There have been a few changes over the years, the most obvious of which is the removal of the front porch the “shadow” of the porch can still be seen on the front of the building. In 1962, the Springfield Rescue Mission acquired the building, and it has been used by them ever since. The old building was then used as a private boarding house for many years, as seen in the first photo. The WCA provided a place for young, single women to live while working in the city, and this building served that purpose until the larger YWCA building was completed a block away on Howard Street in 1907. As Springfield’s population and economy grew in the late 19th century, so did the demand for workers. It was built in 1884, as a boarding house for the Women’s Christian Association. The building at 19 Bliss Street has had a variety of roles over the years. Courtesy of the Springfield Preservation Trust.
The former WCA boarding house at 19 Bliss Street in Springfield, around 1938-1939.
