Clark M. Loomis House (1869)

Built in 1868/1869, the Clark M. Loomis House is an Italianate residence at 535-537 Orange Street in New Haven. Clark Merrick Loomis (1829-1880) was born in Oswego, New York. At age 16 he went to Springfield, Mass., where he worked at carriage-making. He later continued to work in the carriage business in New Haven. He then served in the Sixth Connecticut Regiment in the Civil War. A detailed analysis of Clark M. Loomis appears in The Phrenological Journal and Life Illustrated, Vol. L, No. 2 (February, 1870), which explains that, after the Civil War,

he returned to New Haven, and being desirous of engaging in some mercantile pursuit, he purchased a small music store, which was but the embryo of his present extensive business. Honorable dealing, judicious advertising, combined with the boldest enterprise, have marked his career and been the elements of his success. Although not a practical musician, Mr. Loomis is an ardent lover of “the art divine,” and has neither been sparing of time or expense in efforts to secure its advancement. Several publications of a musical character owe their existence to his munificence, among which is Loomis’ Musical Journal—an able advocate of the highest style of music as an art—and which is fast gaining a high position among periodicals of its class. Perhaps no journal of this kind has done so great and so apparent a work in the improvement of musical taste and sentiment as Loomis’ Musical Journal has accomplished in New Haven.

By Mr. Loomis’ system of conducting business, many families enjoy the refining influences of a first-class musical instrument, who otherwise could not have afforded the luxury. He is deserving of much credit for his able advocacy of the cause of esthetic taste, and admiration for his energetic and business-like qualities.

Loomis founded the Loomis Temple of Music in 1865, after purchasing the store owned by C.E. Dudley. In addition to selling instruments, Loomis published sheet music and, starting in 1867, Loomis’ Musical Journal, which was later expanded to cover a variety of topics and was known as Loomis’ Musical, Masonic, and Ladies’ Fashion Journal.

Eli Dewhurst House (1886)

The house at 409 Noble Avenue in East Bridgeport was built in 1886 for Eli Dewhurst, a retired contractor. The architect was Charles T. Beardsley. According to the Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut (1891), Eli Dewhurst had become proficient in his trade as a spinner, but

he foresaw the future of the sewing-machine business and abandoned his trade to accept a position as screwmaker in the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company. […] As the business increased, instead of working by the day he took the work by contract and had in his employ at times upwards of sixty employes. During his contract of twenty-five years with the company, having commenced saving from his individual hard earnings in youth, with careful investments he had accumulated sufficient in 1881 to retire from active business. Not only did his employers regret to lose his valuable and trustworthy services, but his employés also who had worked for him many years equally regretted the change. […] A few years ago he built two substantial brick blocks on Harriet street, and then selected a commanding site on the corner of Barnum avenue and Noble street, facing on Washington park, where he erected a home under which roof during the summer months he enjoys the results of the labors of youth and early manhood. While not a devotee of society, yet those who enjoy his friendship can testify to the hearty and whole-souled hospitality that is dispensed to the intimates of his household

Paul Robeson House (1903)

The Colonial Revival house at 1221 Enfield Street in Enfield was built in 1903. It is known for its association with Paul Robeson, whose family owned it from 1940 to 1953. At that time, Robeson was at the height of his popularity as a singer and actor, famed for his roles in The Emperor Jones (which was the first feature sound film starring an African American) Show Boat, and Othello. Robeson was also a political activist for civil rights and a communist who suffered ostracism and persecution for his beliefs.

Robinson-Andrews House (1840)

Happy Halloween!!!The Robinson-Andrews House, at 202 Main Street in Durham, stands on a lot that had originally been intended for public use and for support of the ministry. The First Ecclesiastical Society of Durham leased the land to Asahel Strong in 1826 for 999 years (essentially a way of selling it). In 1838, Strong conveyed the land to Henry Robinson, a farmer, who built his house around 1840. The property was sold to Dr. Chauncey Andrews in 1844 and it was later owned by the Tibbals family, who may have made the later Victorian-era additions to the Greek Revival house.