HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY BUILDING AND STRUCTURES Norwich Heritage Trust, Inc, P.O.Box 185 Norwich, CT 06360	This Building sponsored by Norwich Heritage Trust, Inc.
Building Name: Wauregan Hotel	Historic Name: Wauregan House
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:1-29	Street: Broadway
Owners:Max Morris	Private
Present Use: hotel	Historic Use hotel
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is accessible	Explain: hotel lobby open
Style of Building: Early 20th Century commerical2	Construction Date: 1853-5; 1894
Materials Brick	Structural System Load Bearing Masonry
Roof Flat
Stories: 5	Dimensions: 60 x 90 with addition 30 x 60
Structural Condition: Good	Exterior Condition: Good
Alterations: Storefronts altered, entrance altered
Outbuildings:
Environment: commercial High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings:

The Wauregan is located at the intersection of Main St. and Broadway. The Shannon Bui1ding and the Norwich Savings Society are on two of the opposite corners. The Wauregan is an essential e1ement in the composition of Downtown Norwich's street-scape due to its size and location.

Features:

The Main Street facade has modern storefronts on the first floor. Above these, a wooden cornice with beaded molding remains. At the corner, a cast iron fluted column has been partially covered. The upper floors have segmentally - arched window openings with 2-over- 2 double- hung sash. Hood moldings around the windows have been removed. The central bay of the facade has a Palladian window on each floor. The second floor window is the most elaborate, and once had a balcony, now removed. The Broadway elevation retains fluted wooden pilasters on the first floor, which support the cornice. The entrance has been altered with new brick replacing the original entrance. The upper floors have arched window openings similar to those facing Main Street. Two-over- two double- hung sash is used except for four windows on the second floor which have l-over- l double- hung sash, the upper sash of which is filled with stained glass.

Below these four windows are rectangular penels. Lintels throughout the building have been replaced with concrete rather than the original brownstone. An addition to the Wauregan on Broadway is six stories in height and of the Renaissance Revival style. This has three bays, the central bay being slightly recessed. The storefront has a frieze above it which bears the name of the store, its address, and type of business. Brackets are set below the two projecting bays on eigher side of the central one, providing visual support. The second floor windows are set in quoined surrounds. The central window has a rounded pediment supported by consoles. Three l-over- l double- hung sash have stained glass transoms above. On each side, the smaller windows of the side bays have triangular. pediments also supported by consoles. Paired l-over- l double- hung sash have stained glass transoms. The third, fourth, and fifth floors have a central windows with triple l-over - l double- hung sash and windows to either side with paired sash. These feature splayed lintels with keystones and sills supported by square brackets.

Between the fifth and sixth floors is a concrete belt course with two cartouches set over the projecting bays. The sixth floor has three round-arched windows in a quoined surround. These have l-over- l double- hung sash in each, with semi-circular transoms. Windows on either side are rectangular with quoined surrounds and splayed lintels with keystones. Paired l -over- l double- hung sash with transoms are used. An elaborate metal cornice with dentils, brackets, and modillions is of sheet bronze or copper.

The hotel lobby has pilasters supporting a deeply coved ceiling. An extension to the lobby is two stories high with pilasters with Ionic capitals. The hotel offices on the second floor feature wainscotted dados, coffered ceiling, and large brick fireplaces. A ballroom in the second floor of the addition has elaborate Renaissance detailing.

Architect: Evan Burdick ( l853 - 5), Charles H. Preston ( 1894)

Builder:

Importance:

The Wauregan was built from l853 - 5 by a group of investors. The largest hotel in downtown Norwich, it reflects the importance of Norwich as a rail and steamboat transportation center in the l9th century. Distinguished guests included Abraham Lincoln, who, according to oral tradition of dubious authenticity, stayed in room 5l5. Despite al terations over the years, the basic character of the building remains. The architect, Evan Burdick, was the leading architect of Norwich in the mid - l9 th century. The Wauregan is important as a major work of this local architect. The Clarendon Annex of l894, designed by Charles H. Preston is an excellent example of Denaissance Revival architecture. The elaborate window treatment and other Renaissance detailing is worthy of remark.

Because of the importance of the Wauregan, a description of the building when first opened is appended.

From the Norwich Courier March 3, l855

Description of the Wauregan House

The main story is l3 high. In this story are five stores, a public reading room, l8' 6" x 29', a bar or smoking room, l8 x 29, fitted up with marble wash stands and bowls, the office, l2 x l6. The main entrance hall, l2 x 54, contains a spactious and easy staircase leading from the main floor to the cupola upon the roof. A private entrance hall, 8 6 " x 38, contains a private staircase leading to the 5 th story.

All the foregoing rooms are well finished with double moulded architraves and base, rich centre flowers, and stucco cornices, etc. This story also contains the kitchen, pastry room, pantry, closets, lockers, etc.

The second story is l3 high and contains the dining room, ladies drawing room, parlors, and others. The dining room, 29 x 60, is in the north wing of the building fronting nion Street. At the rear end is a staircase sink room, carving room, and china closet. The ladies drawing room, 2l x 27, is situated on the south-west corner of this story, facing Main, Union, and Shetucket.

The public or gentlemen's parlors are situated between the ladies room and the dining room and front on nion St. They are each l8 x 24 and are connected by folding doors.

There are also two private parlors in this story in the east wing, each l5 x l8. These parlors are all provided with elegant clouded marble mant les and grates of superior design. They, with dining room and halls, are warmed with heated air.

The above rooms are all highly finished with double moulded architraves and base inside folding blinds, richly ornamented centre flowers, and stucco cornïces.

There are also four large chambers on this floor, a large sink room, closets etc. The third story is ll high and is arranged for private parlors, containing all twenty -one rooms exclusive of a bathroom, private closets sinks, and store rooms, hall closets, wardrobes, etc. The parlors have bedrooms attached, fitted with marble wash stands and bowls and with seat coal grates. The fourth story is l0 6 " high and is arranged very much like the third story, having twenty-two rooms in all. The fifth story is l0 6 " high and contains twenty-three bedrooms.

The building is thoroughly fitted with pipes and fixtures for ligh ting with gas. Ample arrangements are made for suppluing the whole house with acqueduct water and also with soft water from the roof by means of three large reservoirs in the attic, holding 700 gallons each. The House is fitted with Jackson s Bell Telegraph and Annunciator so that from the office, instant communication can be had with all parts of the establishment.

The Wauregan House is the finest hotel structure in the Northeast out of Boston.

Sources:

Building Evaluation form

Description of the Wauregan House, Norwich Courier, March 3, l855.

Cohen, Dr. Harry A., Norwich, the Rose of New En land, (

l50 th anniversary of in-corporation )

Caulkins, History of Norwich, l874 ed., p. 645.

Common Council Journal l894 - 5.

Evaluations:

Threats None Private