Walker Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at a cost of $75,000, this brick commercial block at 1228-1244 Main Street in Springfield was designed by the Worcester firm of Fuller and Delano for local merchant T.M. Walker. It replaced the old Exchange Hotel, built in 1820 as the city's first brick hotel. The building was planned with four shops at street level and 14 offices on each upper floor. Its facade combines Springfield brick with ornamental freestone trim at windows, piers and spandrels, a typical treatment of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was popular in the late nineteenth century. Although the fifth story was later removed, most of the original surface treatment remains, and the building fits well with its neighbors in scale, massing and materials. Walker, who arrived in Springfield in 1842, built a leading woodwork and builder's supply company. His block reflects how local businessmen shaped downtown growth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The building is still in commercial use.
Significance in brief: It is cited as one of the best downtown examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, even though its top floor has been removed. It also represents the intensive commercial development of downtown Springfield around the turn of the century, led by enterprising local merchants.
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 83000775, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1228-1244 Main St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000775 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Fuller & Delano (Worcester) |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial; the top (fifth) floor has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10099, -72.58768 (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 83000775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7962228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.