Elisha Blackman Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Elisha Blackman Building
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 176 York St., New Haven, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002863 |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 1978 |
The Elisha Blackman Building, also known as the York-Chapel Building, is an old and important building in New Haven, Connecticut. It's located at 176 York Street in the downtown area. This building was finished in 1883. It's special because it was built very well and is one of the few buildings from that time still standing in the city.
The Elisha Blackman Building has shops on the ground floor and used to have homes or offices on the upper floors. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This list helps protect buildings that are important to American history.
About the Elisha Blackman Building
The Elisha Blackman Building stands at the corner of York and Chapel Streets in downtown New Haven. It's a four-story building made of red bricks with stone decorations. The building isn't a perfect rectangle; it's shaped more like a trapezoid because of the land it sits on.
The ground floor has several shop entrances. One shop entrance and the main building entrance face York Street. Three other shop entrances face Chapel Street. The shops on Chapel Street are separated by stone columns. The York Street side has brick pillars that separate the shop, the main entrance, and other parts of the building.
Building Features and Design
The windows on the upper floors are mostly rectangular. However, there are also some windows that stick out from the building, called "polygonal window bays," on both sides. The very top of the building has a decorative edge made of metal, which is called a cornice.
The Elisha Blackman Building was built in 1883. Before it was built, three houses stood on the same spot. We don't know who designed the building, but the way it was built and the materials used were of very high quality.
History of the Building
The building was an investment by a man named Elisha Blackman. He was a carriage maker, someone who built horse-drawn carriages.
In the 1920s, the second floor of the building was changed. It used to have apartments, but it was updated to hold offices for professionals. At that time, the front of the building was also extended closer to the sidewalk. This new section was supported by strong metal poles and steel beams.
In 1977, there was a fire in the building. After the fire, everyone had to move out, and the building was empty for a while.
