Could anyone describe the area of Springfield MA known as Hungry Hill? Mainly I'd like to know its boundaries, and main streets during the19th century, and any major changes, such as street names. Maybe which manufacturing businesses and Catholic parishes would be in it? Which census or voting wards did it include? Also, what name[s] does it have now? Any particular books recommended about it, with early photos? Trying to picture it 1850s - 1890s. Thanks for any suggestions, Barb Glassel

I am enclosing some information on Hungry Hill, also known as Liberty Heights. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE: The North Springfield area in which the Liberty Branch Library,773 Liberty Street, 1930 (SPR) is located is officially known asLiberty Heights, but among residents of Springfield, it has long been called "Hungry Hill". The origin of this name is unclear - one possible explanation is the large amount of food from Springfield Grocery stores that was delivered to the Hill's predominantly Irish families in the early 20`h century, hence the name, "Hungry Hill". The Liberty Heights area remained rural well into the 1880s. When theLiberty Street trolley line was established in 1892, the neighborhood's development as a streetcar suburb began, and with the construction of the Carew Street trolley line in 1921, accessibility to the neighborhood increased again. Liberty Street is one of the major roadways in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, running northeast from Main Street, then northward to Chicopee. At one time, this street was known as Emery Street and by 1868 it was renamed Liberty Street. The southwestem end of Liberty Street, close to Main Street, became an industrial area located directly on the railroad line by 1851 and by 1870, the construction of factories and warehouses had expanded northeastward to the intersection with Armory Street. During that time, many duplex and multi­family homes were built on Liberty Street close to the warehouses and railroad tracks. Further to the north, past its intersection with Armory Street, Liberty Street was mostly residential, with increasing numbers of duplex and multi-family homes being built in the 20' century. Small commercial areas were developed at intersections with Armory Street and Carew Street. The Liberty Branch Library is located close to the busy intersection of Carew and Liberty Streets. It was constructed in 1930 on a parcel of land purchased from Martin J. Brunton. Brunton, who owned a house located on that site, moved that house to a site at 29 Kendall Street. The land was sold to the City of Springfield and turned over to the Springfield Library Association. The Liberty Heights section of Springfield developed rapidly in the first quarter of the 20"' century and Library Association was eager to establish a larger library branch in the n neighborhood. Previous to construction of the Liberty Branch Library, a small local library branch was housed in the basement of nearby Liberty Methodist Church, 821 Liberty Street, 1922 (SPR). In 1929 this small lending library had increased its book circulation from 17,502 volumes to 27,347 volumes and was quickly outgrowing the space provided by the church. In 1930, Nathan D. Bill, president of the Library Association, was quoted as saying that the site at 773 Liberty Street was "a 100 percent ideal location because it will serve the neighborhood ideally and is a spot of beauty." For more information on Nathan D. Bill and his civic leadership, see the Gurdon Bill Park, 469 Liberty Street, 1916 (SPR) form. The Liberty Branch Library was designed by architect Max H. Westhoff of Chicopee, who also designed a number of notable Colonial Revival homes in the Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield. The library was built by the W. W. Davis construction firm of Springfield for $35,000.00. In the Liberty Heights neighborhood, the Davis firm also built the Glenwood School, 50 Morrison Terrace, 1930 (SPR) and the Liberty School, 962 Carew Street, 1919 (SPR). The Liberty Branch Library officially opened on May 15, 1931 with a collection of over 2,000 volumes. On that first day, the library staff was "amazed at the hundreds of children and adults that swarmed into the building" and by the end of the day there were only about 200 volumes left on the shelves. Within the first three days of the opening, 247 Liberty Heights residents who had never before used any library in Springfield had applied at that branch for library cards so that they might borrow books. The Liberty Branch Library has served this neighborhood for 70 years and is fondly regarded by members of the local community. There were large protests when the library was closed in 1990 due to lack of funding and it was re-opened a few years later. Today, the library is open two days a week and is a small, but very busy, branch library. O'Connell, James C. Hungry Hill Neighborhood Walking Tour, Springfield, 1985: p.15. Located at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (CVHM), Springfield, Massachusetts. Richards, L.J. & Co. Atlas of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, Springfield: 1894,1899, 1910, 1920. Sanbom Map Company, Map of Springfield, Massachusetts: 1931. Springfield Building Department Records. Springfield Library Scrapbook: Vol. 10, pp. 152, 153; Vol. l l, pp.46, 47. Located at CVHM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Community: Springfield 773 Liberty Street Area(s) Form No. 4214 National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form The Liberty Branch Library is eligible for the National Register under criteria A and C. It represents the institutional development of an early 20th century suburban neighborhood in Springfield locally known as Hungry M. Until the late 19th century, this was a rural area of Springfield, populated mainly by descendants of early English settlers. As this area shifted from rural to a suburban neighborhood, it was increasingly populated first by Irish and French Canadian immigrants and later by other immigrant groups and second generation families whose men were employed as skilled workers in Springfield's numerous manufacturing industries. Liberty Heights' development as a suburb was facilitated by the extension of local streetcar lines and the neighborhood continued $o grow as the automobile became the preferred mode of transportation. This library was constructed in 1930 $o serve the needs of this growing residential neighborhood. This building is significant as an example of the, Colonial Revival architectural style of the 1930s. It is a good example of the work of Springfield architect M.H. Westhoff, who also designed a number of impressive Colonial Revival style residences in the city. 'This library budding has local significance and integrity of association, workmanship feeling, design, setting, and materials. -- WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com) ---------- Original Message ----------- From: Thomas Glassel <tglassel@execpc.com> To: MAHAMPDE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:26:43 -0500 Subject: [MAHAMPDEN] Springfield's Hungry Hill > Could anyone describe the area of Springfield MA known as Hungry > Hill? Mainly I'd like to know its boundaries, and main streets > during the19th century, and any major changes, such as street names. > Maybe which manufacturing businesses and Catholic parishes would be > in it? Which census or voting wards did it include? Also, what > name[s] does it have now? Any particular books recommended about it, > with early photos? Trying to picture it 1850s - 1890s. Thanks for > any suggestions, Barb Glassel ------- End of Original Message -------