Downtown Danielson Tour - Town of Killingly

Downtown Danielson Tour
Prepared by
Marilyn Labbe
For the
Killingly Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.
196 Main St.
P. O Box 6000
Danielson, CT 06239

Preface
This document was produced using many sources and there may be errors
in it. We are continually working on the businesses and buildings and new
information may come to light.
If anyone finds an error, we would like to know.
Please write us at:
P. O. Box 6000, Danielson, CT 06239
or call us at 860-779-7250.
A special thank you to Judy LaRoche who put this together for me in Power Point.
Marilyn Labbe
Killingly Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.
March 2009

Westfield Congregational Church
WESTFIELD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Dedicated in 1855;
Renaissance and Italianate style,
George Truesdell, architect-builder. 2 ½
story church with multi-stage steeple
centered on gable-end façade. Matchedboard
exterior, round arched entry and
2nd story windows, paired cornice
brackets. The steeple was blown down in
the 1938 hurricane. The photo of the
Church with a corner of the Dimmock
House shows that the front was different
From what it is today.

Killingly Historical Society
KILLINGLY HISTORICAL SOCIETY – BUGBEE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Built 1902/3 from a bequest of $15,000 left by Edwin Holmes Bugbee. Classical
Revival style, Walter J. Paine, architect, 1 story, hip- roofed buff brick library,
elaborate entry pavilion with recessed arched opening. Classical details include
freestanding columns within arched entry, crossetted entry surround, cornice with egg
and dart molding and dentils, quoins, denticulated window caps, and inspirational
tablets along frieze. Palladian windows on side elevations. Metal cresting along roof.
Interior largely original with oak mantel, columns and cornice. Dedicated 2 June
1903. It was built on land donated by the Westfield Congregational Church and
property purchased from the heirs of Hannah Dimmock.

Southern N. E. Telephone Company Building
Southern N. E. Telephone Company Building, 1942, colonial revival
style, 2 ½ story brick office building with brownstone corners.
Windows have small pane sash, Jack-arch heads, molded brick sills,
keystones, and paneled shutters (1st floor only) Transomed entry.
Two story addition (1960) has similar details, flat roof with parapet.

Brooklyn Savings Bank
Brooklyn Savings Bank – Built by the Brooklyn Savings
Bank in 1929. Colonial Revival style, Norton & Townsend,
architects, 2 story brick bank with elaborate limes-tone and
marble Georgian details, projecting pediment on Tower of
the Winds column, entry with broken scroll pediment,
quoins, keystones in window lintels, and balustrade
between end chimneys. It was succeeded in 1990 by the
Willimantic Savings Institute and then NRG. This spot
housed the D.P. Burlingham store and house.

Ezra Stiles House
Ezra Stiles House built ca 1840, Greek Revival Style, 2 ½ story
clap- boarded house, ridge parallel to street, 5 bay façade,
central entry with pilasters, lintel sidelights, and transom. Corner
pilasters, wide frieze across front of house. Currently Gerardi
Insurance.

Danielson Music Hall (Killingly Town Hall)
Danielson Music Hall (Killingly Town Hall), built 1876 on the site of Parker Comings house,
High Victorian Gothic style, 3 story hip roofed building with pyramidal-roofed tower. Had a
large auditorium which could seat 800 people; 1st floor also housed a store, post office;
2nd floor – First National Bank of Killingly; 3rd floor Armory Hall & 4th Floor Grand Army
Hall. The addition in the rear was added later. Other businesses: Chapman’s Meat Market
in the basement; pool room, hardware store. In 1906 the town purchased the building and
it became the Town Hall.
Remodeled in 1981 and in 2009.

Empty lot across from town hall
On this lot was the grocery store of John &
Simon Waldo who erected a wooden building on
this site in 1851.. in March 1861 they took down
the wooden buildings and erected a brick block
which was completed by Sept. 1861. It was 60
feet on Main St., and 61 feet deep on Academy
St. Later it was the Gallup Bros. Market. Later
Bargain Supply was located here and the
building burned 7 Mar. 1980, along with half the
LaClair building (early Leavens Block).

LaClair Building
The LaCLAIR BUILDING – Vernacular, Constructed 1937 by George A. LaClair, an insurance agent. 2 ½ story brick commercial
building, 2 bay facade, simple raised brick ornament, wooden sunburst design in gable. There were two entrances: one on Main
St. and one on Academy St. The Historic Survey book says that it is possible that the 1937 date represents substantial
remodeling rather than totally new construction. ½ destroyed by fire Mar. 7, 1980. (The original Leavens Block). Occupies the
site of two buildings in the early Borough days. See below.
Leavens block - dry goods store operated by George Leavens erected He bought Mr. Rodericks house on Main St. and
changed the dwelling into a capacious store in 1866 which was known as the Leavens Block. In 1866 and known as the
Leavens Block. In 1887 he added on to the north side of his building. The addition was 15 feet wide and two stories. The store
will extend from Main St. to Academy St. with an entrance from both streets. The new addition will house a drug store, James
& Thomas. In the early 1900’s it was The Boston Dry Goods Company; A. G. Beckley, druggist was there in 1902. F. W.
Woolworth was there in 1921 before it moved to the Attawaugan Hotel Building. Became part of the LaClair block. Burned 7
Mar. 1980 when the Bargain Supply store burned.
Savings Bank Building - built about 1867 on the lot between Mrs. Hyde’s house and Geo. Leavens store. The 1st National
Bank and the Windham County Savings Bank, organized in 1864, will occupy this building. The Windham County Savings
bank conducted business through the early years of the 20th century. Leavens & Ames, tailors, occupied the store in this
building in 1867. E. W. Hayward was located here by 1881. This was the first building of the LaClair block.
Occupants over the years were First National Store, Gerardi’s Super Market, Endicott-Johnson shoes, Patterson’s, The
Hairdresssers, Paul Veilleux Law Offices, M. H. Berthiaume Pharmacy, Anderson Brennan & Reeves Agency.

Dexter Block
W. T. Grant built new store in 1954; later Diskay Dept.
Store, Malloy’s Family Dept. Store.
Was originally the site of the DEXTER BLOCK – Erected in
1881 by Edward Dexter as a furniture store, also home to
E. H. Keach, hardware, plumbing & heating store. Building
was razed in 1954.

Dowe Building
DOWE BUILDING 1927 – Commercial style- 2 story brick commercial
building. Three part windows with cast-stone sills and heads on 2nd
floor. Simple parapet with rounded center portion bearing name and
date tablets. Modern pent roof over store front. Tin ceiling within.
Original use – Stationery store. This building represents a replacement
or substantial reconstruction of an earlier 2 story building on the site
which was built in 1856/7 by Edward Hyde for a business block. Dowe
moved to this store in November 1867. Dowe’s was established in 1847
by Amasa Dowe dealing in watches, jewelry; and his son, Marshall P.
Dowe, had a news & Book room. Several businesses have been located
upstairs including Lague’s Barbershop, and an insurance business.

Franklin Block
Franklin Block – Erected in 1855; known as the Davis Block.
Name changed in 1866 to Franklin Block. The Transcript located there in 1861. W. O. Jacobs Hardware occupied
this building and Benjamin Chapman had his meat market in the basement. In 1908 Walter Dixon’s Keystone
Store was located here and Herman, the tailor, was in the small shop next door which is now Joseph’s Jewelers. In
1915 remodeled in neo-classical style, with four 2 story Tuscan columns across front. Center entry with brokenscroll
pediment, round-arched 2nd floor windows, classical cornice. Modern bay windows on ground floor,
Windham County National Bank, later CBT. About 1964 Alan’s Clothes moved here. An entrance to the building
on the Center St. side gained access to New Eng. Hemstitching co., an insurance co. and the Danielson Travel
Bureau. (Formerly site of Isaac T. Hutchins depot store.)
On Center St. the Orpheum Theatre was located just below what today is the Elks building (known as the Phoenix
building). In the Phoenix was the Majestic theatre on the second floor at the time of the silent movies in the late
1920’s.

Empty lot – ME Parsonage was
located.
Empty lot - where the M. E.
parsonage building was
located. Built in1873. In 1902
- Longo, the fruit man,
opened a fruit store in the
vacant store next to Dowe’s
book store. Pictured in 1908
is Ignazio Longo’s Boston Fruit
Store here in 1908. For more
than 20 years, starting in
1934 it housed Samuel and
Sadie Goodman’s women’s
apparel shop, The Boston
Store, as well as other
businesses. By 1979 only a
vacant lot remained.

The Bradley Building
Danielson Surplus Sales - THE BRADLEY BUILDING –
Renaissance Revival, Built 1903 – 2 story yellow brick
commercial building, bays separated by piers with stone bases,
elaborate capitals, mutulary cornice. Surround for upper floor
entry has quoins and floral molding. Windows have jack-arch
heads, key and impost stones. Tin ceilings within, clothing store,
hall on 2nd floor (1903, 1911, bank 1927, 1939) This building
was built on the site of Danielson’s old Methodist Church. It had
a hall on the upper floor. Housed a men’s clothing store,
Hurlbut’s in 1908; Later the Danielson Trust Co. and Rexall
Pharmacy was there and now the Danielson Surplus Store. The
building has had different names over the years: the Danielson
Trust Co. building, the Berthiaume block ca 1936 and in 1958, it
was known as the Marsha Building.

Woodward’s Drug Store
WOODWARD’S DRUG STORE – Greek Revival style, Built ca 1845, 2
½ story clap-boarded wood frame building on high brick basement.
Gale end facing Main St., full cornice, wide corner boards, 2 step
frieze, rectangular gale window. Storefront built out. Originally
housed the meat market of Benjamin Chapman and from 1868 on it
served as the Drug & Paint store of W. W. Woodward and operated
under that name to mid 1960’s. Since that time it has been the
Donut Kettle, Belade’s restaurant, Andy’s Pizza and others. Upstairs
were a hair-dresser and a barber.

Times Square
TIMES SQUARE – built ca 1857 by Silas Hyde, style Vernacular, 3 story
wood frame commercial building housed Silas Hyde’s Hardware Store,
and then the James Bros. grocery store & perhaps called the James
Block. Later known as Times Square, Flood’s Lounge, Olde Tymes
Restaurant. This building had a social hall on the upper floors. This was
the meeting place in the 1880’s of the Knights of Phythias. An earlier
building on this site was built ca 1845 and used by Pierce & Burdick as a
hardware store. It was bought out by Silas Hyde in 1847, and that
building was moved to Mechanics Street and made into a dwelling in 1857
when he erected the new one.

The Phenix Block
PHENIX BLOCK – Renaissance Revival Style, Built in 1896.
Formerly the site of a business building built by Joel Davison in
the 1840’s, which later housed the Olive Branch Hotel (photo
taken ca. 1860’s).Originally accommodated the First National
Bank of Killingly and The Windham County National Bank; an
organ salesman, and the N. Y. Fruit store & a reading room on
the upper floor. Other stores, Lord’s Shoe store, Henry McEwen’s
Jewelry store, Alan Clothes, A. E. Meech Hardware, Sherwin
Williams Co., Pierre Boulaine Fancy Groceries, and Specialty Fruit
Store. A dentist office was located on the second floor.

Citizens National Bank
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK – Built 1974 - former site of the Exchange Block
(former Arcade) built in 1866 where one wooden and at least two brick
buildings in succession had been burned down. In 1882 A. H. Armington had
a grocery store on the first floor of the Exchange Block. (Next door to the
Exchange Block was the Evergates Building which was rebuilt in 1933, after a
devastating fire, and demolished in 1974 along with the Exchange in order to
erect the new Willimantic Trust Building & parking lot.) The Exchange
Block was known as the Church Block by the 1920’s being owned by the
Church Co. In 1926 W. T. Grant opened here. Now the Citizens National
Bank.
The first Evergates Building was a wooden 2 story block that housed Puritan
Restaurant, The Boston Clothing Store, Danielson Surplus Store and
Pappajion photography studio at the time of the 1933 fire.

Exchange Block
EXCHANGE BLOCK (originally Attawaugan Hotel) – Aylesworth built a 3
story tavern/hotel on this site in the 1840’s in charge of Ellis Buckminster
and called Buckminster’s Hotel which burned in 1854; in 1856 a new hotel
built called the Attawaugan House/Hotel, Colonial Revival Style,
remodeled ca 1930; later known as the Sprague House. Closed in fall
1979. It has also housed the F. W. Woolworth Co. and D. Blumenthal
Hardware.
Re-done in the 1990’s.

Parking lot
Parking lot - where the Shumway Block stood next to the Attawaugan
House, housed the F. A. Shumway & Co. clothing store. The York house
was here by 1848 and run by A. B. Peckham. Later called the Minnetexit
House. The next building is where J. W. Winkelman’s shoe store was
located in 1888. This building was sold by Eli Aylesworth in 1851 to Eratus
Burlingham and various businesses located in it. The small building to the
right was occupied by W. J. Craig, the tailor, who conducted his business
there from 1898 to 1920. Later a lunch cart.

The Former Graham Building
THE FORMER GRAHAM BUILDING – Greek Revival Style – The south part
was built by Henry C. Peckham in 1841 and sold to Daniel E. Hill, a tailor
from Plainfield, who had his tailor shop there. It was rebuilt ca 1850 when
an eagle and shield was placed high up on the end toward the railroad
and inscribed ―Eagle Hall—1850. The north part was added after the Civil
War. Then housed James K. Logee’s bakery, Kennedy’s Restaurant and in
1882 C. E. Woodis Oyster House and Restaurant; Frank Wilson’s
restaurant in 1892; Kennedy’s Restaurant 1902; later a cigar store, fruit
store and then Buster’s Barber Shop, Phil’s Radio, Fillmore’s Clothing
store and upstairs was Pappajion photography studio.

The Danielson Inn
DANIELSON INN - built and known as the Courier/Currier
Building and in the 1850’s was a clothing store; remodeled ca
1857. Many stores were located here over the years.
Tenants occupied the second floor. In 1905 known as the
Central House Hotel. Later called Danielson Inn and
Danielson Restaurant. A French Hip roof was added in the
later 1800’s.
Interior includes tin ceilings, marble fireplace, wainscotted
dining room, elaborately detailed ca 1900 bar.

Samuel P. Davis Building
Samuel P. Davis, photographer, erected this photographic gallery. WCT 5 Dec. 1867,
Something New. A large and beautiful Photographic building, has just been completed and
fitted up in the Best and Neatest City Style, with a large ground Pyramid Skylight, which
style of light is the best in the world. This Gallery is the largest and best in the New
England States. It is 91 feet long, two stories high, with two Gold Cameras on the front. It
is located near the depot, Danielsonville. S. P. Davis. The survey book says: Italianate
style, 1 story keystone plan wood frame building with high brick basement, clap-boarded
façade, Flat roofed monitor along ridge of shallow pitched roof. Elaborate bracketed cornice
with curved parapet in front. When first built, at the top on either side of the door, there
were replicas of the old fashioned cameras. Saloon and restaurant in basement 1884.
Later a Salvage shop, Ordinary Bicycle shop and presently Danielson Adventure Sports
(DAS).

Knight’s Block
KNIGHTS BLOCK – Built
ca 1870 – 2 ½ story wood
frame former dwelling,
gable end to street, with
2 story addition on north
side.
In 1878 the store was
called the Blue Front
Clothing Store. It later
housed the Surprise Dry
Good’s Store, a “Yankee
Notions” shop (1884),
Keystone Cleaners,
People’s Clothing Store,
Adrian Poirier’s barber-
Shop, and then the
Kitchen Witch. The
Hutchins Block was
located next door to it in
1887.

Day Building (Jodoin Building)
DAY BUILDING (same as JODOIN
BUILDING) Vernacular. Both buildings built in
1846 by Luther Day; considered the Exchange
Block of the period. The left building was
originally a business block, accommodating at
various times a newspaper office, furniture
store, harness shop, the A. & P. grocery and
clothing store. The building on the right was a
dwelling, built for rental purposes, until being
converted to commercial use as part of the
Jodoin building. Connected together ca 1925 to
form single ground floor commercial space.
Now the Trinket Shoppe and home of The Last
Green Valley.

Diamond Block
DIAMOND BLOCK – Art-Deco, Built 1932, 1 story commercial block, yellow brick exterior, band
of basket-weave brick, parapet with stepped cast stone fluted pinnacles. Modern pent roof over
6 storefronts. Named for Samuel Diamond, a clothier from Putnam who was a native of Odessa,
Russia. – Sam Florman moved his Keech’s Dept. Store to the new block after it was built.
Charon’s Dept. Store soon moved into one of the stores in the block. Other early tenants were
Philip & Louis Rosen’s department store, a meat market, a bakery, and the grocery store of
Morris Savage. Keech’s was purchased by Gil & Elizabeth Poirier in 1965, houses Gil’s Shoe
Barn.
There were earlier buildings on this site (Hutchins Block) where the business of Palmer C.
Sherman and James E. Keech was located and which was later purchased by Sam Florman in
1927 and called Keech’s Dept. store. Florman purchased the adjacent Goldwater store and
knocked out the partitions to make one store.

Jean Pierre’s Barber Shop
JEAN PIERRE’S BARBER SHOP – Built ca 1845, Vernacular, for J. D.
Bigelow’s Clothing store. 2 ½ story wood frame center part with 2
pilastered bay windows on side elevation; 2 story store on left, added
ca 1880, 1 story addition on right, ca 1880. In 1920 Bernier’s Market
located there. Other uses have been as a shoe store & furniture store
ca 1884,millinery in 1892; confectionery, and then the barbershop of
Jean Pierre Bissonnette

Davis Building
DAVIS BUILDING – Built 1919 – Renaissance Revival, 2 story brick commercial
building, windows have brick jack arches with gray brick keystones and granite sills.
No cornice elaboration, brickwork includes 5 bands of gray brick. Modern pent roof
over storefronts. In 1928 Meyer Goldwater ran a clothing store in the north store.
The building contained two stores. The south store housed the establishment of
James E. Keech that sold clothing and footwear for the family. In 1932 Keech’s Dept.
Store moved to the new Diamond Block. After the devastating fire in 1970 of the
Keystone Block on lower Main St., where George’s Galley is now located, the
Sunshine Card Shop moved it’s business to the Davis Building.

Longo Building
LONGO BUILDING – ca 1924 Commercial Style - The old Longo block, site of
the Longo Fruit Store in 1907, was damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1924. 2
story yellow tapestry brick commercial block, wide 2nd floor window openings,
corbelled cornice, stepped parapet with central tablet, ―LONGO‖ in bronze
letters, cast-stone window sills and parapet coping. One original store front
with brick and stucco paneled pilasters, wood cornice. Tin ceiling within.
Alice Eleanor Shop moved there from the Keystone Block in 1926 and
remained until 1996. Other businesses located there: Morin’s Pharmacy,
Allard’s Pharmacy, Nash’s Fruit store, Cloutier’s Delicatessen and the
Sanctuary.

Cyr Building
CYR BUILDING – Romanesque style, Erected in 1893 by Mrs. Joseph (Valerie
Goyette) Cyr, milliner. 2 story brick commercial block, corbelled cornice,
paneled parapet, pilasters separating bays. Formerly had pediment over 2nd
story bay window. One modern store front, one with ca 1930 pink and black
Carrara glass, and one with original cast iron columns. Valerie Goyette Cyr
started her business in Danielson in 1876 and by 1893 had prospered enough
to erect this large business block, part of which accommodated her shop and
part of which was rented out to the Church clothing store and a shoe store.
Doctor’s offices occupied the upper floor. It has been the home to
Bonneville’s Pharmacy, Puritan’s Clothing, Busy Needle Upholstery, Todd’s
House of Carpets, and many more.

Hajdun Block
HAJDUN BLOCK, FORMERLY HYDE BLOCK – CA 1890 Neo-Classical; 2 story brick commercial
block with rusticated granite trim, denticulated cornice, paneled parapet, pilasters separating
bays. Formerly had pediment over 2nd story bay window. One modern store front, one with
ca 1930 pink and black carrara glass, and one with original cast iron columns. Edwin Ely &
Silas Hyde had occupied a building on the same location which burned in 1876. Another one
built ca 1877. This Hyde Block burned in 1886 and Ca 1890 this one was built. One early
tenant was the firm of Sherman & Keech who leased the middle store in 1892, also the
“Boston Store” clothing shop in 1891. This building originally had a hall on the upper floor and
also for a time housed the public library, prior to construction of the Bugbee Library in 1902/3.
Block sold to Peter and Helen Hajdun in Nov. 1937 and ultimately took their name.
Other stores over the years: The Smart Shoppe, Good Will Stores, Jan’s Boutique, Pulaski
Café.

Evans Block
EVANS BLOCK – Built by Judge Thomas J. Evans in 1878, Italianate style, 2 ½ story brick
commercial block, jerkinhead roof with 4 pedimented dormers, central gable wall dormer
with double round-arched window. Other windows have stone sills, imposts and
keystones and raised-brick dripmolds. Cornice brackets, paired at corners. Modern
storefronts. Was erected on the site of a garden which had probably belonged to the
Danielson Cotton Co. Severely damaged by fire in 1886 but repaired; Stores located in it
over the years: Charles P. Card Groceries & Dry goods, the infamous Rialto Saloon,
Gaspee Clothing House, Longo’s Fruit store, Main St. Package store, Busy Needle
Upholstery, H. & R Block, King & Queen Water Beds, Discount Distributors and now Heart
& Home.

George’s Galley
George’s Galley – Built in 1978
on the site of the Keystone
Block which was built before
1891 that housed a variety of
businesses, including the
Sunshine Card Shop. The
businesses at the time of the
fire 9 Jan.1970 were
Buddy’s Tavern, Ye Old
Washboard self-service
laundry, Bargain Supply Co.
which moved to the site which
originally was Waldo’s Grocery
Store and was burned out
there 7 March 1980.

Old Millinery
House – Greek Revival & Italianate style;2 ½ story, gable end facing
street, clap-boarded exterior, pilastered corners, entry hood on small
scroll brackets, molded 1st floor window cornices, bay window on right.
Originally was the office of Dr. Samuel Hutchins from some time before
1845. In 1853 Hannah Bennett opened a milliners shop there and it
remained a millinery store until 1881 when it became a fish market.
On the left, notice the Keystone Block.