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Dillon Building
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
69 Pratt Street, Hartford CT.jpg
Dillon Building is located in Connecticut
Dillon Building
Location in Connecticut
Location 69-71 Pratt St., Hartford, Connecticut
Area less than one acre
Built 1899 (1899)
Architect Allen, I.A., Jr.
Architectural style Beaux Arts
Part of Pratt Street Historic District (ID83001264)
NRHP reference No. 82004407
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP February 11, 1982
Designated CP March 10, 1983

The Dillon Building is a historic building in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1899. This building is a great example of the Beaux Arts style. Its construction showed how Pratt Street changed from a street with homes to a busy business area. The Dillon Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 11, 1982. This means it is an important historical site.

What is the Dillon Building Like?

The Dillon Building is located on Pratt Street in downtown Hartford. It sits between Trumbull Street and Main Street. It is a five-story building made of brick. It has stone decorations and a wooden frame inside.

The front of the building has four sections. There is a store entrance in the middle. On each side, there are recessed doorways. One leads into the store, and the other goes upstairs.

Cool Architectural Details

The windows on the second floor have special cast iron columns next to them. These columns look like stone. Above these windows, there is a decorative band of stone. This band separates the second floor from the upper floors.

The upper floors have tall, decorative columns. These columns reach up to fancy brackets near the roofline. The windows on the third and fourth floors are rectangular. The windows on the top floor have a rounded arch shape at the top.

How Pratt Street Changed Over Time

Before the Dillon Building was built, this spot had a two-story brick house. This house was probably built in the 1840s. Back then, Pratt Street was mostly a residential area, meaning people lived there.

From Homes to Businesses

As the city grew in the late 1800s, more businesses were needed. Streets near Main Street, like Pratt Street, started to change. They became popular places for shops and offices.

In 1898, a merchant named Charles Dillon bought half of the old house. He owned a millinery (hat shop) on Main Street. When the Dillon Building was finished in 1899, it showed this big change. It and the building next to it helped turn Pratt Street into a commercial street.

The architect who likely designed the Dillon Building was Isaac A. Allen Jr. He had worked for Charles Dillon before. His company had also designed other buildings with similar upper floor plans.

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