Mansuy and Smith Automobile Showroom Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mansuy and Smith Automobile Showroom Building
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 38-42 Elm St., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1900 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000867 |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 2016 |
Imagine a time when cars were brand new and exciting! The Mansuy and Smith Automobile Showroom Building is a special old building in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built around 1900. This building is important because it was one of the first places where people could see and buy cars. It was owned by a company that used to make horse-drawn carriages, but they wanted to switch to the cool new car technology. Because of its history, this building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Contents
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Mansuy and Smith Automobile Showroom Building is in downtown Hartford. It is a two-story building made of brick. It stands between other buildings on Elm Street.
Building's Front Design
The front of the building has three main parts. On the first floor, there is a large opening for cars to drive in. There is also a big window to show off cars. A door for people to enter is in the middle. On the second floor, there are two windows in each section. These windows have special stone ledges and tops. The roof above the middle section has a cool stepped design.
From Carriages to Cars: A Company's Story
The story of Mansuy and Smith began a long time ago, in 1841. That's when Louis Mansuy started building horse-drawn carriages. His company became very successful in Connecticut.
Making Early Electric Cars
In 1896, Mansuy's company made a special body for an electric car. This car body was for the Pope Manufacturing Company. It was one of the very first electric cars!
Selling the New Automobiles
Later, in the early 1900s, Louis Mansuy's grandson (also named Louis) teamed up with Thomas Hammond Smith. Smith was one of the first people to sell cars. They started building and selling automobiles. By 1902, they were even painting cars right there in this building. The business eventually closed in 1913. This building is a reminder of that exciting time when cars were just starting to become popular.
