Lost Architecture: 120 Sumner Avenue
Of all the houses that have disappeared from Springfield, I am strangely drawn to the Elizabethan style house that once stood at 120 Sumner Ave.
I have four separate turn-of-the-century images of this house, the most I have seen of a single residential property other than the Wesson mansion or the Barney House. (And to think, I can't find a single early photo of my own house!)
This drawing is from American Architect and Building News, March 20, 1897:
This photo is from a book titled "Picturesque Views Along the Lines of the Springfield Street Railway", published in 1899. Note the Magnolia Lion at the right.
This photo is from Scientific American Building Edition, November 1899.
This photo is from a real photo postcard, probably from the 1910 era:
Since the house survived past 1939, a WPA photo also exists at the Springfield Building Department, but I don't have easy access to those photos.
The architect of the house was G. Wood Taylor, and it was designed for the Mutual Investment Company, operated by the McKnight brothers. The Scientific American article says that the house was built for Dr. Francis M. Bennitt, and the 1900 City Directory lists him as a physician with an office at 137 ½ Main St.
By 1910, a garage had been added to the house, evident on the 1910 City Map. This seems visible in the last photo posted. Bennitt still lived in the house. He lived there until at least 1913.
In 1917, a man named James Eden lived in the house. He was listed as the treasurer of the Perkins Appliance Company at 4 Birnie Ave. In 1920 he was listed with an occupation of "special machinery", operating from 387 Main St. (#410), a general office building.
In 1923 a man named Allis Freedman lived in the house. He was the president-treasurer of Allison Realty & Mortgage Company, at 1983 Main St. In a 1943-44 publication of Jewish organizations, Freedman was also listed as the president of Matzoh Fund, situated at 267 Chestnut St. In 1946 the house was occupied by Freedman's widow.
In 1948 the house was occupied by Naphtall Frishberg. He was the rabbi at the Congregation Beth El, which was at 148 Fort Pleasant Ave. a tudor house now owned by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
In 1951 a man named Eliezer Levi lived in the house. He was the rabbi at the Congregation Beth El. He lived there until at least 1953.
In 1956 a man named William Ball lived in the house.
From 1958 to 1959 the building is listed as vacant. In 1963 Kodimoh Temple is listed at that address. The building was obviously torn down sometime around 1960, and the temple was built in its place. I'm guessing that the house and land had been left to the Beth El Congregation, and that they conveyed it to Congregation Kodimoh, who moved from their original location on Oakland St. (site of the current Congregation Kesser Israel).
Does anyone have any more information to contribute to this?
Lost Architecture
Great site Ralph - Thanks for the effort.
The houses you find yourself drawn to are superb examples of why Springfield is known as the city of Homes.
There is similarly beautiful home on Buena Vista Pl. off Longhill Street opposite Cherryvale Avenue. It is a small cul de sac and the home is on the left as you enter from Longhill Street.
Keep up the great work!
Stephen
Buena Vista Plaza
Nuances are hard to detect online, so I'm not sure if you knew I live on Buena Vista or not.
Do you mean this home? It's my neighbor.
"Picturesque Views Along the Lines of the Spfd Street Railway''
Does anybody own a copy of the book ""Picturesque Views Along the Lines of the Springfield Street Railway", published in 1899? I noticed Ralph Slate has a picture of 120 Sumner Ave taken from this book. I came across the book when I was doing research on N.E. Russell back in the late 70's. Mr. Russell used the house at 843 Chestnut St. as part of an ad he ran in that book.
Picturesque Views
Yes, I have a copy of the Springfield Street Railway Views. I acquired it years ago cleaning out an old house on Princeton Street where I found it in the basement. Are you interested in a particular picture, the Russell ad or the entire book? You can email me at historyfind2@aol.com.
Saint James Ave
Does anyone know anything about 141 Saint James Ave. I have a new neighbor who is doing good work on the house and has been trying to track down some history. I believe it was built for Dickinson who was a Mayor of the City. It was built in 1894 by a well know architect that did a lot of fancy Forest Park houses, but I cant recall who. Any ideas?
141 St. James Avenue
According to "Representative Men Springfield and Vicinity," Francke Walden Dickinson lived at 141 St. James Ave. He was mayor for two years (1905-1906). He was also a funeral director (maybe the same as today's Dickinson Funeral Home?). There is detailed info on Mr. Dickinson in "Hampden Cty. Bio. Review," but I find no mention of the house or the architect.
loomis wesson estate
would like info or pictures of loomis wesson estate at 220 maple street? was once home of frank wesson, son of daniel baird wesson, co-founder of smith and wesson guns.
Loomis Wesson
There is a picture of the house on page 49 of Picturesque Hampden County Part 1 East. Not a great picture, but one non the less. Book available in local history room or email me. Jim
Loomis Wesson
I had never before heard this house referenced as the Loomis Wesson house. Where does the "Loomis" originate?
Good job, Jim; that's the only picture I know of.
loomis wesson estate
i have not completed my research, but a loomis is listed in the city register starting in 1875 at that address. the house was built in 1874.
the only loomis i have found so far was a local buisnessman who manufactured "paper buttons"? the house is currently for sale/ in forclosure, and ive heard from multiple sources that many of the 9 fireplace mantles have been removed. the slate roof also leaks and needs to be replaced. frank wesson, son of daniel baird wesson, lived there at the time of his death with his wife and four children.
he died in a train accident on a trip to canada in 1886. i have been to his grave in oak grove cemetary. i hope to someday see the inside of the house and i will continue to research its history and who built it.
Loomis Wesson
Even if the slate roof leaks some, that is no reason to replace it. These roofs are very savable and that one is of special significance due to its design and colors. I have heard some things have been removed and will try to go and see it as i am a Realtor and can get access.
Loomis Wesson research
Tim, have you been to the archives of the Registry of Deeds to research the house? Sometimes the records there can be very helpful. Getting accustomed to the indexes and record books takes awhile, but it is well worth the effort. There is often helpful information about families in the records of the probate court (especially in the intricate wills of the the well-to-do). I am not as familiar with the city records but I think the engineering department, assesors and/or planning depts. can provide records of Springfield houses. Jim Boone can probably give better direction on that aspect.
Loomis
The Loomis name is around alot in the area: Loomis Chaffey School, Loomis communities. Turns out the family has a geneology website: http://www.loomis.8k.com/
You might want to check there to trace this particular Loomis.
Lost Architecture 120 Sumner Avenue
I recently came across this archive when doing family history research on Dr Francis Marion Bennitt for whom this house was built. As a former member of the Board for Historic Ithaca, a historic preservation organization for the built environment(http://www.historicithaca.org)I was thrilled to see so much information on your site.
You may wish to know about Dr Bennitt and his obituary printed in the New England Medical Gazette, Jan 1914 says, "Dr. Francis Marion Bennitt, for many years a practising physician in Springfield, Mass., and in Chicopee, died at his home, on July 27, 1914, aged 57 years. He had been ill for several weeks from pernicious anemia. In his death the city of Springfield lost one of the best of its unpaid officeholders, for Dr. Bennitt was a most faithful steward of the trust imposed in him as a member of the school committee for many years.
Dr. Bennitt was born in Big Flats, N. Y., October 10, 1857, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Myles C. Bennitt. He began his education in the public schools of Big Flats, and later attended Cook Academy and the University of Rochester. He did not graduate from the latter institution, but left his studies to teach school at Coudersport, Pa., for two years. He then spent a year in special study of biology at Cornell University, going from there to the New York Homoeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital, from which he was graduated in 1883.
He began his practice in association with another physician in Putnam, Ct. He came to Springfield in the spring of 1884 and after a short time in this city removed to Chicopee, where he practised until 1896. In that year he went abroad for two semesters of study at the University of Berlin, and on his return took up his practice in this city. He was in continuous practice except for a year spent in private study abroad in 1903-1904, until a few weeks before his death.
Both in Springfield and in Chicopee Dr. Bennitt was identified with many activities outside of his profession. He served on the Chicopee board of aldermen and was for many years chairman of the board of health of that city. From December,' 1902, until his death he was a member of the Springfield school board, and for the last two years had been chairman 6? the board. He was a director of the board of trade from 1902 to 1904, and was a member of the F-conomic Club and Hampden Lodge of Odd Fellows.
For many years Dr. Bennitt had been actively interested in the Wesson hospitals. He served on the staff of the Wesson Memorial Hospital for several years, and was a member of the building committee, the board of managers and the board of directors of the Wesson Maternity Hospital. He was a member of the Springfield Academy of Medicine and of the American Public Health Association. He was one of the founders of the Forest Hills Crematory, near Boston, the first to be established in this country.
He married in the fall of 1887 Miss Elizabeth Chandler Allton of Putnam, Ct., and leaves five children, Allton, Brace, Chandler, Dorcas and Rudolph. Mrs. Bennitt died March 2, 1906."
Jim Bramble, Tampa, FL (Formerly Ithaca, NY)
Loomis Wesson Estate
This is a great thread of interesting items. My organization, OakView Preservation Incorporated (OVPI) has just set out to raise funds to acquire the Loomis Wesson Estate, preserve it, and open it as a non-profit museum. (See here: http://ovpinews.blogspot.com/2010/01/help-us-save-loomis-wesson-estate-2... )
Please help us spread the word. This home is too significant to be left in this condition. The lender is not willing to work with OVPI even though we are a 501(c)(3) public charity (historic preservation organization).
Wish us luck! We are starting today needing $207,000. From there, we will fix the roof, restore what we can, and then have a Tea for anyone who wants to join us!
loomis wesson research
i havent had a lot of time lately to update my previous posts of loomis wesson, my initial interest in the house stemmed from the fact that it is for sale. I have done some more research and have been lucky enough to have been in the house twice, i have some fairly decent pictures that i would be happy to share. the house is very grand and almost gothic looking, since discovering this house i have become very interested in some of the historic homes of springfield and their history, and my fiance and I are going to try to purchase one. after some research, i have determined that the house was built in 1874 for or purchased by Mrs calvin Loomis. Perhaps the widow of a calvin loomis who owned a tobaco shop on main street in sprfld in the 1800s. A 7th generation loomis of the locally famous family. mrs calvin loomis owned the house from 1874 till 1877 or 1878, even rented a room to allen j loomis- a relative.
wesson-loomis wesson
In or around 1879 the house was purchased by Frank Wesson, son of Daniel baird Wesson of smith and wesson. Frank and his family lived there but Frank died in a tragic train accident in vermont in 1886. franks wake was held in his house on 220 maple st. within a few years of franks death Harold wesson took over ownership of the house till the late 1920's. so we see how the house got its name. Sadly this past summer the house was forclosed on, and many of the light fixtures, wood paneling and mantels were removed, it needs a fair amount of repair esp. the leaking roof. i will be following its fate. I considered trying to purchase the property, but was dicouraged by the needed repairs. Then i noticed another empty house- "the house on Maple hill" my favorite so far........
Dr. Seuss connection to Loomis Wesson mansion
Years ago I knew a woman who once lived at 220 Maple. She was the adopted daughter of Ted (Dr. Seuss) Geisel's uncle and aunt, Dr. and Mrs. Harvey Van Allen. Dr. Van Allen was a local pioneer in the use of the x-ray machine. The Van Allen name appears in one of Dr. Seuss's books. My friend shared with me memories of Ted as a boy and of visiting Ted's grandparents who lived on Sumner Avenue.
Loomis Wesson Estate
This is truly a beautiful house, however I wonder about the fund raising by OakView Preservation Incorporated, as I know the property is under deposit by a historic preservationist from Connecticut.
It definitely is. I heard
It definitely is. I heard it's under deposit as well from the listing agent. Apparently there's quite a few interested parties, one mentioned doing a bed and breakfast. I hope for the house's sake that the sale goes through and they take good care of it.
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