Stephen Mertens takes the viewer through a tour of downtown Springfield, Ohio, overlaying current photographs with older scenes. He provides his historic observations.
Lived there thru the 60's til 71. Was a wonderful place to live. Most of what I see in these pictures was there back then from what I remember of the downtown area. Wrens, Sears, 3 theatres...etc, A wholesome Father Knows Best environment. Still home in my heart. Lived at cedar street and Wittenberg. The hospital was not there then. And there was a steel bridge that went across buck creek over to Wittenberg University area. Miss those days.
I wasn't aware that the Fairbanks Building started out as a hotel & later converted to offices. As for the Fairbanks theater, based on conversations with", people in the know", it was located on the northwest side, not the west, of the building where a parking lot now sits. You can see the peculiar facades which conceal the walls left to buttress the remaining building. I was also told you could enter yhe theater through the W. Main St entrance? I ran into a lady in the mid-1980s who said her father helped construct the Regent Theater She was a fascinating information source. There wss another building immediately adjacent to the former State Theater and survived the King Building fire. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed, as many are, by "demolition through neglect" in the 1990s. The Arcue Building also had peculiar facades covering the remains of the King Building walls which acted as buttresses. Another good example is the "new" facade on Springfield Federal Savings & Loan. It encapsulated the remains of the gone J.C Penny Building. Overall, I'm glad you shared some of you collection with us. 👍🏻😁
Thank you, Stephen for sharing your talents & interest in Springfield with all of us. Really enjoyed it. I remember all those places from the 1940,s & 1950"s. I also worked for years in the Credit Life Bldg.
Thank you so much for sharing this. My mother and her sisters grew up in Springfield with my grand parents, mom was born march 20 1959 and was the youngest daughter, I never met or saw a picture of my any of my family and I imagine your pictures are as close as I can find to seeing their world. Again my gratitude is beyond measure.
wow...grew up in Springfield, worked at the Regent was I was teenager...such nice work you did with the photos, brought back many memories...thank you.
Thanks. The Springfield5 producer put it all together, I just sat in from of the camera:-). I found a few of the Fairbanks building but none of the theater itself.
Great job. I was born (1946) and raised in Springfield and so many of the landmarks in town are gone. Hope to see you do more of this as you discover more old pictures.
Collier building owned by Mr Denune is where my mother worked for 20+ yrs the cool thing is all 5 of her kids did also so many amazing memories after the fire we went in to salvage harley parts and move them to the walgreen building across from the eagles and elite Cafe
The Crowell Collier building also at one time housed the Title Dept and the License plate bureau. I am trying to remember the years.. My dad had the license bureau at the time. The beautiful mosaic entry way off of W. High Street I am guessing was demolished with the building. I worked at The Hub at the Upper Valley Mall until it went out of business. It was an expensive men's clothing store. It is sad to look at what Springfield used to be to what it has become now. It will sadly never regain what we once had. They tore down good sturdy buildings to build now empty ugly buildings that need to be demolished.
I remember when books were bulldozed and buried outside the The Crowell Collier building. Ah, financial integrity is crucial for any survivable business efforts. Lot sof M&As then and even today. Are you talking about The Vogue Shop run by Percy H. Rosenfeld, that advertised on local radio? So much in Springfield that most of us didn't know existed - unless we look at it the way historians think about it. I remember Ohio History courses (Clifford Mellott?). Yes, we ought to know those realities as we grow up and learn to become "educated citizens" and "the community of educated persons".
Awesome video! I loved it. I remember eating grilled cheese with my step mom in the Wrens department store restaurant. I think it was called the Blue Fox maybe? It was in the downstairs part of the store. So many beautiful memories of Springfield. That's why I refuse to give it up on Springfield. It has good bones. We just need to come together to bring it back. Thank you so much for this video. I think it should be shown in school. Would love to follow your work! How can I do that??
Lived there till about 84, every weekend and some week nights. My former brother in law was a DJ downstairs. Another was the bartender. I would have to find my stuff, but one of the DJ's , first name Dave, drown near his home in a quarry. Definitely like a family. Great band in the early 80's to mid, was the Mary Jane Band, they played a lot there trying to get their start. Im glad I had left before it closed. We visited in '94 and dropped in, but just wasn't the same.Must of closed soon after
I love that you mstvhed up old locstions with their current looks! According to the "old timers" in the 1980s, the Fairbanks Theater was removed and became the parking lot behind the building. You might have had more access to photographs and information than the "average man on the street." But your knowledge does have gaps. I'm not trying to be overly critical, but 1: "scars" on Arcue & State Theater buildings clearly hinted at having 'neigbors'. 2. Redevelopment of downtown, which had percolated a couple of decades, took off in the mid- 1970s. Where the current City Hall and (then) Credit Life Building stand was called the Core Block. Please research the photographs and postcards in the Harirage Center to see what was removed to bring our city into the then modern era.
To see the grand hotels, and stores, the theaters, we have a group on FB called, if you grew up in Springfield, a lot of history there. Check it out! Downtown, like all middle class America in the 80's went to Malls etc and downtowns were lost. Now malls are almost empty, or closed, stores built like they used to be, you have to go outside 2 walk to each store. History repeats. I lived in VA now, full of history, Civil war esp. spfld was grand back when my gparents and my parents grew up there.
I have a lot (40-50) old pictures of Spfld residents back in the day, Some tin type. If your interested in seeing or producing them then let me know.I really would like to have the public that is interested in their history see these. But great job on the video. I would however love to see the before and after pictures that you merged together.
Nice video, just because, Springfield has gone down doesn't mean we can't remember the good times of Springfield. Also in the next video, could you try to find a picture of the East Street Shops, and the International Harvester Building on Lagonda Ave. Thanks, Ryan F. Springfield, Ohio 7th Grade.
I was born in springfield in 2001 and theres been a lot of changes from the mental hospital to the new street sighns everything I watched ppl cry cause the old acrade bulding was brought down to be turned in to a parking lot so the for showin me the old springfield
I'm sorry no offense or anything but I'm really interested in what you're doing, however the pink writing you're using is blocking all the pictures and no one can barely see them.
We have not gone to the Shitter as some idiots might think. Just that we have changed, like the rest of our country has, away from industry. I see our town making very slow progress back now though.
I remember the strangle hold the few have on the town and how growth in the town is always stopped by them so I just like many moved away and you can now have it as it deteriorates away into the history books! It's like watching a show of the game of monopoly! So tell me when was the last new home built in Springfield um let's say like on Fountain Ave? Just my point! Raise the taxes and the community dies!
lots of great history! Thanks, but now Present in time, President Alf has ruined all (George Bush Junior) by allowing outsourcing and laughing at out it. We have had a lot of businesses as a result, closing their doors. Jobs lost, places closing. etc... Keep up the great work in creativity as you have shown, Thanks again!
![Veeze - F.A.F (ft. Rylo Rodriguez) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7hlz2S2GmIY/mqdefault.jpg)
Lived there thru the 60's til 71. Was a wonderful place to live. Most of what I see in these pictures was there back then from what I remember of the downtown area. Wrens, Sears, 3 theatres...etc, A wholesome Father Knows Best environment. Still home in my heart. Lived at cedar street and Wittenberg. The hospital was not there then. And there was a steel bridge that went across buck creek over to Wittenberg University area. Miss those days.
Love I live on mulberry street and I live the history thanks for you
Great Video! I was born and raised in Springfield, it was great seeing and hearing about the historic aspects of this once great city.
I wasn't aware that the Fairbanks Building started out as a hotel & later converted to offices.
As for the Fairbanks theater, based on conversations with", people in the know", it was located on the northwest side, not the west, of the building where a parking lot now sits. You can see the peculiar facades which conceal the walls left to buttress the remaining building. I was also told you could enter yhe theater through the W. Main St entrance?
I ran into a lady in the mid-1980s who said her father helped construct the Regent Theater
She was a fascinating information source.
There wss another building immediately adjacent to the former State Theater and survived the King Building fire. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed, as many are, by "demolition through neglect" in the 1990s. The Arcue Building also had peculiar facades covering the remains of the King Building walls which acted as buttresses. Another good example is the "new" facade on Springfield Federal Savings & Loan. It encapsulated the remains of the gone J.C Penny Building.
Overall, I'm glad you shared some of you collection with us. 👍🏻😁
This is fantastic! Thanks for your hard work putting it together.
My Mom and two Aunt's graduated from Springfield High. I was born at Community Hospital.
The charm is long gone
Thank you, Stephen for sharing your talents & interest in Springfield with all of us. Really enjoyed it. I remember all those places from the 1940,s & 1950"s. I also worked for years in the Credit Life Bldg.
Thank you so much for sharing this. My mother and her sisters grew up in Springfield with my grand parents, mom was born march 20 1959 and was the youngest daughter, I never met or saw a picture of my any of my family and I imagine your pictures are as close as I can find to seeing their world. Again my gratitude is beyond measure.
Loved the style of pictures:). I was raised in Springfield Ohio, great life
Nice to see this city in the way you did this video. Awesome job!
wow...grew up in Springfield, worked at the Regent was I was teenager...such nice work you did with the photos, brought back many memories...thank you.
Thanks. The Springfield5 producer put it all together, I just sat in from of the camera:-). I found a few of the Fairbanks building but none of the theater itself.
Wow! This is pretty awesome Stephen!
Great job. I was born (1946) and raised in Springfield and so many of the landmarks in town are gone. Hope to see you do more of this as you discover more old pictures.
Collier building owned by Mr Denune is where my mother worked for 20+ yrs the cool thing is all 5 of her kids did also so many amazing memories after the fire we went in to salvage harley parts and move them to the walgreen building across from the eagles and elite Cafe
The Crowell Collier building also at one time housed the Title Dept and the License plate bureau. I am trying to remember the years.. My dad had the license bureau at the time. The beautiful mosaic entry way off of W. High Street I am guessing was demolished with the building. I worked at The Hub at the Upper Valley Mall until it went out of business. It was an expensive men's clothing store. It is sad to look at what Springfield used to be to what it has become now. It will sadly never regain what we once had. They tore down good sturdy buildings to build now empty ugly buildings that need to be demolished.
I remember when books were bulldozed and buried outside the The Crowell Collier building. Ah, financial integrity is crucial for any survivable business efforts. Lot sof M&As then and even today. Are you talking about The Vogue Shop run by Percy H. Rosenfeld, that advertised on local radio? So much in Springfield that most of us didn't know existed - unless we look at it the way historians think about it. I remember Ohio History courses (Clifford Mellott?). Yes, we ought to know those realities as we grow up and learn to become "educated citizens" and "the community of educated persons".
This is a great watch. Thanks, Being pretty young I always wished I could have seen what Springfield looked like in it Hay Day.
Awesome video! I loved it. I remember eating grilled cheese with my step mom in the Wrens department store restaurant. I think it was called the Blue Fox maybe? It was in the downstairs part of the store. So many beautiful memories of Springfield. That's why I refuse to give it up on Springfield. It has good bones. We just need to come together to bring it back. Thank you so much for this video. I think it should be shown in school. Would love to follow your work! How can I do that??
Lived there till about 84, every weekend and some week nights. My former brother in law was a DJ downstairs. Another was the bartender. I would have to find my stuff, but one of the DJ's , first name Dave, drown near his home in a quarry. Definitely like a family. Great band in the early 80's to mid, was the Mary Jane Band, they played a lot there trying to get their start. Im glad I had left before it closed. We visited in '94 and dropped in, but just wasn't the same.Must of closed soon after
What a great project.
beautiful.really! :D made my day to see that someone still cares about this town.:)
Amazing work!
Hang on to those memory's. It's nothing like this anymore. Last one out. Turn out the lights.
I love that you mstvhed up old locstions with their current looks!
According to the "old timers" in the 1980s, the Fairbanks Theater was removed and became the parking lot behind the building. You might have had more access to photographs and information than the "average man on the street." But your knowledge does have gaps. I'm not trying to be overly critical, but 1: "scars" on Arcue & State Theater buildings clearly hinted at having 'neigbors'. 2. Redevelopment of downtown, which had percolated a couple of decades, took off in the mid- 1970s. Where the current City Hall and (then) Credit Life Building stand was called the Core Block. Please research the photographs and postcards in the Harirage Center to see what was removed to bring our city into the then modern era.
Great video!!!!!!
Awesome!
To see the grand hotels, and stores, the theaters, we have a group on FB called, if you grew up in Springfield, a lot of history there. Check it out! Downtown, like all middle class America in the 80's went to Malls etc and downtowns were lost. Now malls are almost empty, or closed, stores built like they used to be, you have to go outside 2 walk to each store. History repeats. I lived in VA now, full of history, Civil war esp. spfld was grand back when my gparents and my parents grew up there.
I have a lot (40-50) old pictures of Spfld residents back in the day, Some tin type. If your interested in seeing or producing them then let me know.I really would like to have the public that is interested in their history see these. But great job on the video. I would however love to see the before and after pictures that you merged together.
Hello. I would love to see your pictures! I'll shoot you an message
Stephen Mertens Check your FB other messages!
prowannab Hello! My apologies. I didn't see a FB message from you. Feel free to add me as a friend so we can get in touch.
Does anyone remember Burger Barn on South Limestone close to south high school?
Nicky Guy the orignal whopper
Yes, stopped in there not long before it closed. I thought it was named "Burger King"? Could be wrong?
Great Video!
Nice video, just because, Springfield has gone down doesn't mean we can't remember the good times of Springfield. Also in the next video, could you try to find a picture of the East Street Shops, and the International Harvester Building on Lagonda Ave. Thanks, Ryan F. Springfield, Ohio 7th Grade.
Good job Stephen!
I love the music in the background. Does anyone know whom the artists are?
man this shit is sad. everything was about commnunity back then. we need a better public transport system like we did back then
Should turn it n 2 a 75 a night rooms
My dad worked at Credit Life. You missed one of my faves: Sons Bar. I am pretty sure downtown on Limestone.
I was born in springfield in 2001 and theres been a lot of changes from the mental hospital to the new street sighns everything I watched ppl cry cause the old acrade bulding was brought down to be turned in to a parking lot so the for showin me the old springfield
Does anybody have any pictures of the East st area....Bye Brain Lumber I would love to see them
Nice
I'm sorry no offense or anything but I'm really interested in what you're doing, however the pink writing you're using is blocking all the pictures and no one can barely see them.
We have not gone to the Shitter as some idiots might think. Just that we have changed, like the rest of our country has, away from industry. I see our town making very slow progress back now though.
I remember the strangle hold the few have on the town and how growth in the town is always stopped by them so I just like many moved away and you can now have it as it deteriorates away into the history books! It's like watching a show of the game of monopoly! So tell me when was the last new home built in Springfield um let's say like on Fountain Ave? Just my point! Raise the taxes and the community dies!
still live here. times have changed and we are seeing a resurgence. come check us out!
Springfield has really gone to the shitter...
lots of great history! Thanks, but now Present in time, President Alf has ruined all (George Bush Junior) by allowing outsourcing and laughing at out it. We have had a lot of businesses as a result, closing their doors. Jobs lost, places closing. etc... Keep up the great work in creativity as you have shown, Thanks again!