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: Allyn's Bridal Shoppe Inc.	Historic Name: Richards Building
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:87-93	Street: Main Street
Owners:Carl Edward Berkoff, 3 Lathrop Lane, Norwichtown	Private
Present Use: Bridal shop, legal services	Historic Use
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is accessible	Explain: open during business hours
Style of Building: High Victorian Gothic	Construction Date: 1868
Materials Brick Cut Stone - Portland & New Jersey Freestone	Structural System Load Bearing Masonry
Roof Flat Roll Asphalt
Stories: 3	Dimensions: 50 x 60
Structural Condition: Good	Exterior Condition: Good
Alterations: New storefronts, cornice altered.
Outbuildings:
Environment: commercial High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings:

The Richards Building relates well in scale, material, and style to the Rockwell Building on the west. It faces both Main Street and Water Street, being the same depth as the block.

Features:

The Main Street facade has a modern storefront on the first floor. The second floor windows have brownstone lintels and sills connected by belt courses. Pointed arches in brownstone are set above each window. Trefoil designs are carved inside each arch. 4-over-4 window sash is used on both second and third floors. The third floor window openings have three-sided heads with polychrome lintels and brownstone keystones. Lintels and sills are united by belt courses. Corbels support a new brick cornice. The Water Street elevation also has a modern first floor storefront The upper floors have segmentally arched window openings with yellow brick lintels. 6-over-6 double-hung sash is used except where it has been replaced with 1-over-1 sash. The painted sign between the third and forth floors reads, "Hislop, Porteous and Mitchell Dry Goods" There is a plain wooden cornice.

Architect: W. T. Hallett

Builder: Col Henry Peale

Importance:

The Richards Building was constructed from 1868-9 at a cost of about $ 35,000. It was occupied by the First National Bank and the goods store of Hislop, Porteous,and Mitchell, the sign-age of which is still evident on Water Street. The upper floors were intended for offices and a photograph gallery.

A major downtown building, this relates well to neighboring buildings. The style of the building, is unusual in downtown Norwich. The use of polychrome, pointed arches, trefoil ornamentation, belt courses and corbels are all characteristic of the High Victorian Gothic style. A variety of materials are incorporated in the building: a light-colored brick described as Milwaukee brick and Portland and New Jersey Freestone - a type of brownstone or sandstone. Despite alterations and weathering, the building retains considerable evidence of its original character.

Sources:

Norwich Land Records, Vol. 73, p,1; Vol 71, p.421.

"Our City. A Year's Growth and Progress Norwich Weekly Courier, Jan. 7 1869

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

Norwich, The Rose of New England Souvenir Book of Ten Broadcasts, Norwich. The Bulletin, 1930.

O. H. Bailey & Co. City of Norwich Bird's Eye View, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1876

Modern Norwich Publishing Co. Norwich, The Rose of New England.

Crey, Frederick " History of Norwich. Norwich Board of Trade Quarterly, June, 1909.

Evaluations:

Threats None Private