Mona Mahadevan photos
Garrett Wiese and Taesha Aurora share their findings with Iskander Guetta, one of the current tenants of 337 Crown.
Notice of demolition posted on 337 Crown.
Iskander Guetta had never taken much notice of the small door in his bedroom at 337 Crown St. — until he and his classmates pried it open and uncovered a fireplace sealed behind the wall.
The four Yale School of Architecture students — Guetta, Taesha Aurora, Garrett Wiese, and Metos Shtaloja — had been researching the 185-year-old house when they came across an early floor plan marking the fireplace’s location. The discovery resulted from their efforts to document the building’s history as Yale prepares to tear it down and construct a multi-story dramatic arts complex.
Last Wednesday evening, Aurora and Wiese presented their findings at 68 Howe St. during a showcase for Professor Elihu Rubin’s seminar, Field Methods in Architectural and Urban Research. Their timeline traces the building’s evolution from its construction in 1840 to its present-day role as a university-owned rental.
“We want to pay tribute to the house,” said Guetta, who lives there with three classmates. A pink letter was posted on their door months ago notifying them about the planned demolition. Though they knew at the time of signing the lease that the building’s days were numbered, Guetta admitted that as the date approaches, he feels “sad to say goodbye.”
According to the group’s research, the house was originally occupied by Theodore Clark Jr., a Hartford bookbinder. From 1849 to 1940, the building was rented by people Wiese described as “widowed women of the Church.”
In 1975, the house was converted into a hair salon, then back into a residence in 1980. Yale purchased the property in 2005 and, according to Aurora, made few renovations over the next two decades.
Although the house is listed on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places and designated a “contributing element” to the Chapel Street Historic District, it is slated for demolition as part of Yale’s effort to consolidate its drama school. To Aurora, the house’s loss reflects a broader shift on Crown Street, which she described as increasingly resembling a “parking lot for Chapel [Street],” particularly as institutional buildings replace residential ones.
Alexandra Daum, Yale’s associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties, said via email that “the site was chosen due to its proximity to the Theater District of New Haven…The site is also close to Yale and New Haven art programs (art museums, NXTHVN, etc.), and it will continue to offer an opportunity for engagement with the community,” including through the Dwight/Edgewood Project and the International Festival of Arts & Ideas.
In addition to tracing the social history of the house, the students have also investigated its materials and architectural quirks. Beyond the hidden fireplace, Guetta has noticed “traces of old wood” throughout the first floor, as well as a padlocked attic closet with a working light.
The backyard, however, remains “a mystery.” With construction approaching, the students are curious to see what else might be unearthed.
Daum stated that “portions of brick from the existing buildings are proposed to be incorporated into a lobby feature wall of the new building, which will be reminiscent of the site history.” Yale has not announced any broader salvage plans, but Aurora and Wiese hope their documentation will contribute to preserving some memory of the house.
Once construction is completed on the new dramatic arts complex, according to Daum, the vacated School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre buildings “will remain in Yale facilities inventory for future use.” Aurora heard that a Yale theater group might move into one of them, but the university has not made any public statements regarding which groups will be housed within the buildings.
337 Crown.
