This Next to That

A 1984 Demolition Proposal Survey in Springfield 

"Of the 1,557 structures in Springfield, approximately one-third of the area was surveyed. In the area surveyed from 1st to 10th between Main and Ionia Streets, approximately 11% of the total number of structures were boarded up and abandoned. Below are representative of the kinds of buildings that are detrimental to the revitalization of Springfield."

This anonymous survey was conducted in April of 1984. It consists of handwritten notes and photographs contrasting derelict and restored homes on 8.5" x 14" sheets of paper. Of the thirteen distressed homes pictured, four have been demolished, five have yet to be identified, and four have been beautifully restored. It is worth noting that this informal survey was conducted a year before the 1985 survey for historic district designation.

There were no addresses assigned to the random properties highlighted in this survey; so, HSS has been painstakingly combing through the 1985 survey to identify each house. These photos serve as an excellent snapshot into that point in time in the neighborhood and provide an interesting perspective. If the advice from this survey was taken to rid Springfield of these properties that are "...an anchor around the neck of a neighborhood struggling to get its head above water," then all of the beautiful homes in this post would be gone.

This week we are showcasing the before and after images of the homes that were saved. Next week we will highlight the homes that were lost. These before and after shots are reminders that no historic home is too far gone to be a home again.

Do you recognize any of the homes pictured in this survey? Perhaps the better question is, can you imagine Springfield without them? So the next time you're strolling past a boarded up eyesore next to a beautifully restored home in Historic Springfield, remember that the restored home has more than likely not always looked that way.