Haynes Hotel Waters Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1865 at 1386-1402 Main Street in Springfield, this brick Italianate block was designed to hold a hotel, shops and the Haynes and Co. clothing store. Merchant Theodore "Tilly" Haynes erected it after an 1864 fire destroyed his store and the nearby Music Hall. The hotel had an open central court under a skylight and entrances on Main and Pynchon Streets, and the city's first hydraulic elevator was installed there in 1874. The Post Office occupied the corner store until the 1880s. Later owners renovated it in 1883, and the building is still commonly called the Waters Building. In 1943 the lobby became a store and the upper rooms became offices. Above the ground floor the facade remains largely intact, with ornate window hoods, quoining and a bracketed projecting cornice. It was listed as one of downtown's largest Italianate blocks and an early surviving hotel, and it forms a complete block with its northern neighbor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of downtown's largest and most ornate Italianate blocks and one of two early, intact surviving hotels. Its facade is nearly intact above the first floor, and it preserves the rhythm of historic Main Street. It is also tied to Theodore "Tilly" Haynes, a merchant and public benefactor who promoted downtown's growth.
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 83000751, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1386-1402 Main St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000751 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently used for stores and offices; a new elevator tower was added in a 1981 renovation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10230, -72.59017 (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 83000751.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5687068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.