Springfield-History.com

This is a stereoview entitled "Shaw's New Block". It has the mark of A.E. Alden, Photographer on the reverse.

This is a view of the block on Main St. from East Court St. to Harrison Ave. Most of the buildings on this block no longer stand, except the building on the corner of Main & East Court. The facade of that building has been radically altered to a 1960's style, but the side of the building still has the iron columns on the windows shown in this photo.

When I saw this unique stereoview for sale, I just had to buy it. It depicts the downtown Springfield block that used to house the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. It isn't your typical stereoview because it shows this block right after it suffered a devastating fire.

The Haynes Hotel was built in 1867, and it is still standing today. It is the current home of Cafe Lebanon, which occupies the space formerly held by Tilly's. You may not know this, but Tilly's got its name from Tilly Haynes, the man who originally owned the building.

The building also housed the city's post office from 1866 to 1879.