Ames Manufacturing Company
Also known as: Ames Mills
Why it's listed
Along the Chicopee River and the Chicopee Power Canal, nineteen linked brick buildings form an H-shaped factory complex built between 1847 and 1915. Heavy timber columns and beams sit inside load-bearing brick walls, and shared proportions, multipane windows and brick dentil cornices give the group a consistent look. A few buildings, including the counting room and a canal-facing shop, add Greek Revival pilasters and pediments, while the central tower carries a Romanesque Revival top stage. The site grew from the Ames Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1834, which made edge tools, swords, cannon, machinery and other goods and helped drive Chicopee's industrial rise. In 1908 A.G. Spalding and Brothers bought the largely idle factory, added space including Building 16, and produced sporting goods there until 1948. The complex has stayed largely intact and illustrates changing industrial technology and the development of Chicopee.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex reflects Chicopee's dramatic growth as a 19th-century industrial center. Its buildings show changes in industrial technology and construction from the mid-19th to early 20th century. It retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83000734, listed June 23, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5-7 Springfield St., Chicopee |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | June 23, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000734 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Charles McClallan |
| Architectural style | Typical New England mill construction, with late Greek Revival (Buildings 2 and 8) and Romanesque Revival (tower top) elements |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied; the buildings have been rented to various tenants since Spalding sold them in 1948. |
| Acreage | 4.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.14965, -72.60611 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83000734.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4745877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.