58 State Street

History

Located at the northwest corner of State and Pleasant Streets, 58 State Street is a three-story brick block, with its narrow, three-bay-wide facade facing State Street and its deep, gabled side elevation facing Pleasant Street. The first-floor storefront dates to the late 19th century and rests on the original granite base. It features a cutaway comer entrance, emphasized by two curved brackets which meet at the comer.

The glass-and-panel door is capped by a transom and is flanked by iron columns. On either side are large display windows (one facing Pleasant and two facing State) with semi-circular mullions and circular frames resting on the spandrel formed by the joining of the adjacent arches. Below the display windows, a wooden bulkhead features a raised molding and horizontal panels.

On the facade, the original windows have been replaced by 2/2 sash with sandstone, splayed lintels. A brick modillion course caps the facade. A gabled parapet and large brick chimneys rise from the asphalt gable roof. Historic photographs indicate that the south parapet was altered from a stepped profile to the present gable between 1880 and 1909.

Fenestration on the first floor of the Pleasant Street elevation includes a 2/2 window, a round-arched door, and a six-panel door to the west, capped by a transom with an adjacent column at the corner. The six large 2/2 windows on the second floor are a later alteration. They are without lintels and have simple stone sills. Smaller 2/2 windows with splayed stone lintels punctuate the third floor. Centered in the gable is a semi-elliptical divided fanlight with a scalloped outer edge and a surround of header brick. The rear elevation is lit by a combination of 6/6 and 2/2 windows.

According to a “Reminiscences” article appearing in the Herald in 1883, this building was constructed in 1811, shortly after the great fire. Merchant Arthur Gilman was the first tenant, from 1812 until 1834. Gilman was also the father of architect Arthur Gilman. It appears that this block was owned by Brown at the time of the 1851 map.

John Buntin occupied the store from about 1848 until 1883. Buntin operated a dry goods store. Directory advertisements indicate that he was a dealer in woolen and worsted yarns as well as threads.

In 1890, Abbie Currier was selling fancy goods here. Historic photographs indicate that various alterations were made to the building between 1880 and 1909, including renovations to the corner storefront and the alteration of the parapet from a stepped profile to a gable.

In 1922, Eaton’s Drug Store moved into the building. The drug store was established by Edward W. Eaton at 1 State Street in 1900. The store was purchased by Herbert C. Eggleston in 1944. The store was completely remodeled in June 1953, but was gutted by fire on April 14, 1954. It reopened in June. Irving Fram purchased the business from Herbert Eggleston in 1962. Eaton’s Drug Store remained here until the late 1980s. The storefront housed a bookstore until 2020.