After explosion, daycare center back at square one again

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - For the second time in less than two years, a Square One daycare center is literally back at square one.

The organization learned Monday their facility on Chestnut Street is a complete loss. Fortunately, because the natural gas blast on nearby Worthington Street happened on a holiday, no one was hurt.

Square One Vice President of Advancement Kimberly Lee told 22News. “We are absolutely the most fortunate agency and that not one child, staff member, parent was in that building at that time.”

The Chestnut Street Center has an extended day, and the building doesn’t typically close until 6:30 p.m.

Lee explained, “So, that center would have been filled with 100 children, van drivers coming to pick up the children, not to mention staff and administrators who would have been in the building and after seeing the building there is no doubt there would have been a tremendous loss of life.”

Now, the organization is looking for another miracle; it needs to raise $50,000 by Tuesday in order to open a temporary location for the children affected.

Many of those 100 students used to attend the facility on Main Street, which was destroyed in the June 1 tornado in 2011.

Last week, Square One reached a settlement with its insurance company for that property, but it’s still unknown how long rebuilding will take.

Lee said their focus now is taking care of the immediate needs of the children from Chestnut Street.

“We have an aggressive goal we need to literally raise $50,000 by tomorrow so we would be able to temporarily with seven fully equipped classrooms. We are hoping this truly is the miracle on Worthington St. because right about now it’s what we need.”