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: Yoselevsky and Cramer Building	Historic Name: amer Building
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:41-5	Street: Broadway
Owners:Max Morris Realty 1 Boxwood Lane Norwich, CT	Private
Present Use: Printers, gift shop	Historic Use retail stores, offices
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is accessible	Explain: open during business hours
Style of Building: Richardsonian Romanesque	Construction Date: c. 1894
Materials Brick	Structural System Load Bearing Masonry
Roof
Stories: 5	Dimensions: 50' X 75'
Structural Condition: Good	Exterior Condition: Good
Outbuildings:
Environment: commercial High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings: The Central Building is an important component in the streetscape of lower Broadway. The combïnation of tall buildings and a narrow street creates a canyon-like effect. It relates well to the Wauegan (K-7) and other large-scale buildings on the block

Features: The Building has a facade eight bays wide The first floor features modern brick and glass storefront. The second, third and fourth floors have lintels and sills joined horizontally by rock-face granite belt courses. All upper floor windows have 1-over-1 double-hung sash. The fifth floor has two large, rock-faced granite arches with keystones and label stops. These arches have three windows unnder each. The two central windows have the lintels united and a granite belt course unifies the sills of all eight fifth floor windows. A prominent parapet rises above the fifth floor.

Architect:

Builder:

Importance:

This was the site of the 1841 Central Baptist Church, from which the name of the present building is probably derived. Another Central Building on the same site was destroyed by fire .

The Central Building is a good example of the Richardsonian Romanesque as applied to a commercial building. It lacks the elaborate detail often associated with the Richardsonian Romanesque The use of the belt courses and large rounded arches are characteristic of the style, however. The result is a bold and striking effect.

Sources: Building Evaluation Form c. 1979
Bacon, Leonard Woolsey, Norwich Connecticut, the Rose of New England, New England Magazine, Vol XV, no. 2, Oct., 1896
Common Council Journal 1893-4
Gilman, William C., Norwich Quarter Millenium Norwich, Ct. 1912.
Norwich City Directories.

Evaluations:

Threats None Private