New book documents ‘lost’ SpringfieldDate: 2/10/2017 SPRINGFIELD – If you are a long-time Springfield resident, do you remember the Church of the Unity?
Author and historian Derek Strahan has included the magnificent structure, among many others, in his new book
“Lost Springfield” (History Press). “Lost Springfield” looks at buildings and institutions in the city that played a role in the city’s skyline but have since been demolished. Strahan told Reminder Publications he hopes people who read the book would think about the city’s past and recognize the importance of historic preservation.
Some of the buildings featured are not “lost,” but rather Strahan outlined their history. For instance, The Old First Church is still standing in Court Square, but was preceded, Strahan noted, by three previous churches or meeting houses with the designation of “first church.” The first was built in 1645, the second in 1677 and the third in 1752.
In contrast the Church of the Unity was built in 1869 and designed by acclaimed architect H. H. Richardson. It was one of his first efforts and Strahan noted how a story in the Springfield Republican described the church’s Italian-Gothic architecture as “so graceful, yet so dignified.”
The church was demolished though when the congregation moved to a new facility and there were plans to build an apartment building at the location. The new development never happened and the site of the church is now the parking lot next to the Classical Condominiums.
“What did the city lose when the Church of the Unity was torn down?” Strahan asked.
Strahan, a graduate of Westfield State University and a native of Monson, is an English teacher with a long-time interest in history.
“I’ve always loved history, especially local history really fascinated me,” he said.
The book came out of Strahan’s website www.lostnewengland.com. He started the site in 2013 and presents historic photos of buildings and landmarks and then a current photo taken from the same vantage point with information about the location. He added the editors at History Press found the site and asked him to consider doing a book.
He submitted his proposal in January 2016 and worked most of the spring and summer on it.
The images of buildings in the book came from a variety of sources. The Library of Congress had a number of historic photos of Springfield on its website and the Springfield Preservation Trust had posted online the photos taken in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.
His search for images also led him to using photos from 19th century books as well.
With the restoration and changes made to Union Station, Strahan’s chapter on the city’s train stations is especially timely. He noted how the city’s first train station burnt down in 1851 because sparks from the locomotives set the wooden building aflame. The next depot was located on the site of the Paramount Theater and Gridiron Street. The trains passed across Main Street on the east and west routes. That caused, Strahan noted, the closing of Main Street in 1872 as often as 63 times in one day.
That station was replaced in 1889 after much political wrangling, by one off of Lyman Street with the tracks now raised above Main Street. That station, designed by H.H. Richardson, was subsequently replaced by the current Union Station in 1926.
Strahan said he made an effort to include as many anecdotes about the buildings in his books. Parsons Tavern, which was once located on Court Square was known as a place that George Washington visited twice – once on his way to take command of the Continental Army and once as president.
Strahan also found an entry into President John Adams’s diary noting how he had a meal at the tavern on his way back from Philadelphia, PA, and the First Continental Congress. Adams came back a second time in 1798 and appeared to have enjoyed his meal.
Strahan hopes readers of the book will “pay more attention to their surroundings” and admitted that when he sees a building he wants to research it.
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