National Register of Historic Places
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building
Springfield, MA
N 42° 06.049 W 072° 35.223
The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building is located on the southwest corner of Main and State Streets in the downtown area of Springfield, MA.
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
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