Elm Street Between Church Street and Orange Street-North Side

One of New Haven's most impressive downtown blocks, this section of Elm street has been completely demolished.

Sanborn 1886 Map:

1879 Bird's Eye View:

29 Elm Street

Status: Demolished, 1938
Built For: Eli Whitney Jr., 1825
This is an impressive Greek Revival cube house, of which the best surviving example is the Ingersoll House further up Elm Street. In general, the five bay type tends to have a triple window in the center and a Doric porch, sitting on a high basement. Additionally, the house is usually dressed up with an attic balustrade of simple boards. This example differed from the norm in having a three bay porch. Second, the attic balustrade is dressed up with a rather unprecedented set of dentils while another balustrade encloses the peak of the roof. Another exciting element is the carriage house to the right, also done in a Greek Revival idiom and especially charming, like a stoa running alongside the house. Note the popularity in New Haven with having guttae as semi-brackets to give texture to the eave, a feature also seen on the Ingersoll House. An image of the house can be seen on the NHFPL site. This was the house in which the famed Eli Whitney died and was just a short ways from his birthplace. The site is currently a rather unattractive office building.

37 Elm Street

Status: Demolished, 1959

Built For: Isaac Jones, 1765

One of the most grandiose Colonial houses of New Haven in brick, this is a real loss to the city's historical and architectural heritage. It was an exceptionally tall house for 18th century New Haven and was tricked out with all the bells and whistles to signal Jones' wealth. Major features include a stone string course, stone lintels, a two story porch (probably post-18th century), modillions under the cornice, and a very robust roof balustrade. Images can be seen here and here. The house was rather rambling, as you can see in the plan and images.

Unfortunately, before its demolition in the early 60s, the house  had a commercial façade (1930s, 40s?) grafted on.

41 Elm Street

Status: Demolished

Built For: --, (1800?)

Not much is known about this rather simple building, given its much more impressive neighbors. On the Sanborn map, an upholsterer has set up shop here, and the asymmetrical design of the windows seems to be typical New Haven design idiom for commercial/residential architecture. An image can be seen here. With buildings this simple, it's hard to come up with a date. I'd say it's Federal, so likely 1790s-1820s.

45-3 Elms Street

Status: Demolished

Built For: Sidney Mason Stone, 1819

43 Elm was the home of architect Sidney Mason Stone, who may have had a hand in constructing these row houses. Simple and reflective of their Federal style, the brick houses have a four-columned porch with French Ionic capitals, balustrades, and modillions under the cornice. An image can be seen here.

49 Elm Street

Status: Demolished, 1908

Built For: Richard Perry, 1668

This was one of New Haven's older houses, built for Richard Perry, a court secretary for New Haven colony. He was granted the land in the 1640s. No images appear to exist of this house before it was converted for commercial use for a grocer, probably in the mid 19th century. As part of that conversion, it seems the first floor was completely filled with windows and a side staircase was built to the right of the house leading to the second floor. Additionally, there was a brick addition on the back and long storage sheds. A small image can be seen here. The house was torn down in 1908 for the construction of the Security Insurance building, seen here. This in turn was demolished for the current building on the site in 1927. The nostalgic colonial craze was in full swing when the current building was constructed. A plaque was erected commemorating the house next to the entrance of the new building and an image of the "restored" building placed inside on the wall.

Block Survival Rate: 0/6: 0%