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

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building

1200 Main Street

— Built 1908 —

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

1. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Organized in 1851, the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance company grew to become one of Springfield's largest businesses. It was begun by George Rice and Alfred Lambert to assure annual dividend life insurance. By the early twentieth century, the company needed more space. The New York firm of Trowbridge & Livingston was hired to design this Classical Revival style building for the home office. The limestone building was the tallest steel office structure in the City and sparked a controversy which led to the imposition of a 125 foot height limit on new office construction, a limit which lasted into the 1970's. The company continued to grow and relocated to the Pine Point neighborhood in 1927.

This property is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected by Springfield 350th Anniversary.

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

Location. 42° 6.048′ N, 72° 35.225′ W. Marker is in Springfield

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker (<i>southeast corner of Main & State</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

2. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker (southeast corner of Main & State)

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, Massachusetts, in Hampden County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and State Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, near the northwest corner, facing Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 Main 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. Mass Mutual Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 95 State Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Stockbridge Block (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Union House / Chandler Hotel / Edisonia Theater (about 300 feet away); Burbach, Bangs, and McKinney Blocks (about 400 feet away); The First Meeting House (about 400 feet away); United Electric Co. Building / Old "Turnverein" Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Also see . . . Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Wikipedia). MassMutual began operation on May 15, 1851 in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was founded by George W. Rice, an insurance agent who sold policies for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Rice wanted to open a company of his own in neighboring Massachusetts. MassMutual's first president was Caleb Rice, a cousin of founder George W. Rice. As a former lawyer and Sheriff of Hampden County, Massachusetts, Rice served

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building<br>(<i>Main Street view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

3. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building
(Main Street view)

on the Massachusetts House of Representatives for five years and was later elected as the first mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts from 1852 to 1853. (Submitted on July 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker<br>(<i>State Street view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

4. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building Marker
(State Street view)

1927 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company building (<i>1295 State Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2019

5. 1927 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company building (1295 State Street)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 298 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.