The Hamilton

978 Chapel Street is a Neo-classical revival building originally constructed in 1923, although designed to look older during a period in which architectural modernism was taking shape. The building is a masonry load bearing structure by Brown and Von Beren architects, with ornamental reliefs, simulated balconies, Corinthian pilasters, and Neo-classical dentils. Ornamental lettering on the building christens it “The Hamilton,” in honor of its commissioner, William H. Hamilton, a merchant originally from Montreal who operated the Hamilton Cloak and Gown department store to sell fine women’s apparel. Upon it’s construction Hamilton’s was the largest retailer of its kind in the United States.

Earliest records of the site before the Hamilton building was constructed show that in 1641, the property was governed by Stephen Goodyear. Goodyear was one of four investors in metallurgist John Winthrop’s iron working facilities. In New Haven, the works were in production by 1657 and producing pots by 1663, though the dam necessary for production caused major damage to the environment, highways and fences. Moreover the “non-assimilable” workers introduced to the colony were “turbulent” and “disorderly.” They would remain long after production ceased at the ironworks.



In 1748, the property was purchased by innkeeper made freeman Samuel Cook. As of 1911, it has changed hands to a lady, Ms. Helen Mason of New Haven, who we know made quilts for a local church group called the Silver Aid Society. In 1914, it began to take on it’s current commercial flavor, becoming the location of Frank Brothers Shoes.



http://www.colonialwarsct.org/1657.htm

Upon it’s construction Hamilton’s was the largest retailer of its kind in the United States. After William H. Hamilton’s death the store was operated by his estate through his sons Donald and Theodore Shapleigh. In 1964, ownership was transferred out of the Hamilton family to Fred Phipps, who opened a women’s and children’s clothing store in the space.



In the 1970s, the building went the way of other real estate holdings on Chapel Street, and was purchased by Yale University. Current building records note that air conditioning was installed in 2002, and a fire prevention system was added to comply with code in 2006. In 2007, Yale hired Picard Chilton Architects to renovate the space, and used it for a time as a temporary gallery space for the university. As of 2015, the ground floor space has been subleased to the Connecticut Running Company, an athletics store, and it seems as if the top floors are rented as office space .