Someone asked me when schools were built in Springfield, so I decided to consult some prior research that I had compiled. When I looked at the list of Springfield Schools that stood in 1900, I was surprised at just how few of them are still standing. Of the approximately 40 Springfield Public Schools that existed in 1900, just 10 11 remain standing -- 75% of them have been demolished.
Update: Springfield Historical Commissioner Bob McCarroll has told me that I missed a school -- Alden St. School, which was converted into a church. I was confused because the school was built in 1890, but the city had the building present on the site listed as being built in 1910.
Only one school stands from Springfield's first school building boom in the 1860's, only 2 schools from the city's second school building boom in the 1880's stand, only one single-room ungraded school still stands, and only two schools from the 1890's stand largely unmodified.
Here are the ten eleven schools, ordered by year of construction.
Indian Orchard Grammar
Indian Orchard Grammar
Built in 1868, this is Springfield's oldest standing school, although it has been significantly modified to the point where it is unrecognizable from its original design. It was renamed Myrtle Street School and the original school had another building built in front of it. Then a second building was built in the front, a twin of the first. The school was later converted into housing, I'm not sure when.
Jefferson Avenue Primary and Grammar School
Built in 1888, this school was closed in 1976, and was converted into apartments in 1988. An addition was erected on the rear of the original school, I'm not sure if this was done for the apartment conversion or earlier. The main building may have been enlarged early on too -- although the visible profile matches the building footprint 1899 city atlas, it was not unusual for schools to expand within 10 years of being built in those days.
Tapley Primary and Grammar
Built in 1888, this was started as a school to "teach teachers". It was nearly lost in the 1980's as the city abandoned it and it then suffered a fire, but was luckily renovated and converted into housing. It seems likely that the wing at the rear was an addition, but it was done early on, since it is visible in the postcard image circa 1915.
Dry Bridge Ungraded
This is Springfield's last one-room schoolhouse, built in 1891. It was converted into a private residence in the 1950's, and it is possible that the current owners are not even aware of its historic status.
School Street School
Built in 1892, on a lot across from where Springfield's very first public school stood, this was closed at some point and converted into an office building. An addition, perhaps an elevator shaft, appears to have been erected on the side opposite High St. It was recently purchased for use as a youth program.
South Main St. Primary and Grammar
Built in 1896, this school was converted into elderly apartments (not sure when). It was never enlarged, so it is the same design as when it was originally built. Its future seems pretty solid.
Central/Classical High School
Built in 1898, and later enlarged, this ceased to be used as a school in 1986 and was converted into Classical Condominiums. Its future seems secure.
Homer Street Primary School
Built in 1898, this is still being used as a school, however it was frequently cited as an example of a school in poor physical condition. Its future is uncertain, since it has such a bad reputation for physical condition. It close to AIC -- which could be good if the college wants a building to rehab, but bad if the college is looking for a place for new construction.
Alden Street Primary School
Built in 1898, this school was auctioned by the city in 1926 and purchased by the Order of Vasa, which was a Swedish fraternal organization. It was later converted into a church, and serves that purpose today.
Forest Park Primary & Grammar School
Built in 1899, this school was enlarged at least twice, substantially altered with the third floor being removed entirely.
In fact, I can't even see any of the features of the original school anymore; the aerial photo shows that it is the "I"-shaped portion closest to Garfield St. The facade shown in the old color postcard faced Garfield, but was eliminated in one of the expansions. Even the second-floor windows on the original portion were changed; the original configuration had banks of four windows, now there are banks of five windows. The original grand entrance was changed as well.
A theory I have is that the front facade of the school was actually opposite Oakland St - because in 1899, Oakland St. did not go through to Sumner Ave. and everything east of the current Oakland St. was undeveloped land, so it would make more sense to face the school to the west.
Update: I rode by the school yesterday, and my theory does not seem to be correct. The rear side of the school has the same window design as the Oakland St. side. So it is still a mystery why the current wing of the school that dates to 1899 appears so different than the original photos.
Click on the bottom two images for a closer look at the original design and then check out Google Maps to see what the same facade looks like today. Maybe someone can figure out the mystery of why this school looks so different.
Now known as Forest Park Junior High School, this school is thankfully scheduled for a major renovation which should preserve it for a long time, and there is even some talk about restoring a more decorative facade on the Garfield St. side.
Eastern Avenue Primary & Grammar School
Built in 1899, I believe it is still in use by the Springfield Public Schools -- the sign in front on Google Maps says "Bridge Academy", which was a Springfield alternative high school. This school is a great example of an un-expanded school from Springfield's second school building wave. It is important to make sure that this school remains in good use so that it does not follow in the footsteps of many other schools abandoned and later demolished by the city.
Brightwood Primary and Grammar School
Built in 1899, but later substantially modified and enlarged, this is still being used as a city school. I don't have any period photos of this school, and the Google Maps car didn't drive in front of it so the aerial photo is the best I can find.
Sadly, of the 10 11 schools still standing, I would say that those with the most uncertain futures are those which are still city-owned and operated as schools. I would say that the future for Brightwood and Homer Street are questionable.
I went to Homer St and
I went to Homer St and Classical (last graduating class!) -- maybe that's where my enthusiasm for Victorian buildings came from?
These are so interesting. Hope you got some shots of Tech before the wrecking ball hit it yesterday.
What a great topic for a future walking tour!
Forest Park Middle School
Ralph, if you look at the basement level windows in your last FPMS picture and compare them to those in the google picture from Oakland Street, you'll see the same layout - banks of 4 windows with smaller windows between on each of the two flanking portions of the building. I'm checking some of my books to see if I can find any pictures of the school and will let you know what I find.
Forest Park windows
Thanks Kathy. What I can't figure out is why the outside of the school is now so dramatically different. The 1899 section is the section closest to Garfield St. If you look at the original windows on the first and second floors, you'll see four standard windows, then a narrow window, then four more standard windows.
The current building has five windows, a blank space, and then five more windows. What is even weirder is that the revised original portion does not match the newer portion which is closer to Sumner Ave. -- on that side, there are 8 windows equally spaced. It seems odd to change the configuration but not make it match. There could have been interior considerations, I guess.
I know there were several renovations/additions. I have been searching the Republican archives to see if I can find anything on it. The only thing I could find is that in 1926, a scathing report on school fire safety came out basically condemning the use of third floors in schools (particularly Forest Park and Buckingham). I also found an article mentioning a PWA (precursor to WPA) "modernization" project for Forest Park school about 1935, but it didn't sound like they were expanding it at that time.
Really looking at the old photos makes the current school look lousy in comparison. The original was simply beautiful. I hope that when they renovate it, they pay some attention to unifying the design -- the windows are a complete mish-mash, with 6 over 6 on Oakland St., some weird aluminum windows on Garfield St., and some half windows on the side opposite Oakland St.
More FP school info
Hi, Ralph,
Yeah, it looks like the renovation was a total gut, though it would be interesting to see when the various interior finishing was done. I found several sources to set some dates, starting with some maps from the WardMaps site.
This map from 1899 shows the siting of the school in its original form – zoom in on the lower left corner of the map to see it more closely:
http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=9575
What you’ll find is that the entrance at the end of the building in your first picture above is the north entrance, facing Garfield Street, and the “grand entrance” shown in the other two pictures would then be facing west. On the map, though, it looks like there is a similar entrance facing east. It’s quite possible that one entrance was for boys and the other for girls, as was sometimes the custom. I found another picture showing the north entrance with adult-sized bikes parked around it in the book, Springfield Present and Prospective – perhaps that was the teachers’ entrance.
This 1910 map shows the school at the same size, but Oakland St. goes through and many houses have been built closer to it, with the library and Episcopal Church across the street:
http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=1676
This 1920 map shows the school substantially larger, but it still doesn’t have the north/northwest addition or the auditorium addition shown in the overhead picture from today. Further development of the neighborhood is evident, including apartment blocks on Sumner, Belmont, and Oakland Streets. You can also look at p. 88 in Michael Dobbs’s postcard views of Springfield book for another view of the school and the library from the intersection of Oakland and Belmont.
http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=7842
Finally, some details on dates of additions and the removal of the third floor, from the school’s history page on its website:
http://www.sps.springfield.ma.us/schoolsites/forestpark/history.htm
This website indicates that the final addition, which must include both the north wing and the auditorium, happened in 1936 and then the third floor was removed in 1937, both WPA projects.
1850s daguerreotype photograph of a school Springfield MA???
I have an 1850s daguerreotype photograph that I believe is of a large two story school in Springfield MA that was located near the corner of Worthington and Spring streets. I'd like to find someone who may be able to either verify or repute my supposition. Any suggestions?
Email it
Can you email me an image of the building? I may be able to match it to something.
School Street School
I just ran across a school picture of my great grandmother. It says she was attending the Lower Grammar School on School Street. It was from 1886 and the "new" school across the street was built in the 1890s. It may be from that school, although in the picture all you see is a brick wall with white benches behind the group of students.
South Main St. School
I believe it was converted into housing in 1985-6, as I remember watching the construction as I rode the bus past it to and from Classical.
Elias Brookings
I am wondering if you have any information on Elias Brookings? I am very interested, especially in the creation of Ruth ElizabethPark. I lived in a house on Hancock Street growing up which, as the story goes, was moved across Hancock St. along with its carriage house and servants quarters to make room forthe park
Any in you can give me will be GREATLY appreciated!!
Bridge Academy
Now this School is an alternative school school. At one time all the safe schools were combined in this one I am a teacher at thi school it is still in use the new name is Springfield Public Day Middle School. Home Of The Bulls.
Springfield Public Day Middle School!! DANGEROUES FOR STUDENTS
This School Is Very Old And Dangerous For Some Students. This School Is Dangerous Because It Has Bats In the upper Level of the school and also has toxic mold under floor tiles and on walls. This school is still in use for kids with Iep's and distrupive behaviors. And i believe these students shouldnt have to work and learn in a school like this!!
Homer Street School
I went to Homer from K-4. Back in 84 or 85 as a 4th grade class project for teacher Nancy Nadeau, myself and 3 other students (but mainly Ms. Nadeau) worked on a research project for a booklet being published featuring all Springfield public schools. We were asked to visit area libraries and historical resources to write a brief summary of the school's history. The booklet was to feature each Springfield school per page. I remember it being a black and white interior printing job with black and white and spot red for the outer gloss cover. The student's incentive was that our names would be printed as bylines on our schools page. I can't recall if we ever received our own copies or were just allowed to see it.
Have you ever come across this publication in an archive?
I was one of your classmates who worked on that book!
Hi, I was in Ms. Nadeau’s class and was one of the other 3 students who worked on that book with you! I was Danny! I remember exactly what you described, the black and white white red outlines (?) on the cover. I remember we made phone calls with Ms. Nadeau to a local historian at the time, too, and visiting libraries to get more info. I don’t think we ever got our own copies but I’ve wondered the same thing too, as I always wanted a copy. It was one of the first substantial school projects I ever did, and I loved Ms. Nadeau’s class.
I know you wrote this 4 years ago but I’m hoping you’ll come back and check and respond...
Springfield school history
No, I'm sorry but I have never seen such a publication. Maybe one has been deposited at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum at the Quadrangle?
Springfield school history
I have seen it and have a copy. I have to dig it out of the archives to confirm and will post when I have it.
Forest park middle
The reason the original looks so different is at some point they took out the original entrance all together and also the four set of windows were made into 5 sets of smaller windows and obliviously when they took out the 3rd floor they took out alot of the detail that would make it identifiable as the original part they I identified it is if you look on the original at the basement windows they are still the same today except there's a tiny 3 set that the shape of is still visible just bricked in
West Springfield elementary schools
Hello Ralph
I am trying to find any information about the elementary schools in West Springfield in the first decade of the 20th century, approximately 1905-1915. It is possible that the author Gladys Taber might have briefly attended such a school while staying with her grandparents. I am especially interested in any photos, and if the such a school is still standing and where.
Thanks for any help.
I am also interested in
I am also interested in historical West Springfield schools. I was finally able to discover where Meadow Street was, as there was a Meadow Street School. Meadow Street is now part of Main Street. It was the section from Bridge Street toward what is now Memorial Avenue.
My grandfather once told me, as best as I can recall, that he went to a Bridge Street School in the early 1930s. I think that may have been the same building, but also wonder what Memorial Avenue School was called before World War I, when Memorial Avenue was just Bridge Street from end to end.
I'm interested in anything you know or find. Thanks!
283 longhill
Hi everyone; I just posted for sale 283 Longhill st. Only 3 owners; Harry B Singerlang, stock broker and vice president Of General Ice Cream company,Then owned By Dr Alfred Glickman( school named after him). I wanted to know if someone can call me with some suggestions on how to feature this iconic home in a special way. Thank you kindly,
Maria
School st school pictures
In the description, it says it was built across from Springfield first public school. Does anyone have any information on what that school was and where?
Lower Grammar School on Spring Street
Hello,
I just ran across a picture of my great grandmother, Carrie Grover. She married and became Carrie Plimpton. The picture is of 13 disgruntled-looking youth. Carrie is seated in the first row, 2nd from the left. The inscription on the back says "1886 Lower Grammar School on School Street, Springfield, 1886, 12 yrs old." The picture above says "Built in 1892, on a lot across from where Springfield's very first public school..." If the picture above was built in 1892, then Carrie's school must have been "across from Springfield's very first public school." What was the very first public school on Spring Street?
Thank you.
George W. Tapley School
Reviewing the reference to Tapley, having attended the school, I would note that it was originally built in 1887 to plans of local architects Richmond and Seabury, as Bay Street Elementary, with provisions for teacher training using space on the third floor. It was then added in 1910 to plans by E. C. and G. C. Gardner, also a local architectural firm. This addition approximately doubled the size of the building. In the 1960s, if I was properly informed, there were over 800 students attending school at Tapley between Kindergarten and 6th grade.
Between 1966 and 1973 regular enrollment students were assigned to schools in other neighborhoods as part of the Six District Plan for Racial Balance that was ordered by the State Board of Education. The school was used to house local kindergarten classes and remedial reading programs until 1980, and kindergarten classes ended in 1981. if I recall correctly, over considerable local opposition.
The name of the school was changed to Tapley at some point not because it was on Tapley Street but in recognition of the contributions of George Tapley, an executive at the Milton Bradley Company and resident of McKnight, who had donated land for construction of a playground adjacent to the school, in addition to selling the City the school site.
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