Patton Building
Why it's listed
Located at 15-19 Hampden Street in downtown Springfield, this brick commercial block dates to about 1872 and was built for developer William Patton. In 1909 it was converted from a warehouse and wholesaling building to first-class offices with retail shops, and local architect B.H. Seabury designed a new Georgian Revival facade. The facade remains entirely intact. Its horizontal massing, two-story projecting bays with geometric wood spandrels, modillioned cornice, leaded glass transoms and central cast-iron entrance canopy set it apart from other downtown blocks of the style. The canopy is one of only three iron canopies surviving on downtown buildings. William Patton Jr. kept real estate offices on the second floor. The engineering firm Durkee, White and Towne, regarded as western Massachusetts' leading firm, worked from the third floor for over 30 years. It handled trolley lines, water and sewer projects, and designed Camp Devens during the First World War. One shop was a showroom for the Springfield Buick Company.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building meets Criteria A, B and C. It reflects the late 19th-century development of the North Blocks wholesale district and its 1909 shift to offices and retail shops. It is tied to developer William Patton and his son, and it housed the noted engineering firm Durkee, White and Towne for over 30 years. Its 1909 facade is an intact, unusual example of Georgian Revival vernacular design.
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 83000760, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 15-19 Hampden St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000760 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | B.H. Seabury (1909 facade) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is the same as the original commercial use; the 1909 facade remains entirely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10365, -72.59411 (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 83000760.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7148632
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.