Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Eastern Press 1965-1990

Use (Historic)

• Other: Printing

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Excerpt from HRI: The building was an existing early 20th-century 1-story structure with a traditional storefront facing Orchard Street. The New Haven Redevelopment Agency's plan for the area had a goal of removing non-conforming uses in what was to be solely a residential area; this business was allowed to remain as an exception to the policy because it was a strong local business and employer. The existing structure was wrapped by a new Modernist concrete masonry shell using a scored block pattern that epitomized the Modernist ideal of uniting functionality and decoration. Much as in the Hamilton-East Street industrial area, this material was a popular and economical alternative to traditional brick during the 1960s. Adjacent houses to the south were removed, making way for parking and loading access and allowing the building to be seen clearly from the intersection of Orchard and Goffe Streets.

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

Between 1923 and 1951, 1965, 1974

Architect

Carlin Pozzi & Associates

Builder

Jaybe Construction Company, Inc., Derby, 1965; W. A. Vandeweerd, Northford, 1974

Building Type

• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

n/a

Exterior Material(s)

• Concrete Block

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Structural Steel or Iron

Roof Form

• Flat

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

• Electricity

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

Legal address: 654 Orchard St.
Located at the north corner of Goffe and Orchard Streets.

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 293/ 0324/ 04100 northern blocks / Link →

Acreage

1.16

Use (Present)

n/a

Form Completed By

C. Hitchcock

Date

2010

Bibliography

1. HRI for Eastern Press, 654 Orchard St. 2010. New Haven Preservation Trust.
2. Brown, Elizabeth Mills; New Haven: A Guide to Architecture & Urban Design, Yale U. Press, New Haven, 1976, p.176.
3. New Haven Tax Assessor's Record: Map/Block/Parcel: 293/ 324/ 041, Building Department permit files.
4. 'Eastern Press, Inc.: Renovation and Expansion in an Urban Setting,' Architectural Record, February 1969, pp. 162-3.