780 State street is the property on the south-west corner of the Eld Street intersection. According to a 1911 permit at the New Haven Department of Buildings, the building is 69 feet tall, 90 feet deep, and 27 feet wide. The State Street frontage features large, floor length windows, while the Eld Street façade reflects a more traditional residential building. These two entrances reflect a separation between the commercial/retail tenant space , isolated to the first two floors from the residential units in the rear and above. The upper floor windows on all of the buildings walls sit on cut stone sills, and feature brick segmental arches. They follow a standard pattern on the Eld Street façade, yet the southern façade windows are scattered in respect to the particularities of a building that stood across a narrow alley for most of 780 State street’s life. This building disappears sometime between its documentation on the 1973 Sanborn map and a Historic Building Inventory in 1982. 780’s roof is flat and made of tin, and features a main cornice with raised brick detailing at the top of the sixth floor. The lot was sold to John B. Wright in January of 1890 from the estate of Richard T. Merwin. The current building had been constructed prior to Wright’s death in 1892, at which point Rachel Wright acquired it from his estate. “The first known occupant of the structure was O. Scott Wright, whose stove, furnace and plumbing business as listed at this address from 1891 through 1905. The 1901 Sanborn map identifies this as a Tin Shop, which operated throughout O. Scott Wright’s ownership, until he sold it to Morris M. Pucklin in 1924. In 1926, the space was leased to the Davis Manufacturing and Sales Company, who manufactured, assembled, and sold musical instruments and accessories. Other uses, as indicated on the title transactions and the Sanborn maps, include “Aircraft Radio Industries” in the late 40s and 50s, and later an upholstery company. It is evident that light industry has dominated the commercial usage of this building, until renovations in the 70s converted the upper floors to loft residential units. A review of the records at the Department of Buildings shows the permits for additions and interior alterations dating as far back as O. Scott Wright’s occupation. The floor plans for the upper floors show a great deal of variance over time, indicating the flexibility of the structure in its uses. The area around 780 has historically been home to similar light industry, although this particular building is one of the taller structures in the area. As New Haven developed and industry was pushed further out along State street, the turn to residential tenants is reflective of a changing neighborhood dynamic, reflected in the similar conversion of other turn of the century buildings in the area. The current owner, Bob Frew, is a prominent property owner in the area, and acquired many of his properties through government auction at great discount in the 1980s. As of 2015, the current tenant is Vacancy Busters, an apartment rental agency for the New Haven area. Quick Facts: Year built: 1892 Architect and/or builder: Foote and Townsend Style: Brick, Queen Anne Building materials: Red Brick, Concrete/Brick Foundation, Tin Roof Program (building function): Ground floor commercial, with residential/commercial space above Building Ownership Transfer/Leasing Timeline January 23, 1890 – Connecticut Savings Bank of New Haven authorizes sale of lot to John B. Wright, mortgaged to Richard L. Merwin December 15, 1892 – Estate of J.B. Wright left to Rachel F. Wright There is uncertainty as to the exact date of construction, however it is estimated that the building was finished in late 1892 and early 1893, around the time that O. Scott Wright appears on the deed records January 20, 1893 – Building sold to O. Scott Wright January 26, 1893 – O. Scott Wright mortgages $8,000 to Rachel F. Wright February 20, 1924 – O. Scott Wright sells the mortgaged share of building to Morris M. Pucklin Isadore Opper purtchases a share of the mortgage April 30, 1926 – Morris M. Pucklin sells his mortgage to the Mortimer Newman Company December 1926 – Mortimer Newman Company signs agreement to a 5 year lease with William M. Davis of Davis Manufacturing and Sales Co. for the purpose of “manufacturing, assembling, sale and disposal of musical instruments and accessories.” July 25, 1928 – O. Scott Wright dies, and his estate is left with New Haven Bank N.B.A 1940s – O. Scott Wright’s ownership stake of the building is split between his daughters Lillian A. Wright and Maude W. Cooley 1948 Tax Assessment 780 State Street valued at $20,000 Rear shed valued at $150 Adjacent 27 x 90 ft. lot valued at $2,565 December 21, 1948 – Mortimer Newman Company sells a mortgaged share to Jack Lubin September 13, 1949 – Lubin leases the second, third, and fourth floors to the Aircraft Radio Industries for a term of three years July 22, 1953 – Mortimer Newman Company sells their interest to Connecticut Housing Corporation, and Lubin’s mortgage is likewise transferred June 3, 1954 – Lubin sells his interest to Johnson Realty, a family company which divides the percentage of ownership into awkward parcels (a few parcels were titled “one sixteenth and three fourths”) 1959 Tax Assessment 780 State Street valued at $26,000 Rear shed valued at $150 Adjacent 27 x 90 ft. lot valued at $2,565 1962 Tax Assessment sees same values Subsequent ownership transactions are not provided in the archives, yet combining this information with records from the Department of Buildings, this is the suspected flow of ownership following this last entry: Mortimer Newman Company Irwin Lehrer Steven and Jack Cohen Al Casanova Robert and Suzanne Frew Data from White Brothers, Clark, Hall, and Peck–Yale Manuscripts and Archives Library Department of Buildings, Sample of Alterations O. Scott Wright 3/23/11 - Brick addition, storage to shop Architect – Foote and Townsend Mason – H. E. Warner Jr. Mortimer Newman Company 8/23/26 - alteration cost $2500 10/4/46 - alteration Irwin Lehrer 6/21/60 - erect belt sign Steven and Jack Cohen 12/13/79 - alter store front and interior alterations Al Casanova 5/6/88 - remodel store front 12/19/88 - recognize existing conversion of rear office Robert Frew 3/06/96- “Alter existing six story structure for dwelling units on floors 3 through 6 Other work in 1995 clearing room for stairwell on 5th floor