1902.E2.80.931945: Planning era Downtown Waterbury Historic District

howland hughes building rear facade. unlike front of building, had not been restored of 2011.

by turn of century waterbury producing 48 percent of american brass. strength of city s industries, many of whom building newer , larger facilities anyway, left in position recover 1902 fire destroyed 42 buildings on 3 acres (1.2 ha) downtown, many newer construction in italianate style, such surviving 1854 reynolds block on north main. after flames extinguished, city set restoring itself, giving future district many of distinctive buildings. first, second renaissance revival howland hughes department store building on bank street, opened following year, first such enterprise in waterbury; , architect wilfred e. griggs followed styled elton hotel on west main across green next year , masonic temple further down street in 1912. such large-scale buildings ensured downtown remained city s economic center, @ cost of driving remaining residential use out. residential buildings remained converted institutional use; large apartment blocks 1910 jacobethan hitchock , northrop, 2 buildings next masonic temple shared common elevator tower, built on periphery of downtown.

as had when creating waterbury green, urban renewal program undertaken create new library park @ intersection of grand , meadow streets. old commercial buildings , tenements in area demolished, , streets realigned , straightened create appropriate neighborhood new waterbury union station, opened in 1909. although outside district, 240-foot (73 m) clock tower, modeled on torre del mangia in siena, italy, has since become city s distinguishing landmark owing dominance of skyline.

within future district, american brass, city s largest employer, built renaissance revival headquarters in 1913 @ grand , meadow corner, facing station. complemented georgian revival waterbury city hall east designed cass gilbert , completed in 1917, 5 years after original building @ leavenworth , west main destroyed arsonist. gilbert complemented @ same time chase headquarters building, 1 of city s brassmakers. other large buildings, headquarters of local banks, filled out grand street. these part of conscious attempt, following contemporary city beautiful movement, provide impressive vistas both approaching , leaving commercial center @ exchange place, hub of city s trolley lines.

detail of grillework @ east entrance of citizen s , manufacturer s bank entrance

during world war city s brass mills in constant operation military contracts, first allies , later federal government when united states joined them. afterward, prosperity continued roaring twenties, introducing more significant new buildings city. in styles had been used downtown, georgian revival ymca building on west main, gilbert s 1921 waterbury savings bank next municipal complex, , second renaissance revival waterbury savings bank on north main. henry bacon contributed citizen s , manufacturer s bank on leavenworth street in style, in 1921, , following year third one, palace theater on west main, gave city premier theater many years. later years of decade brought in newer styles baroque revival immaculate conception church, 1928 edifice reflecting progress of waterbury s catholic immigrant communities.

the last significant architectural style downtown, art deco , modernist buildings, came @ end of period, before great depression put halt new private construction. prominent examples of these styles in district 1930 brown building @ corner of east , south main, , 1931 art deco post office on grand street. further down street same year s telephone building, douglas orr, uses modernistic brick detailing on georgian revival design.

exchange place in mid-20th century