William and George Gould were prolific builders in Bridgeport who constructed the renouned George Hotel and St. Mary’s By The Sea Church (neither of which remains standing today). The brothers lived in a double house they built at 119–121 Seabright Avenue in Black Rock in 1875. George sold his north half to Hugo Keller in 1901 and William sold his south half to Joseph Smith about 1906.
The Henry Magill House, at 390 Palisado Avenue in Windsor, is a brick French Second Empire style residence, built for Henry Magill, a farmer, in 1861.
The George Hayes House, at 408 Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport, was built in 1874. The house’s striking round bay windows on the front and side (facing Beach Street) were added in the 1890s. The house is currently a triplex.
Dates given for the William H. Barns House, at 17 Granite Street in New London, vary widely, including 1850, 1852, 1865 and 1875. Perhaps the house was built in the 1850s in the Italianate style, with the Second Empire mansard roof being added later. The Colonial Revival front entrance is probably also a later alteration. The house also has unusual flush board walls. William H. Barns, son of Acors Barns, succeeded his father as president of the National Bank of Commerce, serving from 1862 to 1866. He was also involved in the founding of other banks.
At 361 Barnum Avenue in East Bridgeport is a Second Empire-style house, built in 1868 for Claudius R. Hayward, who was a real estate developer and a contractor for the Wheeler & Wilson Company, manufacturers of sewing machines. The house’s architect was Abram Skaats, who designed many houses for the wealthy of Bridgeport in the late 1860s and early 1870s.
The mansard-roofed Second Empire double house at 269-271 Barnum Street in East Bridgeport was originally occupied by John Wessels, a grocer, and Chauncey Morton, a contractor. The house is one of many in East Bridgeport designed by architect Abram Skaats.
The mid-nineteenth century house at 736 Palisado Avenue in Windsor is a good example of the French Second Empire style, including a mansard roof. The exact date of construction (perhaps around 1865?) and the original owner of the house are unknown; the earliest known owner is John Kelley in 1885.
You must be logged in to post a comment.