The Roger Sherman house — New Haven, guided by history.
A New Haven history blog exploring the past of the old Roger Sherman house, at approximately 1032 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Inhabited for millenia by Native Americans, planted by Puritans in 1638, this ground has been home to: a house built by Roger Sherman for his family; the Gaius Fenn Warner mansion, (with double-bow front!) by architect Henry Austin; Carll's Opera House; a radical Republican League club; the Hyperion theatre; a less radical Union League club, (there was bowling!) by architect Richard Williams; a succession of French fine dining restaurants; and much more. While the Roger Sherman house is no longer standing, it continues to stand for New Haven, guided by history.
"The history of these signs begins at the corner of College and Chapel, the city's heart. Here, New Haven thrives. Yale's faux-Gothic buildings share sidewalks with the brand name stores that feed off the University's economic power. The New Haven Green and the locally famous Claire's Corner Copia bustle with activity. At the corner, a name famous not only in New Haven, but around the world, presides over the downtown landscape — Bishop Desmond Tutu."
"A light sculpture of monumental scale, Yvette Mattern’s Night Rainbow, Global Rainbow New Haven utilized high-specification lasers in each of the colors of the visual light spectrum (ROYGBIV) to create a rainbow emanating from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at the summit of East Rock Park, and over the City of New Haven. During the four-night projection from April 24 to April 27, 2013, New Haven residents were drawn from one neighborhood to the next, investigating the changes in the cityscape below, as well as in the form itself. The Rainbow was visible from many locations in and around the City, its form dynamic, changing shape depending on the viewer’s position to the origin point of the lasers."
"The new Roger Sherman Theatre cost approximately $1,280,000 and is of old Spanish mission style architecture. The decorative scheme is in keeping with the old Spanish style, with rude construction, rough cross beams, rough plaster, tinted and outlining marine figures. The outer lobby is of black marble while from the inner lobby is a broad, sweeping stairway to the balcony and mezzanine floor. Behind the balcony is a spacious lounge, covered by a dimly lighted sky blue arch."
"Thomas P. Merwin, then one of the young dry goods merchants of the city, occupying the double store on Chapel street, adjoining the New Haven National bank, was married to Harriett A. Warner, daughter of Gaius F. Warner, the malleable iron manufacturer, by the Rev. William T. Eustis, pastor of that church, who was then one of the most popular preachers in the city. Four children have blessed that union, all of whom are living in this city to congratulate this couple upon fifty years of their happy married life. Mr. and Mrs. Merwin established their home on College street, enlarging the same from time to time as the growing family necessitated, where they still reside."
"The general effect of this decoration will be of two lines of festoons from Phelps hall, which will be the main entrance to the campus during the bi-centennial, extending to Osborn Hall on the south and Battell Chapel on the north. The electrical illumination will be concentrated at Phelps Hall, about 700 electric lights outlining the horizontal and vertical lines of the building. A Union Jack, with 45 stars on a blue background, will surmount the battlements of the building. Across its front will be stretched an emblematic shield, eight by twelve feet in dimensions, its frame work decorated with flags and streamers."
"Mr. Eldridge says the theaters of London and the customs of the people who attend them are far different from those in this country. The exterior of the English theater is much more prepossessing and the structures are among the most beautiful of the cities. Inside the American playhouse presents a better appearance. In addition to the costly decorations the lighting is much better in this country. In England the acting is done in the pit and the ladles and gentlemen in the stalls and the first balcony all have to wear evening clothes."
"The students of today are little different from their fathers and grandfathers of many years ago. Boys will be boys whether they represent the stirring sixties, the elegant eighties, or the trotting twenties, and the annals of the town and gown affairs in the Elm City show that while times and conditions change, the spirit of youth as depicted by the average student goes on as of yore."
"The key was widening the sidewalk at the corner by providing flexible space for a variety of activities like outdoor seating, displays and other retail activity. This was accomplished by narrowing vehicle lanes on the street to 9 1/2 feet while still accommodating parking, and significantly slowing down the traffic. It also created the defacto entrance to Yale from the downtown."
"When I was at Yale, I had a lot of inferiority and insecurity. Growing up meant getting out all those anxieties. You'll find most people who work hard -- make a lot of money -- have a psychological drive that forces them onward and up. I'm no different than anyone else."
"Voted, That the streets in the City of New Haven be named as follows, viz.: The street from Captain Samuel Munson's corner to Thomas Howell, Esq.'s shop, State Street. The street from Cooper's corner to Captain Robert Brown's corner, Church Street. The street from Dixwell's corner to Dunbar's corner, College Street. The street from Tench's corner to Andrus' corner, York Street. The street from Captain Samuel Munson's corner to Tench's corner, Grove Street. The street from Bishop's corner to Darling's corner, Elm Street. The street from Rhode's corner to Mr. Isaac Doolittle's corner, Chapel Street..."
