320 Temple

A wonderful 19th century "Frankenstein" house, where two styles merge into a fascinating blend. Part clapboard and part brick, this building has had a storied history over its almost 200 years of existence. Originally a Federal style house, (much like its neighbor, 66 Wall St.,) it has been transformed into the Second Empire style, with its characteristic Mansard roof, pilaster-framed dormer windows, and Victorian portico. 320 Temple was once the home of Jedidiah Morse, "the founder of modern geography," and is currently used as practice rooms for the Yale School of Music.

1820s: Jedidiah Morse

1880s: John S. Beach

1917: Joseph Marshall Flint

1921: Yale College Housing

1958- at least 1968: Yale Alumni House

1980s - at least 1990s: Yale Department of Religious Studies

2000s - present: Yale School of Music

There is not much information available regarding the early history of the site. Many neighboring houses such as 328 Temple St. (built for another Yale alumnus, John Hart Lynde) (5) were built around the same time, implying there was a wider interest in the neighborhood at the time. The site is in close proximity to both the Green and Yale, likely a reason why Jedidiah Morse, both a reverend and a Yale alumnus, chose it as location for his home. 320 Temple is adjacent to a large parking lot for the School of Music.

320 Temple was built c. 1820 for Reverend Jedidiah Morse, known as “the father of American geography” and father of Samuel P. Morse. (2, 12, 13) For the rest of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century, the building was occupied by a variety of tenants, including John C. Beach (11), George L. and Elizabeth Dickerman, (3, 7) and Joseph Marshall Flint. (8) The large-scale renovation of this building that transformed it into the Second Empire Style occurred during this time (c. 1875). In 1921, the building was purchased by Yale University and used as dormitories until 1958.(12, 13) In 1958 (13) the building was renovated for office use. From 1958 – at least 1968, 320 Temple was the site of the Yale Alumni House. (5, 12, 13) From the room assignment plan of the building (visible in the Media section) we see designations for a resident suite for a “management couple” in residence. (6) A 1960 directory lists the contact for the Alumni House as Robert A. Toti, who likely was a permanent resident in the house. (9) These plans are undated, but the existence of assignment plans likely points to a time where rooms are being reassigned in function, such as the establishment of the Alumni House in 1958. The more recent history of the building is less clear in timeline. In 1981, 320 Temple was home to the Yale Religious Studies Department.(13) Anecdotal evidence supports that the building remained part of the Religious Studies Department until the early 21^st century, when it assumed its current use: practice rooms for the Yale School of Music. To make more practice rooms, passageways between rooms were plastered. This building was heavily used by Yale music students during the renovation of Hendrie Hall, but is now largely empty. The building is largely unmaintained, as a trip inside will reveal peeling paint, cracking doorframes, and dusty carpets.

The urban context for this building is almost entirely Yale University buildings, save for the United Church Parish House across the street. Over its history, this landscape has changed dramatically. Upon its construction c. 1820, 320 Temple was in a mostly residential neighborhood as one of many homes lining Temple St. Throughout the entire 19^th century, the Temple St. between Elm St. and Wall St. remained largely residential. (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) In the early 20^th century, Yale began to expand in that area. 320 Temple was purchased by Yale in 1921, and with the construction of Silliman and Timothy Dwight Colleges in the 1930s, the neighborhood became increasingly Yale dominated. (5,12) Now, 320 Temple is in the vicinity of the Slifka Center for Jewish Life (80 Wall St.), the Yale School of Music’s Adams Center (165 Elm), and Yale University Press (302 Temple St.).