Neoclassical – Historic Buildings of Massachusetts

Gloucester Safe Deposit and Trust Company (1880)

by Dan/January 30, 2020/Banks, Gloucester, Neoclassical

The building at 189-191 Main Street, at the corner of Duncan Street, in Gloucester was erected circa 1870-1880 and was originally the First National Bank. It was later home to the Gloucester Safe Deposit and Trust Company, incorporated in 1891, around which time the building was remodeled with a “Pigeon Cove” granite Classical Revival facade. In 2013, the former bank building was renovated with first floor space for an art gallery and a jewelry store, and office and apartment space above.

Westfield First National Bank (1930)

by Dan/December 14, 2017/Banks, Neoclassical, Westfield

Now a branch of Santander Bank, the building at 30 Elm Street in Westfield was built c. 1930 as the Westfield First National Bank.

Victory Theater (1919)

by Dan/December 31, 2016December 31, 2016/Art Deco, Holyoke, Neoclassical, Theaters

The Victory Theater (spelled “Theatre” in stone on the building itself) is a grand movie/stage show palace erected in 1919 by Goldstein Brothers Amusement Company at 81–89 Suffolk Street in Holyoke. It was named in honor of the Allied victory in World War One. The theater suffered fire damaged in 1942, but continued in operation until it closed in 1979. The building remained vacant for decades, its blade sign being removed in 1986 and marquee torn down in 1991. In recent years a restoration of the old theater has been undertaken by the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts with plans to open in 2017.

Childs Building (1912)

by Dan/December 26, 2016/Commercial, Holyoke, Neoclassical

The commercial building at 275 High Street in Holyoke was probably constructed in the 1880s by John Tilley, but the current facade dates to 1912. It is a highly ornamented Beaux Arts design executed in brick and terra cotta to plans by local architect G. P. B. Alderman. The facade was created when Thomas S. Childs moved his shoe store, previously located at 210 High Street, into the building in 1912-1913.

Old Post Office, Westfield (1912)

by Dan/December 9, 2016/Neoclassical, Public Buildings, Westfield

The building at 2 Broad Street in Westfield served as Westfield’s Post Office from 1912 until 1975, when a new building was constructed on the corner of West Silver and Broad Streets. Today the old Post Office is home to Tavern Restaurant.

Westfield Atheneum (1927)

by Dan/December 7, 2016December 7, 2016/Libraries, Museums, Neoclassical, Westfield

At 6 Elm Street in Westfield is the Westfield Atheneum, a library originally incorporated in 1864. Funding for the first Atheneum building, located at 26 Main Street, was provided by Hiram H. Harrison, president of the American Whip Company, with additional funds for the purchase of books being raised by private subscription. The Atheneum later received the donation of a circulating book collection that was first used by the Westfield Social Library, begun in 1830. The Westfield Atheneum opened to the public on January 1, 1868. Originally requiring a $2.00 annual fee, in 1895 the Atheneum became a free library. In 1898, Westfield Academy donated another building to the Atheneum, the Fowler-Gillett Homestead (built c. 1828 by James Fowler) at the corner of Court and Elm Streets. It was remodeled for library use and opened in 1899. The current main Atheneum building, designed by Coolidge and Carlson, was erected in 1927 and the Fowler-Gillett Homestead became the Boys and Girls Library. A new wing and extension connecting to the Boys and Girls Library, which doubled the floor space of the Atheneum, were dedicated in 1966. The Atheneum building also contains the Jasper Rand Art Museum and the Edwin Smith Historical Museum.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester (1951)

by Dan/November 25, 2016November 25, 2016/Churches, Gothic, Neoclassical, Worcester

Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester officially formed on January 1, 1948 through the merger of First, Bethany and Calvary parishes. The merged parish erected a new church at 73 Lancaster Street, built in stages between 1948 and 1951. The building is heavily influenced by Scandinavian church architecture.