With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
15 Water Street, Groton
- The Emporium
- Paul Lowell White
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Location of Paul Lowell White's studio and Emporium.
- Description of Significance/Historical Narrative
- Research done by the Mystic Museum of Art suggests that the building was erected in 1859, by Isaac Randall, a successful businessman. He owned several properties in the Mystic area, and operated the Reliance Machine Company, a cotton gin manufacturer located in what is now Factory Square. The alleyway adjacent to 15 Water Street was also part of Randall’s property and served as a channel to load cotton gins onto ships destined for the South. The building was an adjunct to Randall’s mercantile endeavors, serving as a general store and post office early into the 20th century and a hub of village activity, displaying casualty and Missing in Action lists during the Civil War. In 1965, the building was purchased by Paul Lowell White and Leland (Lee) Howard and transformed into the Emporium store. White and Howard’s successors kept the store open until 2013, after which it was acquired by the Mystic Museum of Art.
- Date of Construction
- 1859
- Historic Designation(s)
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- Local Historic District
- National Register District
- Historic Resource Inventoryfile_download