9-15 Middle Street

History

Historic photographs indicate that this three-story brick block was originally one of three identical blocks on Middle Street, with an arcaded first floor and splayed window lintels above. 3-7 Middle Street was altered c. 1880, while the building across the street is no longer extant.

This three-story block is constructed of brick (painted) laid in a Flemish bond. The block actually consists of two separate buildings. The two are capped by a low gable roof with a continuous brick modillion cornice.

The first floor displays a series of eight connected segmental arches. The openings include four entrances set above granite sills and four single-pane display windows cut into the brick wall. The eight bays of windows on the two upper stories are grouped horizontally in sets of four, with sandstone sills and splayed stone lintels.

The original buildings on this section of Middle Street were destroyed in the great fire of 1811. The earliest known occupants of the building were Towle & Jones, silversmiths, who were briefly located at 11 Middle Street about 1851. Samuel H. Safford & Co., cabinet makers and undertakers, were located at 13-15 Middle Street in the 1870s, if not before. A dressmaker named Lucy Lake was at 9 Middle Street in 1855, and this upstairs space was later occupied by a sewing machine merchant and tailor. In the 20th century, this apartment was occupied for many years by members of the Fotos family.

The adjacent building was removed before 1946. Leary’s Lunch, a liquor and restaurant, was operated at 15 Middle Street by Cornelius Leary from the 1930s until the 1960s. The establishment has been known as “The Grog” since the 1970s.