Springfield Steam Power Company Block
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 at 51-59 Taylor Street in Springfield, this three-story brick block has a freestanding rectangular plan and was built for industrial use. It retains most of its Panel Brick features, including segmental arched windows with 10/10 sash and a patterned brick cornice, although the first story on the north side has been infilled and the storefronts were altered in the mid-20th century. The Springfield Steam Power Company was organized in 1881 by the directors of the Wason Car Manufacturing Company to supply power to manufacturers in Wason-built blocks. The company advertised a 400 horsepower double engine with four boilers. The Springfield Sewing Machine Company was the first occupant, and later tenants included J.B. Chapman & Co., brass founders, and the John Swaine Co., ironworks. The block is considered a typical Springfield pattern of industrial space built for lease, and it was listed for its historical associations and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The block is tied to a major nineteenth-century power company and housed several small industrial firms. It is an excellent example of a typical Springfield pattern: an industrial block built for lease to companies that often went on to build their own space. It also shows features of the Panel Brick style, popular for late 19th-century industrial buildings.
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 83000767, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 51-59 Taylor St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000767 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Panel Brick |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial (originally industrial). The first-story storefronts were altered in the mid-20th century and the north first story has been infilled. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10522, -72.59211 (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 83000767.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7581056
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.