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Walking tour to visit buildings by Henry Hobson Richardson

Date: 5/5/2009

SPRINGFIELD Ben Murphy, president of the Springfield Preservation Trust, will lead a walking tour focused on the architecture of the great 19th-century architect Henry Hobson Richardson on May 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The group will visit the remaining two Springfield buildings designed by Richardson, as well as the sites of the architect's structures that are no longer standing. The two existing Richardson buildings are the Hispanic Baptist Church on Salem Street and the former Hampden County Courthouse on State Street, now serving as Juvenile Court.

Richardson's first commission, in 1866, was to build Unity Church in Springfield, which has been torn down. Murphy will discuss the beginning of Richardson's career in Springfield and the importance of these buildings to the architect's future success.

The tour is part of the Second Saturday Walking Tour series, co-sponsored by the Armory-Quadrangle Civic Association and the Springfield Museums. Walking tour tickets may be purchased in the museum Welcome Center at 21 Edwards St. on the day of the event. Tickets are free for members of the civic association or of the museums. Tickets for non-members are $5 per person. All proceeds will go toward improvements to the neighborhood.

The walking tour ticket will also provide $2 off the price of an adult admission to the Springfield Museums on the day of the tour.

For additional information, call the Armory-Quadrangle Civic Association at 747-1830 or e-mail aqca@kimballtowers.com.