Maple-Union Corners
Why it's listed
Maple-Union Corners is a one-acre cluster of brick buildings where Maple and Union Streets meet, along the first river terrace east of central Springfield. On the east side are two detached houses: 77 Maple Street, built in 1832 as the Female Seminary by Simon Sanborn and later converted to a residence, and 83 Maple Street, a Greek Revival house of 1841 built for Solymon Merrick, inventor of the monkey wrench. On the west side stand three townhouses built by Abel Howe in 1870 and a double townhouse of 1879 with a corner tower and mansard roof. Residents included bankers, woolen manufacturers, a railroad treasurer and a city mayor. The change from large detached houses to townhouses reflects rising land values on Maple Street in the late nineteenth century. Some buildings have been altered, including the removal of a mansard story and a new facade on two townhouses in the 1940s, but the group still shows the area's development.
Significance in brief: The district shows how the hill area east of downtown Springfield developed in the nineteenth century and was home to prominent local citizens. Comparing the detached houses on the east side with the townhouses on the west side illustrates rising real estate values and changing architectural expression. It also includes a surviving work by builder Simon Sanborn.
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 76000243, listed April 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 77, 83, 76-78, 80-84 Maple St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | April 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000243 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Simon Sanborn (Female Seminary, 77 Maple Street); Abel Howe (townhouses at 80-84 Maple Street) |
| Architectural style | Federal/Greek Revival/Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in private ownership, with mixed residential and commercial use; condition rated good and altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.10159, -72.58185 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 76000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6753828
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.