Lost Hartford: Phoenix Bank (II) (1874)

• Period in Existence: 1874 to 1905
• Architect: George Keller
• Location: 303 (later 803) Main Street, opposite the Old State House

In 1873-1874, the Phoenix National Bank of Hartford replaced its original Main Street building of 1817 with a new structure at the same site. The stone phoenix from atop the previous building retained its place on the new one and the two lions, which had sat atop that earlier building’s side wings, were now brought down to street level, facing the Old State House. The new building was designed by George Keller, the architect of Hartford’s Soldiers and Sailors Arch and many other buildings in the city. As explained in a history of the bank:

The original sum appropriated for the second building was $100,000, but original appropriations are not always sufficient. James G. Batterson, who also built some of the best known structures in New York and the Connecticut Capitol, was the builder. During the period of construction the bank had its offices in the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company’s building.

Charles W. Burpee, First Century of the Phoenix National Bank of Hartford (1914), p. 97

In 1873, the Hartford Courant described the marble building soon to be under construction:

The plan of the building wad made chiefly with a view to meet the growing requirements of the bank, and with reference to future improvement of the property, which extends eighty feet in the rear, and is owned by the company. The building is divided by a wide central hall, passing through and communicating directly with the rear, so that it may be extended at any time to connect with future additions. The hall enlarges at the lower end to a commodious, brightly lighted staircase, twenty feet square, which extends through the upper stories and gives easy access to the rooms above. Adjoining the staircase provision is made for an elevator.

[. . .]

The exterior Is designed in the Neo Grec style—or to speak plainer, the style in which the principal modern buildings of Paris have been designed. It depends for effect more on a proper management and a correct use of material, than on a useless profusion of columns, capitals and other architectural properties. The entrance is approached by a short flight of granite steps and is boldly projected from the face of the building[.]

“The Phoenix Bank Building. The Old and the New” (Hartford Courant, May 24, 1873)

When the building was completed near the end of the following year, the Courant reported:

The basement is of grey Westerly granite, treated in a simple, quiet manner, and opposed to the brilliant white marble of the stories above. A porch leading to the principal story projects boldly from the face of the building, on each side of which are polished columns of Maine granite, with elegantly carved caps, supporting a pediment overhead. A polished granite gilt-lettered sign is inserted in the center, resting on these columns, and a spirited head of Mercury, carved by [Carl] Conrads, the sculptor, starts from the panel of the pediment. An important and striking feature of the front is the large plate glass windows, effectively grouped and designed so as to secure the largest amount of light to the interior. The dormer windows above the cornice, on each side of the central projection, that extends above the roof, give variety to the sky line, and the whole design culminates beautifully and appropriately in a boldly carved marble phoenix, the time-honored emblem of the Phoenix bank.

“The Phoenix Bank. A Fine Building for Banking and Other Business.” (Hartford Courant, December 4, 1874)

Moving on to the interior, the author admires the abundance of light provided by the plate glass windows and describes the interior decoration:

The questionable outlay of money usually bestowed on plaster enrichments of cornices, etc., has been studiously avoided, and the money thus saved has been devoted to color and to appropriate graphic decorations in outline, the plaster serving as a foundation for the color and not to simulate constructive contrivances as in customary “stucco” abominations. The ceilings and wall surfaces were purposely arranged to receive the color decorations, which are elegant and artistic in a high degree and show a mastery of conventional design and a refinement of color that are unusual. It is Greek in feeling though eclectic in character.

“The Phoenix Bank. A Fine Building for Banking and Other Business.” (Hartford Courant, December 4, 1874)

The Phoenix Bank would enlarge and completely remodel its 1874 building in 1905-1906, resulting in what was effectively a new building [Phoenix Bank (III)]. This would be followed by a fourth and final version that was demolished in 1964 to make way for the Hartford National Bank Building at 777 Main Street.

Location today: