[1] The Carlton House Block is located on the northwestern side of Springfield's central business district, on the southeast side of Hampden Street midway between Main Street and East Columbus Avenue.

It is a three-story brick building, with a flat roof and Italianate styling.

The ground floor has a single large storefront, with a broad expanse of plate glass windows in the center, the retail entrance to their left, and the upstairs entrance to their right.

Its name derives from its site, which was previously the location of the Carlton House Hotel.

It was built for lease to one of the leading shoe and boot wholesale manufacturers in the area; they occupied the premises until 1897, after which it has seen a variety of tenants.