The Besse System Building is an old structure even though the facade is new. It is at 292-300 High Street. The alley side of the building once had a stained glass window.
Lyman Besse started up a chain of stores across the northeastern USA. He lived in the McKnight neitghborhood of Springfield. See his FINDAGRAVE page. See one of his ads.
In 1918 it is being called the Besse Mills Company.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map shows an empty lot
Sanborn 1889 map shows three 1 story buildings on that lot
Sanborn 1895 map shows one 1 story building only
Sanborn 1915 map shows a three floor building there
Sanborn 1949 map shows the same
Sanborn 1956 map shows the same