turn of the 20th century. Taylor was active in designing many upscale residences in Springfield—especially in the Forest Park and McKnight neighborhoods—often blending popular revival styles like Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival that were fashionable among well-to-do clients of the era.
Taylor’s work was recognized regionally, with some of his designs appearing in period architectural publications, reflecting the craftsmanship and stylistic trends of the late Victorian into early Edwardian periods.
About the Neighborhood

The house sits within the McKnight National Historic District, one of America’s first planned residential neighborhoods, developed beginning in the 1870s. McKnight, and the adjacent Forest Park Heights area, became a showcase for high-style homes in a variety of architectural languages—Colonial, Tudor, Queen Anne, Shingle, and more—constructed for influential local professionals during Springfield’s economic growth around the turn of the century.
Architectural Significance
As a residence with both Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival details, the Edward Coats House exemplifies the eclectic approach of the period, when architects combined historic European influences (steep gables, half-timbering of Tudor style) with refined classical elements (symmetry, columns, and classical ornament from Colonial Revival sources). These stylistic choices were meant to convey both historic pedigree and modern fashionable taste at the time the home was built.
Original Owner
The first owner, E. M. Coats, was a successful liquor distributor—a profession that, at the time, would have placed him well among Springfield’s thriving commercial class who commissioned distinguished homes as social and economic symbols in growing neighborhoods like McKnight. While specific details of Coats’s life and activities are less documented online than larger public figures of the era, his ability to commission such a residence underscores the prosperity of certain trades in late 19th-century Springfield.
Join Us at the Winter Fundraiser!
The Trust looks forward to hosting its annual winter fundraiser at this home and is grateful for Jesse & Emila Lederman for opening it up to us in support of our mission to protect, preserve, and promote historic properties of Springfield. Purchase tickets here.

Storybook Architecture: A Review of Fairytale-Inspired American Homes
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30
Storybook Architecture: A Review of Fairytale-Inspired American Homes
Storybook architecture–a whimsical, fairytale-inspired style characterized by playful, exaggerated elements–emerged in Southern California in the 1920s. The lecture will look at examples there and across the country. This lecture will take place on February 19, 2026, at 7:00pm. Please register here.
About The Lecture Series and Presenter:
This virtual lecture is part of the Donald Courtemanche Winter Lecture Series, co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield City Library, and generously underwritten by Bob McCarroll. The lecture will be streamed on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page. Please register here.
This lecture will be presented by Bob McCarroll. He has been a significant force for the preservation of Springfield’s historic properties since the mid-1970s, when he was part of the reactivation of the Springfield Preservation Trust into an advocacy organization. Between 1972 and 2002, he worked in the Springfield Planning Department, where he helped create five of the early local historic districts. Now retired, Bob served for 11 years on the Springfield Historical Commission and has served on the Springfield Community Preservation Committee since its formation in 2017. Bob has served for more than 45 years on the board of the Springfield Preservation Trust, where he has organized house tours, worked on self-guided walking tour brochures, and applied for and coordinated grant work at 77 Maple Street. Bob is a long-time resident of the Mattoon Street Historic District and coordinates the annual Mattoon Street Arts Festival, the region’s oldest arts and crafts show. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University.Bob is a recipient of the 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Awards Local Preservationist Award, the 2018 Preservation Massachusetts K. Julie McCarthy Community Spirit Award, the 2018 Order of William Pynchon Award, and the 2024 Mass History Alliance Bay State Legacy Award.

SPT Annual Meeting
2026-03-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Christ Church Cathedral, 35 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, United States
Join the Springfield Preservation Trust, on March 1st at 1:00pm, for the SPT Annual Meeting, at Christ Church Cathedral, at 35 Chestnut Street.

The 2026 Annual Meeting will feature an overview of the past year, the election of the board of directors, the release of the 2025 Annual Report, a look at the year to come, a Community Preservation Act update, and announcement of the 2026 Most Endangered Historic Resources List.

The meeting will conclude with a brief development update by guest keynote speaker Steve Jablonski, Principal Architect of Jablonski DeVriese Architects, architect for 7-9 Stockbridge Street. The meeting will be open to SPT members and the public.

Programming will include: – Election of the 2026 Board of Directors– Introduction of the 2026 Most Endangered Historic Resources List– The Year in Review– The Year Ahead– A brief development update by Steve Jablonski, Principal Architect of Jablonski DeVriese Architects, architect for 7-9 Stockbridge Street.

Programming is expected to last about 75 minutes.

Please email info@springfieldpreservation.org to reserve your spot(s) by February 26th.

Parking
Parking will be available at Christ Church Cathedral, Springfield Museums, and street parking on Chestnut Street.

Trailblazers in Care: Women in Medicine and Public Health in Springfield
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:30
Trailblazers in Care: Women in Medicine and Public Health in Springfield

Join us for a fascinating program exploring the stories of pioneering women who reshaped medicine and public health in Western MA.

This Women’s History Month, join us for a fascinating program exploring the stories of pioneering women who reshaped medicine and public health in Springfield and Western Massachusetts.
Learn about Dr. Seraph Frissell, one of the first women admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society and a Springfield physician whose medical writings challenged convention, and Dr. Mary Phylinda Dole, a trailblazing “country doctor” who became the first female physician at Franklin County Public Hospital and devoted her career to opening doors for women in medicine. We’ll also place their achievements in the broader context of women’s medical leadership across Massachusetts, from early public health advocacy to groundbreaking nursing education.
Through their lives, we’ll discover how women challenged barriers, advanced healthcare, and left a legacy that continues to shape our communities today. This event will be on March 19 at pm. Please register here.
About The Lecture Series and Presenter
This virtual lecture is part of the Donald Courtemanche Winter Lecture Series, co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield City Library, and generously underwritten by Bob McCarroll. The lecture will be streamed on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page.
The lecture will be presented by Dr. Kate Benson. Dr. Benson is the award-winning author of Hospital Hill and its companion novel, Shadows in the Ward. She is also the author of Behind the Walls, a volume on the history of insane asylums in institutions in New England. She is a special education teacher and architectural photographer who leads a lecture series on the history of mental illness and its treatment. She is currently hard at work on a number of asylum projects. She is also the owner of Otherwords Press, an independent publishing imprint representing authors from all over the world. Kate is a former Springfield Preservation Trust board member and lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, her beagle, and a very feisty cat.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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 our website at springfieldpreservation.org.
Please register here.

Mind & Medicine: An Architectural Bus Tour of Historic Health Institutions
2026-04-11 10:30 - 12:00
This Second Saturday Tour explores medical buildings and history, all from the comfort of a Peter Pan charter bus. The tour will take place on Saturday, Apr 11, from 10:30 am to 12 pm.

Hosted in partnership with Springfield Museums—and sponsored by Peter Pan Bus Lines—this guided bus tour offers a fascinating journey through Springfield’s most historically significant medical institutions. Purchase tickets for $20 for members and $25 for non-members through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mind-medicine-an-architectural-bus-tour-of-historic-health-institutions-tickets-1985850457175?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Led by Dr. Kate Benson, the tour explores how architecture, medicine, and social history intersect—highlighting the buildings and institutions that shaped the city’s approach to mental health and disability care. From visionary founders to evolving treatment philosophies, each stop reveals stories that continue to influence Springfield today.

Perfect for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, medical professionals, and curious locals alike, this experience invites you to see the city through a new lens—comfortably aboard a Peter Pan charter bus.
The Second Saturday Tours series explores historic Springfield and is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums, and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.

Springfield Armory: Hill Shops Walking Tour
2026-05-09 10:30 - 12:00
Springfield Armory: Hill Shops Walking Tou

Join us for a walking tour of the historic Hill Shops at the Springfield Armory, with Springfield Armory tour guide Carl Steele. This will take place on May 9 from 10:30am-12pm. Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/springfield-armory-hill-shops-walking-tour-tickets-1985857520301?aff=erellivmlt

Join us for a walking tour of the historic Hill Shops at the Springfield Armory, with Springfield Armory National Historic Site staff member and tour guide Carl Steele. Learn about the unique architecture around the green and what the buildings were used for when the Armory was in operation.
This is your opportunity to visit the Springfield Armory National Historic Site that commemorates the role of the nation’s first armory by preserving and interpreting the world’s largest historic U.S. military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings and landscape. Learn more about the Armory at: https://www.nps.gov/spar
Second Saturday Tours explore historic Springfield. The series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield Libraries—and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council. This specific tour, offered for free, is made possible through funding provided by the American Alliance of Museums and National Park Service.

Underground Railroad: Springfield’s Contributions to Emancipation (Tour)
2026-06-13 10:30 - 12:00
Underground Railroad: Springfield’s Contributions to Emancipation (Tour)

Visit locations and meet people that salute the perseverance, ingenuity, and resilience of some of Springfield’s unsung early residents. Purchase tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/underground-railroad-springfields-contributions-to-emancipation-tour-tickets-1985858726910?aff=erellivmlt. Meet at Tower SquareSpringfield, MA on Saturday, Jun 13 from 10:30 am to 12 pm.

Immerse yourself in the history of Springfield by visiting locations and meeting people who embody the perseverance, ingenuity, and resilience of some of the city’s early residents. The Underground Railroad, a network of many people and places, played a significant role in Springfield’s history, making it a destination for freedom seekers and activists like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and John Brown.
This walking tour departs from the Tower Square lobby at 10:30am and ends at 12pm. The tour is $5 for Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums & PAHMUSA members, and $10 for non-members, payable in advance on Eventbrite or at the tour’s outset.
Second Saturday Tours explore historic Springfield. The series is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield Libraries—and is generously sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
About PAHMUSA
This event is presented in partnership with the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), a vital institution dedicated to connecting the African Diaspora to Springfield, MA, and its surrounding communities. Founded in 1995 by Lujuana Hood, PAHMUSA is located in Tower Square (1500 Main Street) in Springfield, MA. To learn more about its mission and exhibits, visit pahmusa.org or follow them on Instagram at @pahmusa1619.
About the Springfield Preservation Trust
Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect 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. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.
