Baystate Corset Block
Why it's listed
Occupying a corner lot at Dwight and Taylor Streets in Springfield, this four-story brick block grew in stages between 1874 and 1918. Construction began in 1874 with two woodworking concerns as first tenants. P.P. Kellogg bought it in 1883 for a paper products business and added a wing along Taylor Street in 1888. The Taylor Street facade shows typical panel brick features, including stilted segmental window arches and a corbeled cornice. The Dwight Street facade, rebuilt in 1918, has brick piers dividing triple glazed bays. The building's main association is with the Bay State Corset Company, founded in West Brookfield in 1884 and based here from the 1890s until 1920. At its peak the firm made about 5,000 corsets a day, with cutting rooms on the top floor and over 400 sewing machines below. Most original sash and storefronts survive, and the block's layered design records its manufacturing history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the block is significant for its associations with two local manufacturing firms, including the Bay State Corset Company, and because its growth is clearly shown in its well-preserved design. It cites integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets criteria A and C.
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 83000737, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 395-405 Dwight St. and 99 Taylor St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000737 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robinson, Marsh & Co. |
| Architectural style | Panel brick (Taylor Street facade) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial; the building is described as preserving most of its original elements, including 6/6 sash and storefronts. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10584, -72.59136 (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 83000737.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4874849
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.