	The building was constructed in 1911-12 to a design by B. Edward Geckler, a local architect whose works include apartment blocks like this, single-family residences, commercial buildings, and churches both in Springfield and nearby Longmeadow. It was built for Tessie Schaffer & Company, a consortium of eastern European Jewish immigrants. It originally housed a dry goods store in the corner retail space. Many of the early residents were either native-born Americans or French-Canadian immigrants.