Colonial Block
Why it's listed
Colonial Block is a five-story brick building at 1139-55 Main Street in Springfield, built between 1902 and 1905 by Pascal L. Morse, a local carpenter and real estate owner. The northern section was finished in 1902, and the southern section followed in 1905 to match the original design. A rounded bay marks the northwest corner, and projecting bays along the long facade create an undulating rhythm that the classical cornice follows. Stores occupied the ground floor, offices and commercial uses the second floor, and residential units the three upper floors, along with a meeting hall called Colonial Hall. Mixed use of this kind was unusual downtown, where growth was mostly commercial. The block helped keep the southern part of downtown viable as a trade center when many merchants preferred locations nearer the train station. Its size and handsome design strengthened the commercial focus of the area. It was listed for its role in downtown expansion and its well preserved Georgian Revival design.
Significance in brief: The building reflects the southward expansion of downtown Springfield and is unusual for its residential upper floors in a period of mostly commercial and office development. It marks a visible transition between downtown and the residential neighborhoods beyond. It is also a well detailed, nearly intact example of Georgian Revival motifs adapted to commercial architecture.
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 83000743, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1139-55 Main St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000743 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Pascal Morse (Pascal L. Morse, local carpenter and real estate owner) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in commercial and residential use; storefronts were remodelled in 1974 and the building remains nearly intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10050, -72.58600 (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 83000743.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5148297
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.