Apartment Buildings – Historic Buildings of Massachusetts

Central Grammar School, Gloucester (1889)

by Dan/March 19, 2020/Apartment Buildings, Gloucester, Italianate, Schools

Designed by architect Tristram H. Griffin, Central Grammar School is a former high school building erected in 1889 at 10 Dale Avenue, opposite City Hall in Gloucester. It was the city’s first four-year high school. An 1922 addition, built in a style compatible with the original section, more than doubled the size of the building. In 1974-1975, the building was converted into affordable housing for elderly residents. In 2010, the Central Grammar Apartments received a grant of $2.7 million from the state Department of Housing and Community Development for modernization and renovation.

Memorial Square Building (1911)

by Dan/May 5, 2015May 5, 2015/Apartment Buildings, Commercial, Neoclassical, Springfield

Located in Springfield‘s Memorial Square neighborhood, near the former Memorial Congregational Church, now St. George Greek Orthodox Church, is the Memorial Square Building at 2291-2295 Main Street. Built in 1911 by the E. J. Pinney Company, the building (now called Memorial Square Apartments) has retail space on the first floor with five stories of apartments.

Columbus Building (1912)

by Dan/June 7, 2013January 28, 2018/Apartment Buildings, Commercial, Neoclassical, Westfield

The Columbus Building, at 91-99 Elm Street in Westfield, was built in 1912 by John J. Hearn for his furniture store, Hearn & Company. There is a large c. 1950s slab on the lower right of the building’s front facade where the name “Hearn’s” was once displayed. Some years ago, the building’s upper floors were converted to apartments. Continue reading “Columbus Building (1912)”

Brick Dwelling, Hancock Shaker Village (1830)

by Dan/May 7, 2013June 21, 2013/Apartment Buildings, Federal, Hancock, Houses, Outbuildings

The Brick Dwelling at Hancock Shaker Village replaced two earlier dwelling structures, dating to the 1790s. The Brick Dwelling was built in 1830-1831 and was designed by Elder William Deming. The building’s basement was used for the kitchen and food storage and the first floor contained various waiting rooms, with the large dining room and the meeting room at opposite ends. The upper floors contained the separated brethren and sisters retiring rooms (Elders and Eldresses retiring rooms were on the second floor). The restored Brick Dwelling can be visited as part of the Hancock Shaker Village museum.

Continue reading “Brick Dwelling, Hancock Shaker Village (1830)”

The Rutland (1910)

by Dan/April 2, 2013/Apartment Buildings, Holyoke, Neoclassical

At 173-177 Elm Street in Holyoke is an apartment building called “The Rutland.” It was built circa 1900-1910.

Memorial Church Parish House (1894)

by Dan/October 12, 2012/Apartment Buildings, Neoclassical, Organizations, Springfield

The Memorial Church Parish House, at 2309 Main Street in Springfield, was built in 1894-1895. Is is a Classical Revival building, designed by Francis R. Richmond. Both Memorial Church and the Parish House were acquired by St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in 1940. In the 1970s, the Parish House was sold and converted into apartments.

The Tudor, Boston (1887)

by Dan/May 14, 2010/Apartment Buildings, Boston, Hotels, Queen Anne

The Tudor Apartments, designed by S.J.F. Thayer and built in 1885-1887, are at 34½ Beacon Street at Joy Street in Boston. Construction of the nine-story building so close to the Massachusetts capitol led to a height restriction law for the area. The Queen Anne-style building combines a variety of architectural styles. The design makes particular advantage of natural light on the Joy Street side of the building. Built as an apartment hotel, for much of the twentieth century the Tudor housed both apartments and offices. In 1999, it was renovated and converted into seventeen exclusive luxury condominiums.