305 George St. is a site to visit on your trip to New Haven!  Built by architect Henry Austin – famous as the architect for City Hall, Dwight Hall, and the archway to the Grove St. Cemetery – 305 George St. was built in 1868 commissioned by philanthropist Joseph Earl Sheffield for the Trinity Church, the Episcopalian church at the center of the New Haven Green.  305 George St. was built as one part of a trio of buildings that made up the Trinity Parish school.  The trio of buildings – from left to right these 301, 303, and 305 George St. – served as a house for aged women, a church, and the rector’s home and parish school.



Sadly, though 305 George St. officially no longer exists and was demolished in the early 20th century, the address can refer to the two building of the trio that remain.  These buildings have a uninterrupted history of religiously affiliated ownership: 301, 303, and 305 George St. began as the a church school, then became a Baptist church, next became a synagogue, and now is owned by the Salvation Army.  More precisely, Trinity Parish Church remained in the three buildings until 1911 when the building was changed to the Italian Baptist Church and the residence of the minister.  In 1923, the buildings became a synagogue for Congregation Tiferesafes Israel.  It remained as such until 1953 when the synagogue maintained ownership of 301 George St. but the Salvation Army obtained ownership of 303 and (the nonexistent) 305 George St.  Finally in 1954, Salvation Army obtained ownership of all three addresses.