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.
