My research took place primarily at Manuscripts and Archives, where I found documentation of the different owners, the mortgages and deeds, the boundaries, who the owners leased the building to, and in some cases, what the use of the space was. 1020 Chapel Street, near the corner of College Street and Chapel, was built by at least 1895 based on archival information, though City Hall dates it to 1900. The upper and lower levels’ glass storefronts demonstrate the function was intended for retail or service, which the lease documents support.



In 1895, three people owned the building. It was divided between them, and each owner leased out his or her space. A certificate of title from Dec. 1897 listed the owners as Clara Oakley, Charles W. Knapp, and Frank H. Whittemore. The bounding land was owned by James M. Townsend, and by land formerly owned by Ariel Parish, by George Rich and Charles Skiff, and Peter R. Carll. I was not sure exactly the intent of the list at the base of the certificate – it seemed to record trustees or mortgages – a portion to Eliza M. Beers for $14,000, to Smith College for $25,000, Charle E. Brown, and taxes of 1896 and 1897. Also, at some point soon after, around 1901, it seems that partial ownership was deeded to Nathan Bronson.



The rest of the documents chronologically listed the leasers or new owners. In 1900, a portion of the building was to be used as a men’s furnishing store. The addresses in the manuscripts include the current neighboring building, but I am not sure if they were part of 1020 Chapel St. originally. In any case, their use reveals the environment of the block. The Store and basement known as 1008 Chapel St. was leased by Israel Kleimer and sons in 1900 as a tailoring establishment. Two other tailoring stores opened in 1012 and 1014 Chapel in 1906.



In 1909, Bronson leased 1016, 1018, and 1020 – now all called 1020, to Horrace F. Chase to be used as a men’s furnishing store. Numbers 1008-1020 were given to the trustee of Union and New Haven Trust Co. by Bronson, who then sold the building to Arthur Rosenburg for $350,000 in 1923. Rosenburg leased the building to White Inc. from 1928-1943 for retail, but only for men’s haberdashery, ready to wear clothes, jewelry, sporting goods and supplies; stipulated was that no boots, shoes, or other footwear by French Shriner be sold.



I also found the dimensions of the property from a survey done by Alexander Cahn Civil Engineer and Suveyor of New Haven in December, 1923. A blueprint showed the property to be a backwards L-shape, with the front facing Chapel Street at 87’-2”, the right side 132’-5”, the top, 18’-6”, the left side 61’-10” the top left 48’-10” and the bottom left side 70’-3.”



I stopped by City Hall, but the address 1020 Chapel Street returned no information. However, looking up close addressed, I discovered the building was actually listed as 1016. This reflects the overall ambiguity of the street address, as seen in the manuscripts and archives information. The information included that the building is a two story commercial space, used for retail, with a flat roof, brick walls, and vinyl/asphalt floors. It has a finished lower level and utility in addition to the first and second floors. The total living area is 8,756 square feet and the current value is $580,462.