Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company
Also known as: Community Music School of Springfield
Why it's listed
Built in 1933 for the Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company, this four-story bank at 127 State Street shows the Art Deco style at its most complete. Its front is clad in smooth Indiana limestone, with a bronze entrance, carved griffins, owls, eagles and figures resembling Roman soldiers symbolizing safety and courage. Boston architects Thomas M. James Company designed it, and A.E. Stephens Co. built it. Inside, a travertine-floored banking hall, bronze chandeliers, and a large mural by Carroll Bill survive, along with massive basement vaults holding 8,000 safe deposit boxes. The bank began construction during the Great Depression and gave preference to local tradesmen to ease unemployment. It was listed for its architecture, its role in commerce, and its place in Springfield's downtown development. Today the building houses a music school, whose use has changed little of the original fabric. A 1997 grant funded roof, limestone and accessibility work.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of Art Deco design whose detailed interiors survive with only minor changes. It is also presented as a reminder of Springfield's growth from a 17th-century settlement to a prosperous 20th-century banking city. The bank chose to build during the Great Depression partly to stimulate local building work and ease unemployment.
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 03001118, listed November 8, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 127-131 State St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | November 8, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1933-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas M. James Co. (architects); A.E. Stephens Co. (builders); Carroll Bill (mural) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and little altered; now used by the Community Music School of Springfield, with the fourth floor leased to a law firm. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10150, -72.58621 (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 03001118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7581043
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.