Springfield’s Court Square Theater, as it appeared between 1900 and 1910. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.
The building in 2015:
The Court Square Theater was built in 1892, and substantially expanded in 1900. Originally, the building was symmetrical, but the 1900 addition gave the building an extra five rows of windows on the front facade, and also extended the right-hand side of the building all the way back to State Street. A photo on this blog shows a rare glimpse of the building prior to the expansion. The other two buildings visible along Court Square are the the 1835 Byers Block, and the 1889 Chicopee Bank Building. Neither buildings have changed much in appearance since the first photo was taken.
Right now, the Court Square Theater building stands vacant. The theater section itself (not visible) was demolished in 1957, and there have been various proposals for restoring the building, but so far none have begun.
My grandmother owned the restaurant next door to the theatre in the late 1940s to 1951. Any photos? Old Menus? Her name Ann. ( husband Ralph Albarico Her daughter Josephine Lupia waitressed there. She married Ernest Seams who worked at Schulties Cigar store.
I’m afraid I haven’t seen any old photos of the building from that period.
Maybe this link might help you find what you looking for..good luck.
http://cinematreasures.org/photos
My name is Jim Murphy
My Dad James Murphy practiced law on the 6th floor here with Joe Kerrigan from the 30s to the 70s.. so many days I would go with him to the office helping him in Land court and Title cases