28-44 Crown St, New Haven, CT
*Note: 1886 Sanborn Maps and 1888 Hopkins Atlas indicate that a building used to exist at the site of what is now 38-44 Crown St. However, information on these buildings could not be found in the city directories. Given that in the early 20th century, many commercial buildings were being constructed in the 9th District to replace residential buildings, it is possible that these buildings were old tenement housing.
History of S.Z. Field Printing Press:
Samuel Z. Field moved to New Haven in 1890 and set up a fruit and confectionary business on Grand Avenue. However, he eventually had more success with printing and stationary. He bought the lot of 38-44 Crown St. sometime between 1910 and 1913 from a real estate broker named Charles H Webb. While the Field Building was being constructed his business was located on State Street. The printing press remained at 44 Crown St. until Field’s death in 1939 when the building and company was sold to Carleton S. Read. Ownership of the company and building were passed through his descendants until at least 1981.
Sources:
From the New Haven Museum:
New Haven Directories
Connecticut Historical Commission: Historic Resources Inventory by the New Haven Preservation Trust
Dana Scrapbook Collection
1888 Hopkins Atlas
1911 Kelly Atlas
From New Haven Building Department:
New Haven Building Permits
Online:
Historic American Buildings Survey conducted by New Haven Preservation Trust
New Haven Independent Articles:
9th Square Rescue Mission Triumphs (2012)
Zoners OK 9th Square Historic Re-Do (2010)
Preservationists Rally to Save 3 Gems (2008)
Yale Uploaded Sanborn Maps
Historic Map Works Website
**Has images of historic photographs and maps but must be purchased to download. Can be viewed on the website:
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Buildings/index.php?state=CT&city=New%20Haven&id=6944
The last record of the S.Z. Field Company in the New Haven Directory was in 1990. After that, directories show that the building was vacant (at least until 2006). However, the building was said to have been deteriorating since the late seventies according to Alan Greenberg, owner of ACME furniture across the street (source: The New Haven Independent).
Description of Building:
The Field Building is one of the few remaining commercial buildings constructed during the late 19th to early 20th century in New Haven. Many commercial buildings were built at this time to replace old tenement housing.
The building itself has 4 stories and a basement with approximate dimensions of 48 by 120 feet. It is 3 bays wide with a flat roof. The windows on the side bays are paired while the windows in the middle bay have 3 parts. Unlike the front windows, the side windows are arched. The front façade features cut-stone pilasters and surround with foot scrolls that are supposed to create a classical and dignified air.
The original cornice had been removed and the building now has a pressed-metal cornice and aluminum frames in the entry.
History of Alterations to the Field Building:
1/1/39
“Alter store front”
12/16/41
“Remove Cornice”
10/5/48
“Relocate existing opening to elevator”
7/15/59
“Erect fire escape.”
3/24/61
“Fourth floor: Remove present masonry construction and replace rigger to take out and replace some machinery on this floor”
***This alteration is likely the cause of the odd shape of the 4th floor center window.
5/28/65
“Erect sign ‘S.Z.Field Co’”
11/9/70
“Alter store front and interior alterations”
(From New Haven Building Permits)
The addition to the first floor in the back of the building was constructed between 1913 and 1915 according to the Historic American Building Survey.
According to the Connecticut Historical Commission, the pressed-metal cornice and storefront was also altered in 1965.
Recent Events:
In 2004 the Field Building (and a couple other buildings on Crown Street) was bought by a private development group, College St LLC, owned by David Nyberg. However, after no significant renovations were made to the building (and specifically after some gutting of plumbing and wiring on the second and third floors), preservation groups began to protest the apparent negligence by the developer. In 2010 the Board of Zone Appeals handed management of the building to the Philadelphia based PMC Property Group. They started rehabilitation and renovation of the building in January of 2012 and sought to preserve some of the original elements of the building (namely the windows, wood flooring, beams and brickwork). The Green Well Cafe and the apartments (there are 65, mostly single bedroom) all opened earlier this year.
History of S.Z. Field Printing Press:
Samuel Z. Field moved to New Haven in 1890 and set up a fruit and confectionary business on Grand Avenue. However, he eventually had more success with printing and stationary. He bought the lot of 38-44 Crown St. sometime between 1910 and 1913 from a real estate broker named Charles H Webb. While the Field Building was being constructed his business was located on State Street. The printing press remained at 44 Crown St. until Field’s death in 1939 when the building and company was sold to Carleton S. Read. Ownership of the company and building were passed through his descendants until at least 1981.
Sources:
From the New Haven Museum:
New Haven Directories
Connecticut Historical Commission: Historic Resources Inventory by the New Haven Preservation Trust
Dana Scrapbook Collection
1888 Hopkins Atlas
1911 Kelly Atlas
From New Haven Building Department:
New Haven Building Permits
Online:
Historic American Buildings Survey conducted by New Haven Preservation Trust
New Haven Independent Articles:
9th Square Rescue Mission Triumphs (2012)
Zoners OK 9th Square Historic Re-Do (2010)
Preservationists Rally to Save 3 Gems (2008)
Yale Uploaded Sanborn Maps
Historic Map Works Website
**Has images of historic photographs and maps but must be purchased to download. Can be viewed on the website:
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Buildings/index.php?state=CT&city=New%20Haven&id=6944
The last record of the S.Z. Field Company in the New Haven Directory was in 1990. After that, directories show that the building was vacant (at least until 2006). However, the building was said to have been deteriorating since the late seventies according to Alan Greenberg, owner of ACME furniture across the street (source: The New Haven Independent).
Description of Building:
The Field Building is one of the few remaining commercial buildings constructed during the late 19th to early 20th century in New Haven. Many commercial buildings were built at this time to replace old tenement housing.
The building itself has 4 stories and a basement with approximate dimensions of 48 by 120 feet. It is 3 bays wide with a flat roof. The windows on the side bays are paired while the windows in the middle bay have 3 parts. Unlike the front windows, the side windows are arched. The front façade features cut-stone pilasters and surround with foot scrolls that are supposed to create a classical and dignified air.
The original cornice had been removed and the building now has a pressed-metal cornice and aluminum frames in the entry.
History of Alterations to the Field Building:
1/1/39
“Alter store front”
12/16/41
“Remove Cornice”
10/5/48
“Relocate existing opening to elevator”
7/15/59
“Erect fire escape.”
3/24/61
“Fourth floor: Remove present masonry construction and replace rigger to take out and replace some machinery on this floor”
***This alteration is likely the cause of the odd shape of the 4th floor center window.
5/28/65
“Erect sign ‘S.Z.Field Co’”
11/9/70
“Alter store front and interior alterations”
(From New Haven Building Permits)
The addition to the first floor in the back of the building was constructed between 1913 and 1915 according to the Historic American Building Survey.
According to the Connecticut Historical Commission, the pressed-metal cornice and storefront was also altered in 1965.
Recent Events:
In 2004 the Field Building (and a couple other buildings on Crown Street) was bought by a private development group, College St LLC, owned by David Nyberg. However, after no significant renovations were made to the building (and specifically after some gutting of plumbing and wiring on the second and third floors), preservation groups began to protest the apparent negligence by the developer. In 2010 the Board of Zone Appeals handed management of the building to the Philadelphia based PMC Property Group. They started rehabilitation and renovation of the building in January of 2012 and sought to preserve some of the original elements of the building (namely the windows, wood flooring, beams and brickwork). The Green Well Cafe and the apartments (there are 65, mostly single bedroom) all opened earlier this year.
Researcher
Nafeesa Khan
Date Researched
Entry Created
June 4, 2017 at 8:47 AM EST
Last Updated
December 2, 2017 at 2:36 PM EST by null
Historic Name
Style
Current Use
Era
Neighborhood
OtherTours
Heading down Crown StreetYear Built
1913 according to New Haven Building Permits and Historic American Building Survey (Historian: Kathleen A. Maher, 1990), 1910 according to Connecticut Historical Commission (Historian: Preston Maynard, 1981)
Architect
Brown and VonBeren (New Haven Building Permits, Historic American Building Survey)
Current Tenant
The Green Well Café (1st floor), 2nd through 4th floors are residential apartments.
Roof Types
Structural Conditions
Street Visibilities
Threats
External Conditions
Dimensions
Street Visibilities
Owner
Ownernishp Type
Client
Historic Uses
An image of the Field Building as of September 22nd 2012 (Nafeesa Khan).
A photograph of the Field Building in 1966 (taken from the New Haven Independent). The building was occupied by S.Z. Field Co and Crown Academy of Hair and Beauty at that time.
Photographs of the Field building taken from 2008 to 2010 showing it in its dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 1990 (from the New Haven Independent).
Photographs of the Field building taken from 2008 to 2010 showing it in its dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 1990 (from the New Haven Independent).
Photographs of the Field building taken from 2008 to 2010 showing it in its dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 1990 (from the New Haven Independent).
Photographs of the Field building taken from 2008 to 2010 showing it in its dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 1990 (from the New Haven Independent).
Photographs of the Field building taken from 2008 to 2010 showing it in its dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 1990 (from the New Haven Independent).
Photographs of the Field Building taken during July of 2012 after renovation by the PMC Property Group was completed. One photograph shows the exterior of the building while the other shows an example of the apartments inside.
Photographs of the Field Building taken during July of 2012 after renovation by the PMC Property Group was completed. One photograph shows the exterior of the building while the other shows an example of the apartments inside.
Photograph of 1888 Hopkins Atlas showing that tenement housing existed on this plot of land before it was cleared for commercial use.
Photograph of the 1911 Kelly Atlas showing the empty lot which Samuel Z. Field bought from Charles H. Webb.
Comments
You are not logged in! Please log in to comment.