Sanborn 1886 Map:
The corner on Wall Street had a large empty lot depicted on the Bird's Eye view. It was soon to be filled by a large Queen Anne house. The Wall Street side of the block was demolished for the Trinity Parish House and 321 Church Street, but the Grove Street side has survived.
Status: Demolished, 1890s?
Built for: William Sanford, before 1854
This is one of a very few Greek Revival side-entrance houses in New Haven where the main entrance, instead of being on the front of the house was on the side, presumably to allow a full parlor to occupy the street frontage. Other examples can be found on Temple and College Streets. Only one drawing of the house survives (a rather unclear one at that), but it seems to have been four bays with an iron balcony running across the front. The house did not last much longer after 1879 because it was replaced with a Queen Anne house. It's site is now the parking lot connected to the former Trinity Parish House.
This is one of a very few Greek Revival side-entrance houses in New Haven where the main entrance, instead of being on the front of the house was on the side, presumably to allow a full parlor to occupy the street frontage. Other examples can be found on Temple and College Streets. Only one drawing of the house survives (a rather unclear one at that), but it seems to have been four bays with an iron balcony running across the front. The house did not last much longer after 1879 because it was replaced with a Queen Anne house. It's site is now the parking lot connected to the former Trinity Parish House.
246 Church Street
Status: Demolished, 1940s?
Built for: John Durrie, 1826, altered 1870
This is yet another Federal house of the early 19th century that was altered later with a mansard roof to update its style. The two story bay window also seemed to be a popular addition to the front, with an example across Wall Street. This house was given an elaborate entrance with pilaster and an arch, and the front door was recessed into the façade, a rather extreme remodel. The house also seems to have sprouted bay windows on the sides. It was demolished probably in the 40s and is now the site of the rather bland 246 Church Street office building.
250 Church Street
This is yet another Federal house of the early 19th century that was altered later with a mansard roof to update its style. The two story bay window also seemed to be a popular addition to the front, with an example across Wall Street. This house was given an elaborate entrance with pilaster and an arch, and the front door was recessed into the façade, a rather extreme remodel. The house also seems to have sprouted bay windows on the sides. It was demolished probably in the 40s and is now the site of the rather bland 246 Church Street office building.
250 Church Street
Status: Extant, heavily altered 1901, 1935
Built for: Theodore Dwight Woolsey, 1841
Surprisingly this house survives, although one would not guess so with its new façade. Originally, it was a rather tall five bay Greek Revival house of 1841 with a severe brick and brownstone façade, centered Doric porch, and a side wing. Even the attic board was not particularly complex. It rested on a rather tall basement, giving it a high stoop. In 1901, President Theodore Dwight Woolsey of Yale decided to remodel the house dramatically in a Federal Style, turning it from five bays into seven bays, adding pilasters and a pediment to the central three bays, and creating new brownstone window lintels in a Greek Revival style. If you look carefully, you can see that the left-most part of the house, the original main block, has a slightly different fenestration from the right side, where the addition was brought forward. The entrance was moved to the left side. The inspiration looks like it might have been drawn from the Timothy Bishop house on Elm Street. In 1935, the house was altered again for commercial purposes, with Art Deco shop-fronts added to the basement. The house can be seen here.
258 Church Street
Surprisingly this house survives, although one would not guess so with its new façade. Originally, it was a rather tall five bay Greek Revival house of 1841 with a severe brick and brownstone façade, centered Doric porch, and a side wing. Even the attic board was not particularly complex. It rested on a rather tall basement, giving it a high stoop. In 1901, President Theodore Dwight Woolsey of Yale decided to remodel the house dramatically in a Federal Style, turning it from five bays into seven bays, adding pilasters and a pediment to the central three bays, and creating new brownstone window lintels in a Greek Revival style. If you look carefully, you can see that the left-most part of the house, the original main block, has a slightly different fenestration from the right side, where the addition was brought forward. The entrance was moved to the left side. The inspiration looks like it might have been drawn from the Timothy Bishop house on Elm Street. In 1935, the house was altered again for commercial purposes, with Art Deco shop-fronts added to the basement. The house can be seen here.
258 Church Street
Status: Extant, heavily altered 1935
Built for: Abby Salisbury, 1837, possibly by Ithiel Town and A. J. Davis
This was a truly unique house, featuring elements that appear in no other New Haven houses. Built in 1837, it was possibly designed by Town and Davis, though Elizabeth Mills Brown is doubtful. I believe in a Town and Davis attribution for this house. First, it bears strong resemblances to other houses of theirs, especially the use of simple beam brackets, seen on almost all Town and Davis Italianates, the simplicity of the stuccoed façade, and the somewhat exotic details (the simple geometric balustrade, for instance). Second, daring architectural details, such as the very strange and unprecedented chamfered window shapes, suggest an architects hand, as a builder would have been unlikely to be so bold. Third, the Salisbury family across the street had used Town and Davis in their villa. These reasons suggest that Town and Davis may have been involved, or at least a close disciple. The house is Italianate, vaguely, with eccentric details; I suspect that the short mansard roof, present in 1879, might have been added later and that the original roof was a low hip roof, as seen on the Salisbury house across the street. The Queen Anne (? they are eclectic) dormers are also not stylistically consonant with the design. Unfortunately, everything that was unique in the design of this house was obliterated when Yale remodeled it in 1935 for commercial use. Yale destroyed the original entrance porch, removed all the chamfered windows, a very special feature, and built Art Deco shop fronts into the first floor. The house can be seen before Yale's alterations here.
This was a truly unique house, featuring elements that appear in no other New Haven houses. Built in 1837, it was possibly designed by Town and Davis, though Elizabeth Mills Brown is doubtful. I believe in a Town and Davis attribution for this house. First, it bears strong resemblances to other houses of theirs, especially the use of simple beam brackets, seen on almost all Town and Davis Italianates, the simplicity of the stuccoed façade, and the somewhat exotic details (the simple geometric balustrade, for instance). Second, daring architectural details, such as the very strange and unprecedented chamfered window shapes, suggest an architects hand, as a builder would have been unlikely to be so bold. Third, the Salisbury family across the street had used Town and Davis in their villa. These reasons suggest that Town and Davis may have been involved, or at least a close disciple. The house is Italianate, vaguely, with eccentric details; I suspect that the short mansard roof, present in 1879, might have been added later and that the original roof was a low hip roof, as seen on the Salisbury house across the street. The Queen Anne (? they are eclectic) dormers are also not stylistically consonant with the design. Unfortunately, everything that was unique in the design of this house was obliterated when Yale remodeled it in 1935 for commercial use. Yale destroyed the original entrance porch, removed all the chamfered windows, a very special feature, and built Art Deco shop fronts into the first floor. The house can be seen before Yale's alterations here.
Block Survival Rate: 1/4: 25%
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