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

Friday, 09 April 2010 17:53

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.

The Georgian Revival building still stands today, home to Take Time Cafe, City Lights Gallery and other businesses. In this photo, note the Barnum/Thompson Building on the left, which still exists today, and the church in the background, which has been demolished. Across the street on the right would be the Bridgeport Public Library.

(Text provided by Mark K. Witkowski, who is head of the Bridgeport Public Library’s Bridgeport History Center as well as city historian)