The Stamford Historical Society

PHOTO ARCHIVIST’S SELECTION OF THE MONTH: JUNE 2007

Brownstones on Bell Street Brownstones on Bell Street, aerial view

BROWNSTONES ON BELL STREET

When downtown Stamford was redeveloped in the late 1960s – meaning, a lot of structures were torn down – The Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission (URC) documented photographically all buildings slated for demolition, as required by law. As a result, there exists a treasure trove of heretofore unpublished photographs. Two years ago, the URC graciously agreed to having those photos scanned and catalogued by The Stamford Historical Society and The Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program. Ron Marcus (SHS) and Colin Skidmore (HNPP) spent almost every Monday for over two years at the URC’s office, scanning and recording. Thanks to their devoted work, and courtesy of The City of Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Redevelopment Commission, the images will be accessible to a larger audience once the still ongoing cataloguing is complete.

Over a period of time we will show groups of the photos by theme on our Photo Selection of the Month pages.

Meanwhile, we were intrigued by the images of four brownstones that stood on the south side of Bell Street, or rather of the architectural details of their urban stoops, photographed by an obvious enthusiast, and we want to share them with our readers now. The descriptions are not yet available, but the photos speak for themselves. (The area where the houses stood is currently part of the parking lot adjacent to St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, both identified as Parcel 1. The parking lot seen above right has been replaced by the Bell Street Garage.)

We welcome information about the history of the brownstones. Please e-mail us at history@stamfordhistory.org, attention Ron Marcus, or call (203) 329-1183.

Excerpt from Map Section 2, Urban Redevelopment Commission, October 23, 1967, red asterisk added. River Street on the left is now Washington Blvd.
Excerpt from Map Section 2, URC Legend of URC maps

The brownstone photos correspond to Properties 2, 3, 4 & 5, Block 13, on the south side of Bell Street.

Note: This series of images stems from contact prints.
Brownstone stoop, Bell Street Brownstone stoop, Bell Street Brownstone stoop, Bell Street

Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail

Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail

Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail

Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail

Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail Brownstone stoop, Bell Street, detail

Images & Maps Courtesy The City of Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Redevelopment Commission

© Stamford Historical Society

Urban Renewal, Downtown Stamford
Home
Photo Collection Information
Selections 2000
Month Title
June 2000 Strand Theatre on Upper Atlantic Street, ca. 1933
July 2000 Union House Hotel, ca. 1870
August 2000 “The Anderson Opera Company,” ca. 1890
September 2000 Dr. Francis J. Rogers, Physicians & Druggist
October 2000 Election 1936: Alfred Noroton Phillips Jr., Wilbur Lucius ”Uncle Toby” Cross
November 2000 Bicycle patrol in Stamford, then and now
December 2000 The railroad
Selections 2001
Month Title
January 2001 First National Bank
February 2001 Stamford's First Oldsmobile and the Mechaley Brothers
March 2001 The Blizzard of 1888
April 2001 Stamford Street Railroad Co.
May 2001 Dr. Jacob Nemoitin (1880-1963), Stamford's healer & humanitarian, painter & poet
Summer 2001 The Old Town Hall and the 1904 Fire
October 2001 Stamford Post Offices
November 2001 Postcards from another age
December 2001 Images from Guide to Nature Magazine, June 1910
Selections 2002
Month Title
January 2002 The E.B. Hoit Company. Grand Central Market in 1913
February 2002 The C.O. Miller Company. Department Store
April 2002 The Hoyt Family Meeting 1866
May 2002 Memorial Day Parade 1919
August 2002 The Children's Home on Hamilton Avenue
September 2002 Public Works Department 1914. Building Roads with the Rock Crusher
October 2002 The Hurricane of '38 and the Floods of '54 an '55
November 2002 Linden Lodge
December 2002 The Maziarek Woodworking Shop
Selections 2003
Month Title
January 2003 The Wardwell Homes on Elm Street
February 2003 The Old Town Hall II  
March 2003 The Portable Typewriter and its Uses, 1913 
June 2003 Wardwell Family Photos
Selections 2004
Month Title
March 2004 Horse Carriages
May 2004 A Woodland Home Made of Packing Boxes
July 2004 Postcards: Fun at the Beach (Shippan Point)
September 2004 One-Room Schoolhouses in Stamford
November 2004 Hoyt Getman & Judd and The St. John Wood-Working Company
Selections 2005
Month Title
January 2005 Ice Harvesting - The Diamond Ice Company
February 2005 Presidents, Past Presidents, Would-be Presidents in Stamford
March 2005 Burleigh Park: The Phillips Estate, c. 1900
May 2005 Dr. Givens' Sanitarium, Stamford Hall
June 2005 Portrait Postcards, Early 20th Century
July 2005 July 4th Celebrations in Stamford
October 2005 Football in Stamford, 1890 to 1942 / Michael Boyle
November 2005 A Veterans Day Special: Soldiers Monument, St. John's Park
December 2005 The Circus Comes to Town, and more…
Selections 2006
Month Title
January 2006 Women's Fashions
February 2006 Grocery & Variety Stores
April 2006 Rezo Waters, Basket Weaver
June 2006 Bands & Orchestras
September 2006 Yachting in Stamford
October 2006 Lockwood and Palmer Department Store
November 2006 The DiPreta Family: Seven Sons in WWII
Selections 2007
Month Title
May 2007 The League of Women Voters and Harold I June, June 26, 1930
June 2007 Brownstones on Bell Street
July 2007 The Nature Studies and Recreations of a Business Man
Selections 2008
Month Title
January 2008 Ladybird Johnson Opens Kiwanis Park, May 16, 1968
February 2008 From Our Postcard Collection: Bridges
April 2008 Baseball in Stamford
May 2008 The C.O. Miller Department Store at 15 Bank Street
June 2008 From Plates, Puddings and Pies to Plants (Gardening in North Stamford 1916)
Home
Photo Collection Information

Valid XHTML 1.0!