First Baptist Church of Bridgeport (1893)

The First Baptist Church of Bridgeport is a Richardsonian Romanesque structure located at 126 Washington Avenue. Built in 1893, it was the work of architect Joseph W. Northrop. According to Volume I of the History of Bridgeport and Vicinity (1917):

The first Baptist society was organized July 24, 1837, and was composed of six members, namely: Benjamin Wakeman, Raymond Whitney, Roswell Whitney, Bennett Whitney and two others not known. The church was constituted September 20, 1837, with thirty-nine members, eleven of whom were males and twenty-eight females. Rev. Joseph Eaton was the first regular pastor in 1838 and under him the membership increased to 136. Succeeding him the following have served as pastors of the First Baptist Church: Revs. Daniel Harwington, William Smith, William Reid, J. L. Hodge, A. McGregor Hopper, M. H. Pogson, W. V. Garner, C. C. Luther, G. W. Nicholson, and John Richard Brown.

Under Rev. J. L. Hodge a new church was constructed. In 1892 this structure was sold and a new location purchased at the corner of Washington and West avenues, where a stone church was erected and dedicated October 28, 1894. Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith, author of “America” participated in the ceremony. This church was incorporated in 1908.

Joseph Smith House (1904)

The Joseph Smith House, at 100 Ellsworth Street in Black Rock, Bridgeport, represents the transition from the Queen Anne style of architecture to the Colonial Revival style (note the Palladian window in the gable). The house was built in 1904 for Joseph Smith. Born in North Haven in 1851, he brought to Bridgeport by his parents in 1853. According to the History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Vol. II (1917):

[He] was educated in the schools of Bridgeport and in Bryant & Stratton’s Business College. He made his initial step in the business world as a bookkeeper for the Wheeler & Howes Coal Company and later was with the Howes Sewing Machine Company for a short time. He afterward engaged in business with his brother Orland on Water street, selling fish, fruit and vegetables to the wholesale and retail trades. They built up the largest enterprise of the kind in the city at that time and the partnership was continued for a year or two, at the end of which period Joseph Smith purchased the interest of his brother Fairfield and entered into partnership with his brother Jeremiah in general merchandising at the dock in the Black Rock district, selling to crafts and boats. He continued in that line for some time and afterward spent two years with the David Trubee Butter Company, while subsequently he engaged in the butter business on his own account on Water street, where he conducted a wholesale store. He next turned his attention to the sale of wagons, having his establishment where the postoffice is located on John street. He there bought and sold wagons, building up a business of extensive proportions. At length he sold his place on the postoffice site to Gates & Omans and entered their employ in a place on the corner of Broad and John streets, where he continued for a number of years. He then opened business for himself in a carriage repository on John street, where he built up an extensive business in that line. At length he turned his attention to real estate dealing and not only bought and sold much property but also erected a number of residences and remodeled others, converting them into modern habitable dwellings.

Smith converted a number of earlier buildings in Black Rock into residences, including a former barn [no longer extant] on the Hackley Estate (which served as the Auxiliary Black Rock School, 1893-1905), which he moved to Hackley Street, the original Village Shop, the Hamilton House and the W.L. Burr Homestead, among others. The History of Black Rock (1955), compiled by Dr. Ivan O. Justinius, describes the Isaac W. Jones House, at 227 Ellsworth Street, as later becoming the Smith House and being passed to Smith’s daughter, Mrs. J. E. Hurlburt (her first name was Viola). 100 Ellsworth Street is also listed as the residence of Mrs. J. E. Hurlburt in a source from 1929.

Edward K. Nicholson House (1915)

The house at 754 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport was built in 1915 for Edward K. Nicholson. According to the History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Vol. II (1917):

Edward K. Nicholson, a member of the Bridgeport bar since January, 1900, and practicing since 1912 as a partner in the firm of Banks & Nicholson, entered upon his professional career well equipped by a thorough university training for the responsible duties which he assumed. He was born in Essex, Connecticut, in 1872, a son of the Rev. George W. Nicholson, who in 1894 removed with his family to Bridgeport to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist church […]

After acquiring a thorough preliminary education Edward K. Nicholson entered Yale and completed the academic course by graduation with the class of 1896. Four years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In the meantime he took up the study of law and in January, 1900, was admitted to the bar in Fairfield county. He opened an office in Bridgeport and for six months continued alone in practice, at the end of which time he joined Samuel E. Shaw in organizing the firm of Shaw & Nicholson, a relation that was maintained until 1909, after which Mr. Nicholson practiced alone until the present firm of Banks & Nicholson was formed in 1912. In the years of his practice he has been accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage and in the trial of many cases has proven his ability to successfully cope with intricate and involved legal problems. For two years he served as deputy judge of the city court of Bridgeport. In April, 1917, Mr. Nicholson was elected president of the Fairfield County Association for the Mobilization of Resources.

In December, 1900, Mr. Nicholson was married to Miss Mary L. Thomas, of Saratoga Springs, New York, and they have three children, Sylvia T., Edward K. and Miriam E.

Edinburgh Crescent (1889)

Edinburgh Crescent, at 431-449 Washington Avenue in Bridgeport, is a row house block built in 1889. The Richardsonian Romanesque building was constructed by developers Edwin G. Sanford and Mrs. Lucien W. Shephers and was designed by architects Longstaff & Hurd, who also designed the building which is now the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. In the 1990s, the dilapidated Edinburgh Crescent was converted to serve as low income housing.

F. Merton Hammond House (1906)

The house at 850 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport was built in 1906 for F. Merton Hammond, superintendent (and later treasurer and then president) of the Thomas P. Taylor Company. According to an article in the Bridgeport Telegram of Monday, October 3, 1927, the Hammond residence was entered by burglars sometime during the preceding weekend, while the family was away. The burglars gained entry by forcing open a window in the pantry at the rear of the house and stole a quantity of jewelry, which included a diamond ring.