Springfield Museums to Purchase Childhood Home of Dr. Seuss

The Springfield Museums are in the final stages of purchasing the childhood home of Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss), located at 74 Fairfield Street in Springfield, MA, through support provided by the Dr. Seuss Foundation.

Geisel was born in 1902 on Howard Street in Springfield’s downtown, and moved at age four to the Fairfield Street home in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood, where he lived with his parents and sister Margaretha (or “Marnie”).  It was during this time that Geisel first developed his love for drawing and storytelling, skills which he honed while serving on the staff of Springfield’s Central High School newspaper. Later in life, Geisel drew heavily from his formative years spent in Springfield to create books like And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, his first published work of children’s literature. The 74 Fairfield Street home was sold following the death of Geisel’s father in 1968.

 In a prepared statement, Springfield Museums Board of Trustees Chairman Samuel R. Hanmer commented, “The Springfield Museums are very excited to secure 74 Fairfield St., the childhood home of Dr. Seuss. We are just beginning to explore possible next steps, but we’re very pleased to be able to act in this manner to help honor and preserve Theodor Geisel’s legacy here in Springfield. We plan to take time to fully consider the various possible uses for the house, while taking the necessary steps to properly secure the property in the short term. The views of all concerned parties and stakeholders will be paramount, welcomed, and encouraged during those discussions.”

Susan Brandt, President of Licensing and Marketing for Dr. Seuss Enterprises, commented, “ We are delighted that the Dr. Seuss Foundation is able to underwrite the purchase of Theodor Geisel’s childhood home on behalf of the Springfield Museums and for the benefit of Dr. Seuss fans everywhere. We see the purchase by the Museums as an essential part of their ongoing effort to properly honor and preserve Ted Geisel’s Springfield heritage for generations to come.”

Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is quite simply the most beloved children’s book author of all time. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Caldecott Honors, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 books for children. Hundreds of millions of copies have found their way into homes and hearts around the world. While Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading