These three properties sit on the same land parcel, purchased in 1851 and commissioned circa 1855 by Benjamin Broomhead as single family homes. He bought this property with the intention of developing it and selling it for a profit, as was common of property bought at this time in this neighborhood. He promptly sold all three in 1866. The National Register calls the collective cluster the "Broomhead-Alling House." Today, each home is in the Second Empire style, measuring about 2 stories with a wood frame, with a 24' wide by 48' deep footprint and a cut stone foundation.  Mansard roofs were added circa 1865, and a first story commercial front and connecting frame wing was added to 846 State circa 1900.



In 1886, the deed transferred from Broomhead to single owners (850 and 842 to Robert Alling and 846 to Lavinia van Duzer). In the early 1900’s the buildings' respective programs became more varied, hosting a store, a single family, and a tailor shop. By the mid 1900’s they were adapted to hold multiple families (842 hosted three families, while 846 hosted four, and two dwelt in 850. By the mid twentieth century, 842 remained a store, while 846 was divided into three apartments and 850 was split into four plus a tailor shop. Today, the buildings house a hair salon, a tax office and residences in the upper floors.



A Note on Style: 842 and 846 may have originally been built in the Italianate Style but were updated in the 1880s or 1890s to Second Empire, as was common in New Haven at this time. So, while all three properties now have mansard roofs, the entryways of 846 and 850 still have Italianate porticos peeking though their French shell.



842 and 850 both have store front additions that extend from the house towards the street. These additions first appear on the 1924 Sanborn Map but may have been built earlier. The store front on 850 extends to meet its neighbors, forming a continuous line of store frontage that begins at Clark Street. This triad of buildings contributes to the commercial downstairs, residential on top mixed use programming that dominates this section of State Street.



Quick Facts:



Year built: 840 and 846: Between 1851 and 1866 /// 850: Between 1859 and 1866



Architect and/or builder: Real Estate Developer: Benjamin Broomhead



Style: French Second Empire, (842 & 846: Originally Italianate)



Building materials: Asphalt Siding, Wood Frame, Cut Stone Foundation, Post-and-Beam



Program (building function): Housing, Commercial