Situated at the crossroads of New England, Springfield, Massachusetts, was founded in 1636 by twelve families led by William Pynchon, who named the settlement after his birthplace in England. This book, the first of a two-volume set, is a collection of many never-before-seen photographs that tell the story of this city's history. Springfield is a city of "firsts." The first successful gasoline-powered
engine was built by the Duryea brothers here; the first U.S. musket was made at the Springfield Armory; and in 1891, resident Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball. The city's ties to the U.S. military are illustrated here, as are its many religious and ethnic communities. Within these pages, we can see images of a very different Springfield, including buildings much changed or long gone, and people remembered now in family albums.