HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY BUILDING AND STRUCTURES Norwich Heritage Trust, Inc, P.O.Box 185 Norwich, CT 06360	This Building sponsored by Rose City Renaissance
Building Name: U. S. Recruiters	Historic Name: Thomas Robinson's Bookstore
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:132-136	Street: Main Street
Owners:Max Morris, 171 Boxwood Lane, Norwich CT	Private
Present Use: recruiter's office	Historic Use bookstore
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is accessible	Explain: open during business hours
Style of Building: Federal, 20th century commercial	Construction Date: 1826 remodeled 1970s
Materials Brick	Structural System Load Bearing Masonry
Roof Gable Roll Asphalt
Stories: 3	Dimensions: 25 x 60 with 15 square rear addi
Structural Condition: Good	Exterior Condition: Good
Alterations: new brick facade
Outbuildings:
Environment: commercial High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings:

The building forms part of a continuous street-scape of closely spaced commercial buildings along Main Street.

Features:

The building was completely remodeled a few years ago. No trace of the original facade is visible. Windows have been altered to accept modern sash. The original roof configuration with stepped parapets and paired chimneys remains however.

Architect:

Builder:

Importance:

An early 19th century commercial structure, Robinson's Bookstore is mentioned in Caulkins History of Norwich. The erection of the store, according to Caulkins, marked the end of a building slump following the War of 1812. Robinson a bookseller, also published a map of Norwich in 1833. In the late 19th century, Pliny Brewer a tailor and clothier, occupied the store for over 40 years.

Architecturally, little remains of the original due to extensive renovation of the building. Its only architectural importance is as an element in the street-scape.

Sources:

Building Evaluation Form, 1979.

Assessor's Records, Norwich, 1981

Caulkins History of Norwich, 1874 ed. pp. 350, 546, 566, 581, 643.

Leading Businessmen of Norwich and Vicinity Mercantile Publishing Co. 1890, p. 37.

Norwich City Directories

Norwich Land Records, vol. 40, p. 82.

Read and Nettles, Norwich. Century of Growth, 1978, p. 10, Map 5

Evaluations:

Threats None Private