{"nrhp_refnum":"03001118","name":"Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company","other_names":["Community Music School of Springfield"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"127-131 State St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Springfield","county":"Hampden County","state":"MA","lat":42.10149813600003,"lon":-72.58620550899997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2003-11-08","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Commerce","Community Planning and Development"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-story Art Deco bank building at 127-131 State Street in downtown Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, designed in 1933 by the Boston firm Thomas M. James Company and built by A.E. Stephens Co.","why_significant":"The nomination calls it an outstanding example of Art Deco design whose detailed interiors survive with only minor changes. It is also presented as a reminder of Springfield's growth from a 17th-century settlement to a prosperous 20th-century banking city. The bank chose to build during the Great Depression partly to stimulate local building work and ease unemployment.","narrative":"Built in 1933 for the Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company, this four-story bank at 127 State Street shows the Art Deco style at its most complete. Its front is clad in smooth Indiana limestone, with a bronze entrance, carved griffins, owls, eagles and figures resembling Roman soldiers symbolizing safety and courage. Boston architects Thomas M. James Company designed it, and A.E. Stephens Co. built it. Inside, a travertine-floored banking hall, bronze chandeliers, and a large mural by Carroll Bill survive, along with massive basement vaults holding 8,000 safe deposit boxes. The bank began construction during the Great Depression and gave preference to local tradesmen to ease unemployment. It was listed for its architecture, its role in commerce, and its place in Springfield's downtown development. Today the building houses a music school, whose use has changed little of the original fabric. A 1997 grant funded roof, limestone and accessibility work.","period_of_significance":"1933-1953","architect_builder":"Thomas M. James Co. (architects); A.E. Stephens Co. (builders); Carroll Bill (mural)","architectural_style":"Modern Movement: Art Deco","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Described as in excellent condition and little altered; now used by the Community Music School of Springfield, with the fourth floor leased to a law firm.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:13:03.865348-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/7/7952/63795207/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/03001118.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/03001118/5643649603-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/03001118/5643649603-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY 3.0","author":"John Phelan","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Springfield_Safe_Deposit_and_Trust,_Springfield_MA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">John Phelan</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Springfield_Safe_Deposit_and_Trust,_Springfield_MA.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63795207","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Safe_Deposit_and_Trust_Company","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7581043"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/hampden-county/springfield-safe-deposit-and-trust-company-03001118/"}