Chapin School - Chicopee, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 11.089 W 072° 36.607
18T E 697356 N 4673061
The historic Chapin School is located at 40 Meadow Street in the Willimansett neighborhood of Chicopee, MA.
Waymark Code: WM1324R
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/30/2020
Views: 0
Sources:
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National Register of Historic Places: (
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Wikipedia: (
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The Chapin School was built in 1899 at a time when the Willimansett area of Chicopee was undergoing a large increase in population due to an increase in industrial development. It was designed in the Classical Revival by architect George Perkins Bissell Alderman. It was built on a large lot with space for expansion to accommodate the predicted growth of school age children. The school was named after the first English settlers of the area Jophet and Henry Chapin.
When the school first opened it was eight bays wide with a recessed area of three bays. It had three teachers. In 1905, an addition that is four bays wide and ten bays deep was added to the south side of the school. In 1911 a second addition was added to the north side of the school that measured eight bays wide and eight bays deep.
By 1915 the school had grown to 17 teachers and then became the largest school in Chicopee. It remained in service until the opening of the new Fairview Elementary School. It was then retired as a school in 1995. Subsequently, it was renovated and converted into a residence for homeless veterans.
On July 5, 2016, because of its significance and an example of late 19th and early 20th century architecture, role in education and community planning and development; the Chapin School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.