94 Elm St.
ca. 1931 photo courtesy of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society
The Bank of America building at 94 Elm St. was built in 1929 and is a fine example of Georgian Colonial architecture.
Its design complements the Playhouse Theater located directly across the street. The building is set 20 feet back from the street. Before the building was erected, quick work was made of razing the 19th century house that was on the property. It was occupied by the Post Office until 1959, when the National Bank & Trust Company moved into the space.
Ca. photo showing the interior of the Post Office on Elm Street in 1931, including the skylight. Courtesy of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society
The Advertiser reported on May 17, 2007 that the bank held a 100-year lease with J. Elliott Smith, who owned the building until his death in May 1986. In this same article, Laszlo Papp, chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission at the time remarked the “intentions of the forefathers to design the Magic Circle as a park and walk destination” included the setback of this building. Smith’s grandson, Ted Bonner, revealed that the building was originally designed to have a second floor (evident from the I-beams and double layers of brick). Interestingly, an engineering audit done in October 2008 revealed that sky lights to admit natural light and high ceilings to improve air distribution were part of the original 1930s design. Unfortunately, these more environmentally-friendly features were dismantled in favor of an HVAC system and mechanical lighting.
In recent years, Rubicon Seven owner, Tedrow Bonner (J. Elliott Smith’s grandson), has presented the town with some dramatic proposals for the property, including building a 200-car underground garage where the bank parking lot currently exists. Mr. Bonner, hoping to highlight how space can be used in a more sustainable way, organized an independent film festival “Blacktop Film Series” during the summer of 2010 according to the New Canaan Advertiser and had hoped to hold a “town-wide” dance in the street during the summer of 2010. Bank of America opened in its current location on July 1, 2010.
“New Canaan Now & Then” is presented in partnership with the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.