Willys–Overland Block

The Willys–Overland Block is a historic commercial and industrial block at 151-157 Chestnut and 10-20 Winter Streets in downtown

The Willys–Overland Block is located in downtown Springfield, at the northeast corner of Chestnut and Winter Streets. It is a four-story masonry structure, finished in brick with stone trim. The building's external appearance is one more typically associated with commercial buildings, disguising its original use as a more industrial facility. Its bays are divided into groups of four bays on the upper floors, with sections that would roughly correspond to retail storefronts on the ground floor; these groups are separated by buttress-like projections with medallions at the top. The building's original uses included an automotive showroom and sales facility, and a 1000-car garage and service facility.[2]

The block was built in 1916 for the Willys–Overland Company. It sold and serviced its automobiles here before and after the company became Jeep in the 1960s.^[2] Located in the three blocks surrounding the Apremont Triangle Historic District and the famed Hotel Kimball, Willys–Overland was among numerous early and mid-twentieth century automobile sellers in the neighborhood. Others included Rolls-Royce and Pontiac.

In 2011, the Willys–Overland Block was home to three separate churches, a parking garage, and a Hispanic radio station.^{[citation needed]} In 2015, the Springfield City Council established a historic district around the block, after the building owner sought its demolition rather than effect repairs incurred by a gas explosion in 2012.^[3]

See also

• Willys–Overland Building, St. Louis, Missouri, also designed by Mills, Rhines, Bellman & Nordhoff
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Springfield, Massachusetts
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampden County, Massachusetts

References