Daniel B. Wesson’s house on Maple Street, as it appeared between 1900 and 1910. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.
The site today:
The building in the early 20th century was the home of Daniel B. Wesson, who was the co-founder of Smith and Wesson. Located at 50 Maple Street, at the present-day intersection of Maple and Dwight, it was built in 1898, and was Wesson’s home until he died in 1906. The house was purchased by a social club, the Colony Club, in 1915, and was used until February 20, 1966, when the building burned and was replaced by the bland, nondescript building that now stands on the lot.
So very sad to hear that Mr. Wesson’s magnificent home has burned down…only to be replaced by such an ugly building. Looks like a prison to me. RIP: Daniel Wesson.
Was the Wesson mansion on Maple Street, Springfield, Mass., at one time, owned by the “Stigmatines” (congregation of the sacred stigmata)?
i rememer te Wesson Mansion; it was beautiful and huge. I was about 9 years old and rang the doorbell because i was selling Christmas seals for 10 cents A man ( probably a servant) answered the door and I asked if he wanted to buy Christmas seals. He said he didn’t want any and I remember leaving that huge place and thinking: Boy, he must be so rich and won’t spend ten cents.
I remember when it burned; it was the original Colony Club and was absolutely an amazing mansion.