Heather: The Springfield historic district is celebrating its 35th annual Home and Garden tour this weekend, and it proved to be an afternoon well spent. The president of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) invited us to come out and I’m grateful to be able to share the tour with you. Alex was enjoying a camping trip, so my good friend Chelsey joined me.
I think it is safe to say that Springfield has a mixed reputation. You can still see in the bones of all of the homes that was originally a vibrant and beautiful area. Unfortunately, the historic structures suffered a period of neglect and desertion. There is a resurgence of historical appreciation going on right now. You could almost feel the hum of energy as proud homeowners shared their stories of restoration. People filled the streets and eyes were opened to what is and what can be in our city and our neighborhoods.
The tour started at City Kidz Cafe, where tickets were picked up and we were given a booklet about the homes and a map with suggested route. Although a long walk, it is possible to walk the tour. It would make for a lovely bike ride (and we saw plenty of people out pedaling), but on this day we did a mixture of driving and walking.
My absolute favorite home on the tour was the first one we visited, which dates back to 1892. The decorating style was eclectic, modern, fabulous, and I could get a sense of the owners’ personality. The first thing I noticed was a collection of black and white painted antlers displayed in contrasting frames. The kitchen was glorious and the light fixture in the center was an unexpected and delightful touch. The exposed brick in the master bedroom was beautiful. And their beer memorabilia collection was fantastic. All of this plus their veggie garden in the back (newly planted), made me completely ready to pack my bags and move in that day. Alas, I’m not sure the owners would enjoy a permanent houseguest.
As we left to visit our next stop, we started seeing the condemned or abandoned homes that no one had poured their hearts into (yet, hopefully). The juxtaposition of what we had just walked out of to what I was then walking past was stark and difficult to think about. As someone with a degree in history and a love for preserving the past, I had a overwhelming feeling of appreciation for everyone who has had anything to do with preserving the structures that are thriving in the Springfield revival right now. Standing in front of houses that likely would not get the chance to be saved was rather disheartening. I won’t get on a soapbox, but if you are able to support people who are doing preservation or community groups who work to prevent these structures being bulldozed, please show them your support.
The tour also featured a couple of lovely gardens. These were fantastic examples of communities coming together in the most basic of ways, by growing food together. Giving neighbors a reason to interact with each other and gaining a sense of where your food comes from is a great mix that I wished our neighborhood would adopt. One of the gardens, The Bridge Garden, is specifically for children and teens of the area. The confidence that comes with having a hand in growing your food and working with others is not something to be dismissed. The other garden, Laura Street Garden, had a beautiful “Community” sign within and that word is the embodiment of their project.
We really enjoyed all of the homes on the tour. From one containing references to music and the owner’s musical past throughout the home and the home that is now an office for a public accounting firm to the prayer labyrinth at one church and live music plus free corn at another church, Springfield gave me a favorable impression. I always love all of the architectural details in older homes, and this tour lived up to my expectations. The gorgeous wood floors and the stairs that make just enough noise when you walk up them to let you know there’s been a hundred years of memories made within these walls. The fancy doorplates and original light fixtures, in a quality you don’t see often in our era. And all the little details that are carved into wood pieces of the home.
I sincerely hope more people are able to get involved and save the homes in the area and move their businesses there. Two of the homes on the tour are for sale, so if you’re in the market then be sure to take a look! A huge thank you to Bill Hoff for inviting us out. If you’d like to learn more about SPAR you can visit their website here. To view (lots!) more photos from the home tour check out our Facebook album here.
Outside the Den 
Thanks for coming out ladies! I was on the Bike Tour so I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself to you. The Tour is always a fun time, and changes character efery year depending on the venues, location in the neighborhood, etc. Another good way to explore the community is http://www.myspringfield.org, if you have the notion.
Keep up the good work highlighting our local happenings, people, and places! Jax has so much more than people realize. : )
Thanks Bill! We look forward to future tours in Springfield. I really appreciate you inviting us out!
What a great blog and beautiful pictures!! Thanks
Thanks so much Dave!!
Thank you for the lovely write-up and pictures. As co-chair of this year’s tour, I was ecstatic at the turn out and delighted to hear the many wonderful comments. Those of us who call Springfield home love our neighborhood and always enjoy sharing about this amazing community.
Leta Lair-Stever
Thank you so much for the comment! You all did a fantastic job on the tour and we were so glad to be a part of it. Looking forward to the holiday one!
As a current homeowner and resident of Springfield, I am so happy to have read your blog with the positive vibe you gave us. We love our community, we love living here. We would love to have more people come and pour some love into some of all the abandoned buildings. Thank you for the shout out for support. We are always holding our collective breaths that another beautiful house won’t come down because of the ignorance of others. These homes can be and must be renovated. Yes, it will take time and money, but those with a love of all things historical know this is the best place to be. I (heart) Springfield.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! We really enjoyed your neighborhood! If our hearts weren’t completely in love with our building, we’d likely be looking at a chance to move over there. Thank you for sharing your community last weekend!