Derby 350 Plaque of the Week features historic downtown hotel

Our Derby 350 History Plaque of the Week brings us back to a time when Derby still had hotels - it has none today.

However, Elizabeth Street next to the Sterling Opera House was the site of the Hotel Clark and its predecessor Bassett House, which was originally the residence of Sheldon Bassett.

Both hotels were the centers of community and social life in town, and the Hotel Clark was also the place where the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club was started.

We want to thank the Rotary Club and Tom D'Addario and Capwood Associates, current owners of the office building on the Elizabeth Street site for purchasing the plaque.

We also want to thank Derby DPW for installing it.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Bassett House, Derby YMCA

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo features the Derby YMCA once located on Elizabeth Street.

The green building on the left with the green shutters is the Derby YMCA.

It was located next to the Bassett House Hotel, which burned down in 1911, so that means the YMCA was also in Derby around that time. Interestingly, it was in this building - previously home to Dr. Ambrose Beardsley - that Beardsley suggested naming "Ansonia" after Anson Phelps.

[First published on this date in 2015.]

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Bassett House, Sterling Opera House in Derby

Turnback Tuesday peeks at two very prominent buildings in Derby.

Pictured here is the Bassett House at the turn of the century.

The Bassett House was converted to a hotel in 1868. The gentleman in front holding his hat is Ira Ford Hoyt who stayed at the Bassett House from 1897 until a fire destroyed it in 1911.

According to the Derby Directories, Ira Ford and his father Ira Mortimer Hoyt conducted business in Derby by leasing the Sterling Opera House from 1897 to 1913, Ira M. being the Lessee and Ira F. being the manager. Both men were from South Norwalk.

The Hoyts were a prominent family with Ira M. having built the Hoyt Theatre which opened in 1892.

Thank you to Norwalk Public Library's Local History Room for their assistance.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!

'Turnback Tuesday' features Bassett House Hotel in Derby

Turnback Tuesday shows a photo of the Bassett House Hotel located at 100 Elizabeth St., Derby, after a fire gutted it in November, 1911. Originally the home of Sheldon Bassett until circa 1870, it opened a few years later. 
A restaurant was on the main floor for local residents and travelers alike to enjoy. 
After the fire, the Hotel Clark was built at this location in 1914.

Thanks go to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!

'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Hotel Clark in downtown Derby

Turnback Tuesday remembers the Hotel Clark that was located near the Sterling Opera House at 100 Elizabeth Street in Derby. 
The Hotel was built on the same site as the former Bassett House which burned down in 1911. 
Hotel Clark opened in 1914 and was named in honor of Charles E. Clark, a prominent citizen in Derby. It was a spacious, three-story brick building which became the leading hotel in the area. Hotel Clark was closed in 1951.


Thanks go to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!