Poet: Robert Burns - Albany, NY

Robert Burns

Albany, NY

N 42° 39.303 W 073° 46.080

Short Description: 

A seated sculpture of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, is located in Washington Park in Albany, NY.


Long Description:

The poet and lyricist Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759 in Alloway, Scotland. He was mostly home schooled and wrote his first poem when he was fifteen years old. He published his first book, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, in 1786. The book became an instant success and he became known as the great peasant poet. His interest in preserving the Scottish heritage inspired Burns to spend the last twelve years of his life collecting, editing and creating traditional folk songs for the publication Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs featuring such well known standards as "Auld Lang Syne" and "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose".

The life-size bronze sculpture of Robert Burns created by Charles Calverley and designed by George Broughton, depicts the poet seated wearing a long cloak and holding a tam o'shanter by his side in his left hand. The sculpture rests on a 7.5' by 6.5' by x 9' granite base. The base is inscribed with the single word BURNS. Relief sculptures on each face of the base depict scenes from four of his most famous works:

"The Cotter's Saturday Night" - a family gathered reading a book.

"The Poet Plowman and the Daisy" - Burns with a horse and plow and a dog

"Tam O'Shanter" - man riding on a horse.

"Auld Lang Syne" - two men shaking hands over a drink.

The sculpture was dedicated on September 30, 1888 and the relief sculptures were added in April 1991. The original sculpture $40,000 and was erected with funds from the McPherson Legacy.

NRHP: State Armory - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

State Armory

Springfield, MA

N 42° 05.946 W 072° 35.196

Short Description: 

The State Armory in Springfield is located on 29 Howard Street.

Long Description:

The State Armory was designed by Robert Wait and Amos Porter Cutting, the architectural team that designed many State Armories throughout Massachusetts. The construction was supervised by the firm of Pyne and Gardner. Eugene C. Gardner, was a nationally known author of books on architecture. It was built in 1895 in late Victorian, Romanesque Revival style to resemble a castle.

The Armory was first used to train troops for the Spanish American War in 1898. It continued in this function through WWII. At present the Armory serves as a neighborhood community center. The area sustained severe damage in a tornado that struck Springfield on June 1, 2011 and is now closed pending repairs.

Street address: 
29 Howard Street
Springfield, MA United States
01103

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1976

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture

Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1875-1899

Historic function: Defense

Current function: Defense, Social

Privately owned?: no

NRHP: French Congregational Church - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

French Congregational Church

Springfield, MA

N 42° 05.974 W 072° 35.229

Short Description: 

The French Congregational Church, now the First Spiritualist Church, is located on Bliss Street near downtown Springfield, MA.

Long Description:

The First Spiritualist Church is 68' by 42' and constructed of pressed brick with trim of East Longmeadow brownstone. It was built in 1887 by Sam Provost in a High Victorian Gothic style created by a local architect. The front facade has three distinct elements. The central part is a narrow gable-end building which is flanked by two pointed towers. The east tower is capped by an octagonal spire roof. At the base is a narrow entrance porch. The larger 68' west tower has a pyramidal roof and decorative brickwork along the cornice and around the windows. The main entrance is at the base of this tower.

A plaque placed in celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the founding of Springfield is located near the front door. It explains the history of the church:

FIRST
SPIRITUALIST
CHURCH
33-37 Bliss Street
Built 1887

*=====================================

Originally the French Protestant Church, this edifice was
erected with the support of Daniel Wesson, a local in-
dustrialist, to serve the small French-Canadian Protestant
population in the City. In 1909, the building was given up by
the French due to declining membership. For the next ten 
years it served a variety of ethnic groups including Italian
Baptists and Black Protestant congregations. In 1919, the
First Spiritualist Society, which organized in 1850, pur-
chased the church and has continued to use it.

*=======350

1636 - 1986 Springfield MA

This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Street address: 
First Spiritualist Church
33-37 Bliss Street
Springfield , MA United States
01105

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1983

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering

Periods of significance: 1875-1899

Historic function: Religion

Current function: Religion

Privately owned?: yes

NRHP: W C A Boarding House - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

W C A Boarding House

Springfield, MA

N 42° 05.993 W 072° 35.207

Short Description: 

The Women's Christian Association (W C A) Boarding House is locate at 19 Bliss Street in Springfield, MA.

Long Description:

The Womens's Christian Association is a precursor the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). They promoted issues of social and economic change and welfare around the world. The structure at 19 Bliss Street was built in 1884 by the WCA as a boarding house for unmarried working class women.

The three story brick structure is constructed in the Queen Anne, Stick/Eastlake style. It was operated as a WCA boarding house from 1884 to 1910 when a new WCA facility was constructed. It continued as a private boarding house until 1962 when it became the home to the Springfield Rescue Mission, a separate Christian social welfare agency which meets the physical and spiritual needs of the hungry, homeless, addicted and poor.

Street address: 
19 Bliss Street
Springfield, MA United States
01102

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1983

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event

Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1875-1899

Historic function: Domestic

Current function: Domestic

Privately owned?: yes

NRHP: Edisonia Theater Block - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

Edisonia Theater Block

Springfield, MA

N 42° 06.031 W 072° 35.190

Short Description: 

The Edisonia Theater Block occupies the west side of 1156 to 1176 Main Street, north of Bliss Street in downtown Springfield, MA.

Long Description:

This brick and stucco, two story high, building with glazed terra cotta trim was designed in the early 20th century Commercial Style by the architectural firm of E.C. and G.C. Gardner in 1913. It was named in honor of Thomas Edison, the inventor of motion pictures, and was the home to one of Springfield's first motion picture theaters, The Edisonia.

In 1915 the theater was sold and the new owners changed the name to The Garden. The theater once again changed ownership in 1927 and then operated continually until the 1940's. In 1937, the interior underwent a major renovation to accommodate retail stores. A large grocery store, the Springfield Public Market, moved into the space and operated from there until the 1960's.

Today it is the home to the Hampden County Sheriff's Office, the Aids Foundation, a tailor shop and a travel agency.

Street address: 
1156 - 1176 Main Street
Springfield, MA United States
01103

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1983

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Entertainment/Recreation

Periods of significance: 1900-1924

Historic function: Recreation And Culture

Current function: Commerce/Trade

Privately owned?: yes

NRHP: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building

Springfield, MA

N 42° 06.049 W 072° 35.223

Short Description: 

The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building is located on the southwest corner of Main and State Streets in the downtown area of Springfield, MA.

Long Description:

The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building was built in 1908 to accommodate the growth of the mutual insurance company founded by George Rice and Alfred Lambert in 1851. The eight story high Classical Revival building was the tallest office building in Springfield for over 60 years. In 1927 the company headquarters moved to larger building at 1295 State Street in Springfield.

A plaque was placed on this historic building to celebrate Springfield's 350th anniversary in 1986 that provides details of its history:

MASSACHUSETTS
MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE
BUILDING

120 Main Street
Built 1908

Organized in 1854, the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance company grew to become one of Springfield's largest businesses. It was begun by George Rice and Alfred Lambert to assure annual dividend life insurance. By the early twentieth century, the company needed more space. The New York firm of Throwbridge & Livingston was hired to design this Classical Revival style building for the home office. The limestone building was the tallest steel office structure in the City and sparked a controversy which led to the imposition of a 125 foot height limit on new office construction, a limit which lasted into the 1970's. The company continued to grow and relocated to the Pine point neighborhood in 1927.

Street address: 
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building
1200 State Street
Springfield, MA United States

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1983

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering

Periods of significance: 1900-1924

Historic function: Commerce/Trade

Current function: Business, Professional

Privately owned?: yes

NRHP: United Electric Company Building - Springfield, MA

National Register of Historic Places

United Electric Company Building

Springfield, MA

N 42° 05.996 W 072° 35.290

Short Description: 

United Electric Company Building is located at 73 State Street in Springfield, MA

Long Description:

United Electric Company Building in Springfield is important because of its architecture and role in the development of Springfield as an industrial city.

United Electric Company Building in downtown Springfield is a beautiful example of the Beaux Arts/Classical Revival style of architecture. It was constructed in 1910 and the designed by the architectural firms of Thomas M. James Company and Kirkham and Parlett. It is one of a few remaining buildings of this type in Springfield. It still retains its original exterior.

The facade has three bays wide with two-storey Ionic pilasters set between recessed bays. The large three upper floor windows are arched at the top. The centered entrance has a detailed projecting iron canopy. The building has a frieze beneath the roof-line, an ornate cornice and a clock set in Classical framing.

The was the office of the United Electric Company, which played a major role in providing electricity to the City of Springfield from the 1880's on. Thus enabling the rapid industrialization of the city that took place in the late 19th century.


Street address: 

73 State Street
Springfield , MA United States
01103

County / Borough / Parish: Hampden

Year listed: 1983

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event

Periods of significance: 1900-1924

Historic function: Commerce/Trade

Current function: Commerce/Trade

Privately Owned: Yes