{"nrhp_refnum":"99000258","name":"Indian Orchard Branch Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"44 Oak St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Springfield","county":"Hampden County","state":"MA","lat":42.15917870200008,"lon":-72.50412868499996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1999-02-26","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Community Planning and Development","Education"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story Classical Revival neighborhood library at 44 Oak Street, on the corner of Worcester and Oak Streets in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built in 1908-1909 to designs by architect John W. Donohue.","why_significant":"The library was Springfield's first branch library and is a well-preserved example of an early 20th-century Classical Revival public building. It is a significant example of the secular work of diocesan architect John W. Donohue (Criterion C, Architecture). It also reflects Springfield's early recognition of the need to bring services to its outlying neighborhoods (Criterion A, Community Planning and Development).","narrative":"Built in 1908-1909 at the corner of Worcester and Oak Streets, this one-story brick library serves Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood. Architect John W. Donohue, better known for Catholic churches and schools, designed it in the Classical Revival style. Red and black brick, gray terra cotta quoins and a slate hipped roof give the building its character. A central portico with Tuscan columns marks the Oak Street entrance, and the interior keeps its oak shelving, window surrounds, fireplaces and wooden columns. It was Springfield's first branch library, funded in part by a Carnegie grant of $50,000 shared among three branches, on a lot donated by two local businessmen. It replaced an earlier library that had become too small for its heavy use by a diverse, industrial community whose readers sought books in many languages. The design was featured in The American Architect in 1911. The library is significant for its architecture and for its role in extending public services to Springfield's outlying neighborhoods.","period_of_significance":"1909-1948","architect_builder":"DONOHUE, JOHN WILLLIAM","architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still used as a library; the interior is little altered apart from a 1970 drop ceiling, new lighting, carpeting and the removal of the original circulation desk.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:13:04.242274-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/55/7952/63795255/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/99000258.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99000258/d438222231-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99000258/d438222231-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"John Phelan","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Orchard_Branch_Library,_September_2016,_Indian_Orchard_MA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">John Phelan</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Orchard_Branch_Library,_September_2016,_Indian_Orchard_MA.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63795255","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Orchard_Branch_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6021185"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/hampden-county/indian-orchard-branch-library-99000258/"}