FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: A hotel on Main

Friday, 28 May 2010 16:54

A view of the Stratfield Hotel on Main Street, in the northern part of downtown, from the very early 1900s.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: A steak on Bridgeport's Wall Street

Sunday, 16 May 2010 20:34

A 1990 view of Wall Street downtown, from Middle Street, showing the former Pjura’s Restaurant, sometimes also called Pjura’s Steakhouse.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: Early shows at the Bijou Theater

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:49

A scene from the early 1900s of the Bijou Theate on Fairfield Avenue, which now is being restored as part of a revitalization of that part of downtown.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: Skyscraper of its time

Sunday, 02 May 2010 16:53

Hotel Barnum (originally known as Hotel Beach) opened at 140 Fairfield Avenue in 1928.

The Romanesque Revival style building was designed by architects Thomas, Martin & Kilpatrick. It offered a “metropolitan” look of the period, being made of Skindle brick.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: Downtown library building opened in 1925

Saturday, 24 April 2010 08:04

The main Bridgeport Public Library downtown, 925 Broad St., was designed in Classical Revival style by architects Dickson and Palmer. Bridgeport had a library as early as 1828. However it was not until 1881 that a municipal library was organized.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: Main Street building has housed bankers to educators

Sunday, 18 April 2010 18:56

The City Savings Bank Building, 948 Main St., was built in 1912 to house a bank. The Classical Revival structure was designed by architect Warren R. Briggs.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: Barnum’s grandson had it built

Friday, 09 April 2010 16:53

In 1896, C. Barnum Seeley, the grandson of P.T. Barnum, hired architect George Longstaff to design a building at the corner of State and Broad streets.

The grandiose design that Longstaff created for the Court Exchange Building soon caused costs to skyrocket. The granite columns were built to rise up at the entranceway, topped by statues of lions. The large top floor became the headquarters for the Algonquin Club.

FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: A Queen Anne landmark

Friday, 12 March 2010 18:23

The Barnum/Thompson and Staples Building at 177-189 State St. opened in 1892 and was designed by architect George Longstaff. It was the last building contracted by P.T. Barnum before his death in 1891. In 1901, the Buckingham, Brewer and Platt Co, occupied the top floor.

For many years, the second floor was used as the billiard room for the Algonquin Club, which had its headquarters next door in the Court Exchange Building.

FROM THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS: Burroughs goes from a home to a community center

Thursday, 25 February 2010 22:14

The Burroughs Home opened in 1904 as a place for single Protestant women, many of whom worked in local factories. Rooms originally rented for $1.50 a month. The building then was used as a senior living facility for women.

FROM THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS: Corner of Elm and Main

Friday, 19 February 2010 16:52

Corbit’s Studio was a downtown landmark for years, taking portraits and other photographs of many thousands of Bridgeport residents through the decades. It was run by Lew Corbit Sr. and Jr. and then staff members.

The second-floor establishment had a street-level display case full of photos.