516 Main Street is near the center of what was the 15-acre farm of Major John Day. The farm was on both sides of Main Street and ran from the “Great River” on the east to the Minister’s 3rd Division Lot – what we now call Union Street, on the west. Day Street is toward the North end of the farm and Major Day’s house was on the east side of Main Street where the Immaculate Conception Church is now.
When Major Day died in 1753, at the age of 80, he was one of the wealthiest men in West Springfield with land holdings in excess of 300 acres. Upon his death, his farm was divided into two pieces. The 9 acre section on the west side of Main Street was willed to his son, Colonel Benjamin Day, and the 6 acre section, where his house was, was willed to his son, Hezekiah Day.
Major John Day’s 15-acre farm remained in the Day family for over 160 years until finally being subdivided into streets and house lots in the 1870’s.
516 Main Street is the home office of the West Springfield Record, the weekly town newspaper. “The Record” is published by the Coburn family and has provided hometown news coverage for over 50 years.