Springfield Homestead Photo Album
I picked up a great book on eBay, called the "Homestead Album". It was published by the Springfield Homestead, a local weekly newspaper that existed in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Unlike the nationally-bent Springfield Republican, The Springfield Homestead focused mostly on local issues, and is a great resource for local research.
This book had a lot of photographs of houses in it. Since my house was featured in the May 6, 1899 edition of the Homestead -- a copy no longer available on file at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum -- I was very hopeful that I would finally find my Holy Grail. But sadly, although my two immediate neighbors' houses were pictured, my house was absent -- so the quest continues.
Here is a selection of links to some of the photos in the house -- I will update this list as time goes on. When you click on each photo, it will expand in size. You can then click on "view image information" to get more details about each house, or to leave a comment.
 276 Long Hill St. |
 80 Sumner Ave. |
 1090 Worthington St. |
 20 Ridgewood Terrace |
 116 Pearl St. |
 120 Mill St. |
 110 Mill St. |
 278 Long Hill St. |
 27 Bowdoin St. |
 70 Bellevue Ave. |
 128 Mill St. |
116 Pearl St rebuilt by Napoleon Russell
The Homestead did a great article on this house when it was "rebuilt" by Napoleon Russell around 1902 for Lewis Powers of the "Powers Paper Company." Mr Russell basically rebuilt it around the original structure of the 1880's.
I'm a great Napoleon Russell fan. I went through The Homestead Magazine from around 1898 to 1910 looking for articles on his work. They did a "ton" of articles & pictures of the homes he built including Forest Park, Brightwood, the North End, Atwater Park and Mr George Hendee's mansion in Suffield Conn. Mr Russell also built most of the Indian Motocycle Factory, hence the Hendee estate in Suffield. The barn is the only part of Mr Hendee's estate that is left standing.It is on the National Historic Registry.
There is a house at 843 Chestnut St that he built in 1899 for $13000 that is in need of some TLC. I think it was one of his finest that he built. Would love to hear from anybody that has a house built by Napoleon Russell as I think I have the most information about him.
Homestead Album; 42 Marengo Pk like Chestnut St House
I believe there is a picture of F. Roods's house on Chestnut St in the Homestead Photo Album that Ralph has. Both the house at 42 Marengo Park and Rood's house at 700 Chestnut St were built by Napoleon Russell for $9000 each. The house on 42 Marengo Pk was built in 1899 for a Edward Snowman. The house at 700 Chestnut St was built in 1900 for Fred Rood. Both houses are almost identical from the outside. The only difference is the number of columns; Marengo has 6 & Chestnut St has 4. I found a picture in the Homestead from 1902 that showed Mr Rood in his new car in front of his home on Chestnut St. It's not very often that you find a picture of the original owner in front of their home from that era.
Springfield Homestead
The Springfield Homestead is an excellent publication, I have been trying to track down copies for years. The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum has the paper on microfilm, and as I mentioned, my house was pictured in the May 6, 1899 edition -- but because it's all on microfilm, which captured only black & white (no greys or halftones), the picture comes out all blurry and scratched:
I was once very close to finding a copy -- that issue was for sale on eBay. I bought it, only to find out that there were 2 sections to the paper when it was printed, and the copy I bought had only the first section, while the houses were pictured in the second section.
In seven years of searching, I have only found 2 or 3 lots of this newspaper for sale. Ironically, one of the sellers was a cousin of mine, an antique dealer who lives in New Hampshire.
The CVHM has searched several times for the originals, but they cannot locate them. They must have disappeared recently, because I believe Ed Longergan used them to produce his book on Forest Park Heights -- several of the photos were on the same page that my house was printed on.
Did you go through the microfilm at the CVHM? Or is there another source of this newspaper out there? I'd love to eventually digitize all the house photos from that newspaper.
Springfield Homestead: N.E. Russell
I did all my research in the late 70's at the Local History Room at the City Library. I was there so frequently that they let me look at the "original" copies that were stored in their basement. Each year was either in 1 or 2 volumes. It took some convincing to get them to let me go through the originals as the pages were VERY brittle.I started my research when I was a senior at Classical & continued for a couple more years. I worked with Ed Lonergan on most of the work done by Napoleon Russell. Ed had a helper working with him & I think her name was Kathy.
The Local History Room(when it was part of the library) used to keep index cards:by address, or by a persons name. Do you know the original owners name? Sometimes the library kept "Homestead" articles in folders by subject. I've seen "loose" Homestead articles about Forest Park while doing my research.
270 Longhill St in Homestead May 20th 1899
I have a microfilm copy of the Homestead from May 20th,1899 that shows your house. Under the picture it has "Cheney Washburn's house on Longhill St." I almost certain it's the same picture you have here. It doesn't show what year it was built.
Every year the "Springfield Daily Republican" did a building record around the last week of December. It list each street individually with the owners name & the building cost. I was able to find lots of info from this record.
270 Longhill St on Spfld Atlas circa 1910
I've found a great website that has an atlas of Springfield circa 1910. It's called "wardmaps.com." The atlas is divided into 26 plates showing the the owners name of EVERY house in Springfield about 1910. I know that the CVHM probably has an original as I used it during the late 70's. You can click on each plate & zoom in on the detail you need. You can zoom in even more by RIGHT clicking on your mouse.
Plate #7 shows the house at 270 Longhill St. was owned by Cheney Washburn in 1910. This confirms with the picture in the Homestead dated May 20th 1899.
It looks like you can order the maps from the website. I know it would add value to your home come selling time.
Houses Of Springfield
I was looking at your "Houses of Springfield" website & I have some differing information about the house at 48 Magnolia Terrace. The Scientific American list Louis Newman as the architect. The June 24,1899 edition of the Springfield Homestead lists Napoleon Russell as the builder. The Homestead did a large article on "Rockrimmon" and the George Atwater Estate and included about 3 paragraphs on Mr. Russell. It mentioned that he had built upward of 75 houses including Mr Sadler's house on Magmolia Terrace. The article also had pictures of 833 & 843 Chestnut, also a house on Round Hill built by Mr. Russell. The article also mentioned a house he built on Marengo Park for a Mr. Snowman. The house on Marengo Park is a "mirror image" of the house at both 700 & 833 Chestnut. Mr Russell built 2 houses on Longhill St but only 1 still exist at 155. The other 1 across from 155 was torn down and another is there now. The 1 at 155 was owned by the Dashvesky's. I helped them with an article in the Homestead about their house which included a picture.
I got to be good friends with Ellie Dashvesky of Sears Real Estate & she brought me down to Somers Conn. to meet Mr Russell's son George. He was elderly & didn't provide much more information than I already had.
Louis F. Newman
I wonder if there is a distinction between "builder" and "architect"? I've always been curious about Louis F. Newman -- he had such a brief career in Springfield, perhaps just five years -- and then just disappeared. Anyone know anything more about him?
Napolean Russell and Old Homesteads
This conversation is very interesting. This past fall the Springfield Preservation Trust held a house tour in Atwater Park and one of the homes was 193 Springfield Street, which Russell built for himself and lived in until he built and moved around the corner to 50 Shefford Street. 193 Springfield Street is quite impressive inside, I can only imagine what 50 Shefford Street's interior is like.
Also, when I worked at CVHM I helped wrap up all the old newspaper volumes in plastic to me moved. They moved all the archives out of the library stacks to make room for the new downstairs spaces in the main library. At that time everything was headed to the Mason Square Library basement. I have no clue what happened to it after SLMA sold the building, maybe it's all still down there. I image they are all still wrapped up with the rest of the archives, somewhere. As far as I know CVHM still has boxes of newspaper clippings in there vertical files at the museum, and still using the old card catalogs (I don't think anything is online).
Russell's house on Springfield St & The Homestead
While I was doing my research on Napoleon Russell I got to meet Melinda Phelps & Frank Faulkner of 192 Springfield ST. The Homestead did a FULL page article on Russell's house right after he built it in 1905. They even interviewed him. I contacted Frank Faulkner about the article I had and met with him & his wife at their home. By this time, I had just moved to Vermont in 1980 so they let me stay overnight in their home. The two things that stood out the most from my recollection was the TIFFANY lamp on the first floor & the BIRDS EYE maple woodwork on the 2nd floor. The house had been occupied by Maude Tait the women aviator after Russell moved to Shefford St. I believe she lived there up until The Faulkner's took over. The sandstone wall around the front of the property is much like the wall at 843 Chestnut St.
Prior to living on Springfield St., Mr Russell lived at 672 Chestnut St across from the Springfield Hospital. He built many homes on Chestnut & Calhoun streets. He changed his style of work every few years. His 'newer' styles can be found on Pratt,Chapin Terr. & Atwater Park.
When I met with his son George, he said that his dad had also built a house around Lake Sunapee in NH, and another house in Gloucester MA.
Crescent Hill
Great pictures. Any from Crescent Hill? Keep up the good work.
National Avenue
I live on Parkwood Street, and just recently found out that my street used to be called National Avenue (just east of Continental Ave off of Sumner). I do not know when the street was changed, but do you have anything on any houses on National? Not the most high profile street, developed between 1898-1905 as far as I can tell.
National Ave.
I just wrote this to you in an email, but I thought I'd post it so everyone can read it.
You're right in saying that your street used to be known as National Ave -- in fact, a number of other streets in the area were named differently before they were developed. I have a map from 1885 which shows Wilson, Randolph, Jackson, Hamilton, Seward, and Lawrence Avenues -- now known as Spruceland, Firglade, Washington, Forest Park, with Seward and Lawrence never built! I guess that knowing that Parkwood was known as National Ave. gives the name of Continental Avenue a little more perspective.
Your neighborhood was originally known as Woodland Park, and at least a couple of houses were built prior to 1900. I have a map from 1899, and it shows houses at #39 (even though the city says 1901), #42, #14, and a house no longer standing at #11 that was across from #14. The city's dating is very unreliable - they had my 1898 house down as a 1920 when I bought it.
By 1910 the entire street was developed -- your house was owned by a C.H. Wilcox, according to the city map, but I don't think that was the original owner, because my 1903 city directory does not show anyone by the name Wilcox living on Parkwood. In 1899 your side of the street was shown as being owned by "Kane & Graves", builders from that era, while the opposite side was owned by "Geo. N. Vaughn". J.J. Kane lived in the now-gone house opposite #14.
Nation Ave
Lauren I have a Real Photo Post Card of the last house on the left that was restored a few years ago, the one with the tall tower. If that is your house or you know the owners, I would be glad to make a copy for them. Let me know. jimboone@hotmail.com
National Avenue
That is very helpful, thank you for all the information. I can't wait to research more and see what I find. I would love to get all the information I can on my neighbors houses as well. I think the more I can show and tell them about the history, the more they will want to preserve it! It will take a little more money and dedication, but hopefully my enthusiasm will wear off on them. I just heard that another family on the street plans to install vinyl siding over the wood clapboard; then we will be down to 3 with original siding...
By the way, I don't know how many people use Google Books, but there is a fairly large collection of historic books digitized on there, mostly by universities. A great Springfield book, which you may have seen hard copies of, is digitized on there: "Springfield Present and Prospective: The City of Homes", copyright 1905. It can be found at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=e4MAAAAAYAAJ&printsec=copyright&source=...
If that doesn't work, go to books.google.com and search for the title.
Vinyl siding
I think that we really need to go on a campaign against vinyl siding. Although such siding is virtually prohibited in historic districts, most houses in other neighborhoods are becoming all-vinyl.
While the siding may look pretty good the day it goes up (ignoring the loss of detail to make siding easier), after 10 years it looks really, really crappy, and there's nothing you can do about it.
The other problem is that the houses all get sided in white, beige, or yellow, and the trim is always white. So much character is lost in a colorless neighborhood.
Drive down Dickinson Street towards Longmeadow and look at the houses that were mostly sided a decade ago. They all look shabby.
Someone on Sumner Ave., between Trinity and the X, actually sided a brick house. He did it in the "faux shingle" design, which looks marginally better than the clapboard, but that's just silly.
I suppose I can't blame people though -- painters seem to be working themselves out of a job. I have seen more than one neighborhood house painted, and was peeling 2 years later. Many painters do virtually no prep work these days, they just spray the paint on and collect their check.
PAINTERS and VINYL SIDING
Oh I can not agree with you more on the siding issue, they all look stale and such a loss of character and charm, even why they spend serious amounts of money on vinyl that looks somewhat like shakes, but that is just it... it just looks somewhat like it and in the end I call it a "monopoly house" plastic looking. Not to mention I have seen some nice homes sided and when they do end up having a problem it is not noticed until the damage is serious where the sill of the home and four feet up is rotted. I was taught that nothing is maintenance free and nothing last a life time at least the things that are of value. As far as Springfield painters I agree they are "hacks" I have seen the price estimates for Victorian homes in Forest Park and they range from 5,000 to 23,000 for the same home, I re-estimated that same home and came in at 18,000. They do not back brush or roll, they do not use oil primers and some do not even wash the home prior to painting, a good paint job should last at minimum 8-10 years with minimal maintenance if it is done correctly. I am not opposed to spraying only if it used as a vehicle for the primer and paint, it still must be back brushed or rolled at least the primer and first coat. I do most all my work in CT due to the fact I can not compete with these cheap "hacks" and in CT you have to be licensed even to do interior work which helps thin the heard of uninsured and unqualified painters.
The only thing worse than vinyl siding is Aluminum siding and Popcorn Ceilings, those must have been invented from the same cheap contractor back in the day.
I forgot.......
80% of a Paint job is PREP
Hack painters
It's really sad that there are so many hack painters out there. I think they are cutting their own throats -- they do a lousy job, the house peels in 3 years because no prep work is done, and the owner then gets vinyl siding -- one less future customer. My carpenter is actually painting my house, he claims that he hasn't had a paint job peel yet in 20+ years of doing business. Seeing the work he does in preparation, I believe him. I imagine that the prep work must more than double the effort, so it's easy to see why people go with the cheaper options, particularly when the cost difference runs in the "many thousands of dollars" range. No one does the math and says "Hmm, $8,000 every 3 years is worse than $20,000 every 10 years".
One thing I've had said to me is that vinyl companies are winning out because they offer financing, so instead of paying $20,000 to paint your house, you pay $300/month for the next 10 years, and even though it's more expensive, it's more affordable for people. It's funny how the installment plan for vinyl siding seems more palatable than an installment plan for painting...
A good paint job
I have heard that some of the problem with paint peeling on old houses is the incompatibility between new and old paints. They don't bond to each other like they used to. So apparently if you do it right once, meaning spending the money to have the prep done, and paint it with the right paint, you should only have to scrape and repaint small areas every 5-7 years, never the whole house again. I don't know much about this, so I don't know if it is true, but it sounds great. I wouldn't mind doing little patch jobs myself, after putting in the initial investment to do it right the first time. Now, the "right" kind of paint... I don't know what that is, but I know that some good oil paints are supposed to bond to themselves, and some never actually harden, and therefore don't crack or peel. Linseed paint is one that claims to do this. John Leeke has a great forum on his Historic HomeWorks website that has a discussion on linseed paint: http://historichomeworks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=440
I think it would probably be restrictively expensive for a whole house, better for the smaller details.
Does anyone know of any good painters? I certainly don't want to spend money on someone who isn't going to do it right! I would love my house to be anything but all beige, which is what it is now, but I think I will be doing the patching until I can save the money to do it right!
Lauren V
Really??? Hmmmm....
Ralph - all houses peel eventually. Sorry, but paint just isn't at the level of "miracle" yet. I've been a home painter for 20 years, and I can tell you that the finest, most grueling and extensive prep job won't keep today's modern paints from ever peeling. Be wary of the contractor who says such things. Also - all homes have their issues, and treating the surface is typically not going to be enough if the home is very old - a good builder these days is allowing the painters to get primers on the backs and on the cuts of the wood, where moisture is drawn in. This can be the difference in a job lasting 3 years vs. 6 or 7 years, which in all my years is about the average for a paint job to last to an acceptable degree. Some homes peel yearly, some take much longer, based on how they have been taken care of, how the sun hits them, what brand/style of paint is on their surface, and so on and so on...
Sorry Ralph. Hate to be the one...There are plenty of hack contractors out there, but in defense us painters also have to do things that we are told - many clients are only willing to pay so much, and will cut corners and costs where they shouldn't just to be able to say the job got done. People in many cases often take the cheapest bids, and then they suffer the consequences. People who own those giant McKnights, for example, are in for a real expense when it comes to paint jobs - many have been victim to poor work for a long time, so without replacing or totally stripping the wood, there will be continual failure of the painted surface. Period.
As I said, expect an average of 5-7 years before a good paint job begins to break down. Stain is sooner, even though many think it's longer - like every 3-5 years. Just because it isn't peeling like a latex or an oil, doesn't mean it is protecting the wood...
I could go on and on...Sorry!
regarding painters and vinyl siding
I have 20 years in the field as primarily a residential painter in the Greater Springfield area. Much of that work has been in the towns of Longmeadow, E.Longmeadow, and Wilbraham. This whole subject is big for me, as this is my career. I have used most major brands of paint, and have even worked with industrial coatings. I have done quick work, and have also done complex, detailed work that people were willing to pay for.
I agree that there are many cheap painters out there, who get a lot of work because they underbid everyone and get the job done fast. This last winter was a tough one for many of us due to the economy and due to low-balled pricing that has seemingly come into the area. The trend in this country has been to expect a lot for a little for a long time, but that doesn't help those of us who are expected to provide it!
For homes like a McNight, or most Forest Parks, etc, you should expect a good paint job to be up there in cost, and I'd disagree that most homes will make it 8-10 years before they need new paint - regardless of the prep (unless the siding was replaced) I have yet to see that kind of average, and it's not through a lack of trying!
Our company will scrape, sand and prime areas that have failed, but that still won't guarantee that the areas that are intact at the time of the job won't fail - we don't do total strip jobs - the mess and work involved are more than we want to deal with. Caulking is also a much needed product on the outside of a home, but even after all that, water, sunlight, and temperature will still break it down, eventually.
Just wanted to say to everyone out there not too saavy about paint - be very wary of the lowest bid - sometimes it's just a hungry guy new to running a business, but often times it's because the painter in wuestion cuts corners and lives by the "quantity vs. quality" creed.
As TOMTOM said, also be wary of the guys who spray but don't back-brush - maybe in the South or out West, but not here in the North East - it has to be worked in after a spray, or it will fail fast. Period. Spraying doesn't do that - it coats the surface, which is full of cracks, tiny fissures, holes, etc, all of which allow air and water in. They in turn break down the paint the inside out...
I could start my own forum about this and I know Ralph has different intentions here, so if anyone has questions, please email them to me - I'm happy to consult and offer my two cents. I've done a whole lot painting, but in closing I can tell you - there are a thousand ways to skin a cat, and in the end, the cat is skinned. Every painter, builder, etc. has habits and techniques that differ from the next guy, but they may work just as well. The goal is to protect and beautify your home - the definition of that can be different for all of us...!
I almost forgot, too...!
We have been told by our various paint suppliers that by 2009, they will no longer be able to sell oil-based paints other than what they still have in stock. The issue of phasing out oil paints/stains/etc. has been there since I started painting in the 80's. It seems that they have finally decided to make it a reality. I wasn't able to find a link to anything specifically stating this, so if anyone knows more about please mention what you know about it here?
Running a painting business, I can say that disposal of large volumes of paint thinners, oil paint cans, and everything related to it has been a costly problem for a long time.
Personally, I can think of two oil painted homes we still do, about every 4 or 5 years. They fade, they yellow, they "alligator"...the oil exterior paint just doesn't seem to hold up well for very long, regardless of how fine a job you do prepping the surfaces...we've experimented with the latex versions of primer and stain for a few years now, and the results aren't so bad so far. But if you have oil and want to convert it to latex, you'll have to first prime with a bonding primer or strip the surface. Latex does not adhere to oil, except in the case of stains - Sherwin Williams has a water-based latex stain product called Woodscapes that we use for almost all of our stain jobs, and from workability to finish to durability, it seems to be an overall superior product for your exterior.
Anyway, I think that's enough said from me for now about paint...!
GOING GREEN ON OIL
From what i understand that they will make slight changes and remarket it, thus still an oil and only as primer and or sell in quarts, I have seen products such as XIM a bonding primer which is one of those acrylic poly blends. I have yet to trust any thing other than penatraing oil for exterior wood. I can tell you from Lennox to Longmeadow for the past 25 plus years most all the trim i have done was satin impervo oil, the closet thing I have seen in a waterbase is from Dulux a ICI company, please do not buy paints from cheap box stores. The cost of matierals is minimal to the labor.
oils paints and primers
I finally got a list from ben moore and a list from Sherwin regarding oils that will not be sold in Ma & CT, penatrating oil primers I feel are the best followed by a latex/acrylic paint, I do love Solid stains such as wood scapes, flood and sikkins, I have shyed away from cabot since they went big box store.
I know there will no longer be a solid oil stain in any of these companies and as for the very well known Satin Impervo Oil, that will be renamed and carried in the industrial line, some epxoy's will be discontinued also, I have found that the water based hybrid oil solids do not cleen up to well with nice brushes or rollers, I think there is also a special hybrid cleaner for them. The only thing that disapoints me in paints today is they dry so fast... too fast, great for profits if that is what your aim is, but I find myself conditioning the paints with penotrol, flowtrol and other old school ingrediants for penatrating old wood, leveling and no brush marks. I was always taught "when in doubt... Oil it out" in regards to failing issues and primers.
Also schroder's fine paints of europe is going hybrid also:
ECO Primer/Undercoat is a “hybrid”, water thinnable alkyd coating intended for new interior or exterior woodwork. This primer is the preferred foundation for any ECO or HOLLANDLAC paint system because of its ability to penetrate and lock onto new wood. If absorption of primer occurs, reprime to obtain uniform film build before painting. They sell by the liters only and its about 90.00 for 2.5 liters
You would think... if they wanted to make a REAL difference they would get rid of oil in vehicles first and some day gas, I hope soon at these prices.
Bob if you ever want to sit and talk shop sometime shoot me an email I would be honored tomtompainting@msn.com
Oil Paints stains and primers
I got the list from ben moore and sherwin williams, Some will not be sold anymore and some with will be re-labeled under industrial lines such as Satin Impervo Oil, The Mostly wide used trim paint.
I love stains such as Wood Scapes, Flood and Sikkins, I used Cabot in the past but I tend to shy away from companies that sell out to Bog Box stores, I feel there is a difference in quality or lack of and not only in paints but in major products also such as sanders with same model numbers and yet when torn down the one from the box store and the same one that cost maybe 10-20 more from a local tool supplier has better working guts. Go figure.
Back to OIL PAINTS AND STAINS...
The only real discontinued product is Solid Oil Stains.
Even "Fine Paints of Europe" now has a hybrid oil/latex.
I also find that these products do not clean up from brushes, rollers, pans or sprayers well at all and there is a new hybrid cleaner, that I have not tested yet. It leaves a milky residue as if it were oil and those nice brushes loose form.
What I find to be the biggest down fall of paints and stains today is they are made to dry so fast and find myself conditioning (Not thining or watering) the paints with flowtrol, penatrol and sometimes old school ingredants to help slow the dry time and promote beautiful leveling with less to no brush strokes and helps stop the caking you get on the upper part of your brush.
Bob I Would love to sit and chat some time if you ever get the chance, Please shoot me an email at tomtompainting@msn.com
Atlas Maps
That was a good lead about the Atlas Maps that you can access at that store in
Boston. I always find it a shame when dealers buy these rare old atlases and cut them up to sell page by page. It would be great to get all of the Springfield Atlases on Ralph's site. I have 1883, 1899, 1910 and 1920 atlases but no way to scan them in. It must take a very large scanner to do so. Anyone have an idea, I would be willing to loan them to someone who could do it. the Springfield Preservation Trust has also gotten permission to scan in all the 1939 WPA pictures in the Building Department. the project was started but has taken way more time than anticipated, but hopefully will continue in the near future. Jim
Atlas scanning
I can scan at least up to 36" x 48", in jpg or pdf, high resolution. It would take awhile because I would need to do it at work in my free time. If they are in bad condition I will need to locate some large acetate to protect them as they go through the scanner so that they don't catch in the rollers. Let me know if this would help! ~~Lauren~~
lelisabeth@yahoo.com
1883 Walker Atlas?
Jim, is your 1883 atlas the "Walker" atlas? I picked up a few of these plates on eBay last year, I had never seen that one before.
I've been trying to figure out a way to photograph the books in high-resolution with my high-end digital camera, but I'd have to build some kind of thing to house the camera so that each shot would be from the same distance, so I could stitch the images together. Maybe someday...
Siding
The other thing about siding that has been advertized as the final solution to your house maintenance problems is that people who side think they do not have any more house maintainance needs and they stop doing ANYTHING to their houses so you see porches deteriorating, unpainted trim peeling, gutters falling off or clogged. When siding is put up there is a lot of caulk used. Caulk does not last very long and ofcourse there is never any followup so the job deteriorates, water leaks in etc. the vinyl sales people also sell the crappy replacement windows. It has been an amazing sales job. Cadillac Man, the movie is a must see on the subject. jim
Atlas
Ralph. the Atlas is a George Walker Atlas from 1882. It is in pretty good shape except the cover is loose, great pages and complete if yu ever need fro a reference. Jim
WPA pictures & atlas scanning
Jim, would having some volunteers to work on scanning the WPA pictures help? I might be able to do some, particularly if they let batches of the pictures out for a week at a time.
Also, Ralph, I have a copy stand that holds a camera at a set distance, pointing down toward a flat surface. I used to use it to take slides of anatomy atlas pictures to put into my lectures where I teach, pre-digital times. I could show you how it works and loan it to you if you'd like to try it. I would set up clip lights on each side to get even, consistent lighting.
Kathy Post
WPA pictures: some pictures were reversed
During my research on Mr.Russell back in the late 70's, I would a lot of times use the WPA cards at the Building Dept. I found that sometimes the picture would be reversed. On the card for 843 Chestnut St, there are 2 pictures on the card. The picture of the house is reversed while the picture of the garage is correct. If you look closely in the picture, you see they used a small sign with 2 numbers on it that was set on the lawn when they took the picture. The numbers referred to block plan maps for the city. Must be when they used the negative for the picture they didn't notice the picture was reversed.
Camera Stand
Hi Kathy --
Where would I be able to purchase such a stand? I'd appreciate a loan too, but I wouldn't mind buying my own, since I think it could come in handy.
WPA Pics
Thanks for the offer on helping with the WPA pics. The preservation Trust has gotten permission to scan the 1939 pictures but it must be done at the building department, they will not let them out of the building. There has been a long history of things disappearing so I understand this, it is such a valuable resource. The Trust does have a portable scanner if this could work for you or some college intern or teenager who is responsible who wants something to do over the summer and the parent could support this do good work. I would suggest you contact Ben Murphy who has been posting on this site and he may be able to give you more information.
I hope everyone who frequents this wonderful site are members of the Springfield Preservation Trust. You clearly share their interests, enthusiasm and dedication to Springfield and its built environment.
Volunteering for WPA photos
Hi Jim and Ben --
I'd love to work on the WPA photo project...I think my background may be helpful...I have both a BA and MA in Art & Architectural History, and I also worked in the Photographic Images and Archives in the Publications Department at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh for several years. My time is completely flexible, so I could work on the project on site at the Building Dept whenever or for however long is necessary.
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Cheers,
Honore
WPA Pictures
Hello Honore,
It would be great if your available to scan the WPA pictures. Please email me at bmurphy@springfieldpreservationtrust.org and we can discuss the details of the project.
Best,
Ben
Ben Murphy, Treasurer
Springfield Preservation Trust
Progress on photos?
What is the progress on scanning? I have heard, through the grapevine, that the historic districts would be done first. Any feeling as to the percent complete?
How will the photos be made available once they are scanned? Can the work-in-progress be accessed now?
WPA Progress
Ralph,
I know some photos have been scanned in already. I didn't have anything to do with this first batch, and I don't know how many where done, and unfortunately I haven't had time to investigate. I believe the historic districts will be the first buildings to be done. I believe the photos will be available on springfieldpreservationtrust.org, but because of a busy spring schedule I wouldn't expect anything until the summer at the earliest. I hate to be so vague, but without someone taking the lead on the project it's going to continue to be up in the air. I have quite a bit on my plate and don't have the time right now, but I can always help someone get started on it.
copy stand for camera
Ralph, I just did a quick google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=copy+stand+camera
There are several reasonable sources for such a stand, some with brackets for lights and some without. The rootsweb page shows some details on how to use this setup instead of a scanner that gets into some adjustments you can make, if your camera allows it, for light and color balancing. I used to do that with my 35mm and special film but it has been at least 15 years since I fiddled with it and I wasn't all that knowledgeable to begin with.
Let me know if you want to take a look at what I have, which I think I got at a tag sale - I'm just a block away from you.
You might also check out http://www.piepulscamera.com in Chicopee - they sell used equipment and may have just what you want.
Kathy
Postcard collection at Springfield College
I don't know if others are aware of this or not, but I had heard about the Cliff Smith YMCA Postcard Collection in the Archives at Springfield College for years. It wasn't until today, though, when I was speaking with the archivist, that I heard that the entire collection has been digitized and is available by searching this website:
http://ymcapostcards.spfldcol.edu
Just typing in springfield as a "keyword in title" search produced 501 cards. I believe there are nearly 5000 cards in the collection, though. As might be expected, many of them are of YMCA's and their camps, all over the world. But if you search for Forest Park, there are a surprising number of cards of the Barney house and mausoleum, views of different parts of the park, and so on. I also came across several cards with beautiful views along Sumner Ave., and there are many many cards of Main St. and of public buildings throughout the city - city hall, churches, schools, libraries, post offices. While some are more recent, many are from the early 1900s.
Apparently Cliff Smith travels around and collects these cards at shows and swap meets and then brings more of them to the College each year, so the collection continues to grow.
You can also view the cards in person by making an appointment with Paige Roberts, the archivist, at 748-3309 or proberts@spfldcol.edu. Enjoy!
Kathy Post
Looking for info/photos about 188 Sumner Ave.
In 1900, the Springfield Homestead, a real estate journal, carried the following front page article about the house:
“Mr. Lathrop Colonial House”
"Of the many handsome residences on Sumner Avenue one that commands much attention is the colonial house of F.W. Lathrop, the real estate dealer. This house was built under the personal supervision of Mr. Lathrop, from plans executed by Carroll H. Pratt of Louis F. Neuman’s office, and was completed a year ago, after being a full year in course of construction. It is of southern colonial design with all the modern details of finish, containing 12 spacious rooms. The large double veranda is surmounted at the third floor by a wide balcony, having entrance to the billiard room. Heavy colonial pillars, four in number, extend two stories in height. From the broad veranda on the lower floor, entrance is made to the vestibule which is finished in quartered oak and oak frieze. The vestibule opens into the spacious main hall, which is really a combination hall and library, there being no division between the rooms.
"The library and hall have the massive oak beams at the ceiling, and the side wall are wainscotted in Indian quartered oak. A large fireplace and specially made mantel occupy one side of the library. From the hall the grand staircase, having one-half turn, built of heavy carved oak, ascends to the second floor, with wainscotting at the sides. The reception room is entered both from the vestibule and the main hall and is finished in enameled white wood, rubbed to an egg-shell finish. The ceiling of the reception room is frescoed over canvas and the effect is very pleasing. The dining room is in the old English style, with the heavy ceiling beams and the wainscotting of quartered oak. All of the floors were planed, scraped and sandpapered and then waxed to a high polish. The kitchen, with a spacious pantry and a refrigerator built into the house, completes the arrangement of the lower floor, the laundry being in the basement.
"The second floor contains four large rooms, three sleeping apartments and a reception or sitting room, the latter having a handsome tiled fireplace. There are two bathrooms, one being on the second floor and the other on the third floor, where there are three sleeping rooms in addition to the large billiard room....”
The Lathrop House was included on the 1981 brochure for a walking tour of Forest Park Heights, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and prepared by the Genealogical/Local History Department of the Springfield City Library “to cover prominent architectural and historical structures that are still standing...” It puts the original cost of construction at $12,000.
In 2003 Springfield City Council granted permission to accommodate guests at the Lathrop House B&B, named after the first owner. It is still unconfirmed that the Lathrop House will be on the Springfield Preservation Trust's Forest Park Heights House Tour this May 18th.
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