Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Mass Mutual Building

1200 Main Street/101 State Street

— Stop 6 • Springfield Experience Walk —

Mass Mutual Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

1. Mass Mutual Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company commissioned Springfield's first steel frame skyscraper, built in the Classical Revival style. It was completed in 1908 and caused a controversy over its "excessive height" of 125 feet. A law limiting the height of any building in Springfield to 125 feet was passed soon after, and stayed in effect until 1970.

The building, designed by prominent New York architectural firm Trowbridge and Livingston, has a steel framework and limestone cladding.

In 1928-1929, the Springfield Republican purchased the building, renovated it for private offices, and renamed it the State Building.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 42° 6.033′ N, 72° 35.239′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Massachusetts, in Hampden County. Marker is on State Street south of Main Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, near the southwest corner,

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facing State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 State Street, Springfield MA 01103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 95 State Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Union House / Chandler Hotel / Edisonia Theater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); United Electric Co. Building / Old "Turnverein" Building (about 300 feet away); United Electric Company Building (about 300 feet away); Stockbridge Block (about 300 feet away); Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company (about 300 feet away); The First Meeting House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Springfield Experience Walk

Also see . . . State and Main Streets, Springfield Mass. In response to the construction of this building. and because of fears that the city would be overtaken by modern skyscrapers, the Massachusetts legislature set 125 feet as the height limit for any building in Springfield, a law that stood until 1970. As a result, despite being over a century old it is still tied for 7th tallest building in the city. MassMutual didn’t

Marker detail: Mass Mutual Building construction (<i>undated • circa 1908</i>) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History

2. Marker detail: Mass Mutual Building construction (undated • circa 1908)

stay here for too long, however. In 1927 with a continually-expanding company and little room in downtown, MassMutual moved to their present-day home a few miles up State Street in the Pine Point neighborhood. (Submitted on July 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Mass Mutual Building (<i>undated</i>) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History

3. Marker detail: Mass Mutual Building (undated)

Mass Mutual Building Marker<br>(<i>wide view • looking north along State Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

4. Mass Mutual Building Marker
(wide view • looking north along State Street)

Mass Mutual Building (<i>Main Street view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

5. Mass Mutual Building (Main Street view)

Mass Mutual Building (<i>State Street view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

6. Mass Mutual Building (State Street view)

Present Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company building (<i>1295 State Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2019

7. Present Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company building (1295 State Street)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 131 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.