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Springfield Union Station Features “The Songstress of Springfield” over the 4th of July Weekend

An original performance by Vanessa Ford recorded at Springfield Union Station

Springfield, MA (June 29, 2021) – Springfield Union Station welcomed Vanessa Ford, “The Songstress of Springfield”, who is well known for singing the Star-Spangled Banner at various area events, to record a new version of the song at Union Station. The new video recording below will be running on social media starting on Friday, July 2 through Monday, July 5.

 

“This 4th of July will be a celebration like no other in recent memory,” stated Nicole Sweeney, Property Manager for Springfield Union Station. “So, we wanted to offer something that both captures the spirit of the celebration as well as features a local treasure – Vanessa Ford.”

Ms. Ford began singing in the church choir at the age of seven, and she loves every genre of music. She is an aficionado of classical music, jazz, pop, traditional hymns, and contemporary gospel music and has performed the National Anthem for many local college sporting events, for Springfield Police Academy Graduations, and for a multitude of high profile local and national events.

About: First opened 1926, Springfield Union Station featured gleaming terrazzo floors, a restaurant, lunch counter, barbershop, shoeshine parlor, and small shops to service hundreds of daily passengers who boarded up to 130 trains every 24 hours. The station closed in 1973, which also started a 40-year quest by present-day Congressman Richard E. Neal. Neal eventually secured the funding needed to completely renovate and reopen the historic building. Today, Springfield Union Station is not only a train station but also included a state-of-the-art intermodal transportation center with local and long-distance buses and a new parking garage. Office, retail, and restaurant space has been leased.

 

 

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Nice to be home: Hispanic-American Library supporters praise new site at Springfield Union Station

MASSLIVE (June 17, 2021) — It’s nice to be home.

That was a theme on Friday as organizers and supporters of the Hispanic-American Library gathered on Friday for the grand opening of the Hispanic-American Library’s new home at Union Station on Frank B. Murray Street.

The new leased location is in a vacant, 1,100 square foot storefront in the station’s concourse, adjacent to a Dunkin’ Donuts.

“It feels awesome to have a home,” said Juan R. Falcon, executive director of the library organization. “Mi casa es su casa, translation, my home is your home. Anytime, please come in, spend some time with us and let’s go do this together.”

The library had previously been a tenant of the New North Citizens Council, and years ago was located at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. There have been tough times financially, but the library has collaborations with many educational and cultural groups and has private and public funding, officials said.

Those attending the ribbon cutting ceremony included U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, state Sen. Adam Gomez, state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Brian Ashe, and City Councilors Gumersindo Gomez, Victor Davila, Melvin Edwards, Justin Hurst, Jesse Lederman, and Tracye Whitfield, and School Committee member Maria Perez, and Sheriff Nick Cocchi..

The library provides educational and cultural programs and activities, stressing the achievements of Latin Americans locally, regionally, nationally and beyond, the group said. It includes education programs for young children and the site has a computer lab for youth.

The library has collaborations with many groups including the Springfield Public Schools, the Springfield Library, and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation.

The library group provides programs on education, literacy, financial literacy, cultural diversity/awareness, library services, literature, historical data and investment, according to a summary. It plans to be open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

Armando Feliciano, who is on the boards of both the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and the Hispanic-American Library, served as emcee, and praised the new site and expanded plans. Feliciano said he did not take part in the lease vote intended to avoid any conflict of interest.

Feliciano praised Falcon as someone who had the vision to pursue the library program nearly 30 years ago “to demonstrate not only to our young people and our community how important it was for them to understand the history, the culture and most importantly the contributions to society.

The Springfield Redevelopment Authority board decided to provide the site as “a good match here; they saw that we will bring people here and that the people we bring here will make this a vibrant place.

Sarno said Falcon “had this dream, this idea, this vision, this heart and soul to have this Hispanic Library. Union Station made perfect sense, as a crossroad of all creeds, colors and backgrounds, and all ages coming through here.” Falcon never lost his drive,” Sarno said..

“He wants to highlight all the good our Hispanic community has done throughout the years” and the trials and tribulations, Sarno said.

“Juan, my friend, I’m very happy you are not a nomad any more,” Sarno said. “And you have a home right here at Union Station with thousands and thousands of individuals all creeds, colors and backgrounds.”

Both Adam Gomez and the state representatives presented House and Senate citations congratulating the library on its new location.

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