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: Silberman's Furniture	Historic Name: Doyle Building; Silberman Building
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:39-41	Street: Main Street
Owners:Silberman's Inc. Noank Ct.	Private
Present Use: Furniture store	Historic Use Furniture store, undertakers
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is accessible	Explain: Open during business hours
Style of Building: Commercial	Construction Date: 1877; c 1927
Materials Brick	Structural System Load Bearing Masonry
Roof Flat Roll Asphalt
Stories: 5	Dimensions: 44 X 55 (Water St.) 42 X 57.5 (
Structural Condition: Good	Exterior Condition: Good
Alterations: facade altered, addition to rear on Water St.
Outbuildings:
Environment: commercial High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings:

This building extends the width of the block, thus fronting both Main and Water Streets. Because of the steep slope between the two streets, the Main St. facade is 5 stories in height, the Water St. Elevation is 7 1/2 stories.

Features:

The storefront of the building is of modern design, with large plate glass display windows. Above this, a sign bearing the name " Silberman's Since 1890" extends across the width of the facade and across the adjacent building to the east. The facade is divided into three bays. The central bay on each of the upper floors has a larger square pane with smaller casement windows next to it. The window openings on either side of the central bay have paired casement windows. Soldier courses of brick form the lintels. Above the fifth floor windows are three panels of checkered brickwork. Another soldier course divides this from a course of staggered bricks. The parapet has a diamond-shaped panel of brick. The rear of the building which faces Water St. has a garage entrance. The first story is faced in yellow brick. The rest of the structure is of red brick with factory casement windows.

Architect:

Builder:

Importance:

John B. Doyle had a furniture store and undertaking business in the Main Street portion of the store. Later, Shea and Burke occupied the building, continuing in the same line of business. They were undoubtedly responsible for the Main St. facade being altered in the early 20th century. In 1926 the present owners purchased this building. Undertaking was discontinued. The furniture business continued, however. Later, the Silberman bought the building to the east and remodeled it, and constructed another building to the west. Historically, the building represents a continuity of use which is rather remarkable. Architecturally, the Main Street facade is retardetaire, a conservatively designed building reminiscent of the 19th century rather than 20th.

Sources:

Assessor's Records, Norwich

Common Council Journal, 1877 (July 2)

Norwich City Directories

Norwich Land Records, Vols. 185 p.46; 184, p. 288, 135; 183 p.414; 93, p.15, 132; 68, p.632; 97 p.475; 69, p.464; 83, p.422.

Norwich Suburban Directory, 1912, C Dewitt, Wite, & Co.

Evaluations:

Threats None Private