Tucked along one of Elizabeth’s most storied corridors, the Dix Building at 208–210 Broad Street stands as a quiet witness to the city’s vibrant commercial past. Though now only three stories tall, its history once soared to six—mirroring the energy and ambition of late 19th-century Elizabeth.

The first known reference to the Dix Building appears in city directories from 1895, a time when Broad Street buzzed with industrial and retail expansion. Early photographs and architectural records suggest the building was a six-story structure with a stone façade, arched windows, and intricate moldings—hallmarks of the period’s commercial architecture.

In its early years, the building hosted Elizabeth Clothiers, a retail store owned by William B. Daland. The upper floors became home to professional offices and even the Union Business College, reflecting the building’s multi-use function during an era of rapid economic and population growth.

By 1904, Leo H. Schwed, a prominent local clothier, relocated his business to the site. Eventually, he purchased the building outright and renamed it the Schwed Building—a name that may still ring familiar for longtime residents. These transitions reflect the dynamic nature of Elizabeth’s business district and the immigrant families who helped shape it.

One of the enduring mysteries surrounding the Dix Building is its transformation from six stories to three. Though the exact date is unknown, it’s believed to have occurred sometime between the 1920s and 1940s, perhaps as a result of structural changes or modernization efforts. Today, the building is home to two ground-floor storefronts and five residential units across its remaining three stories.

Our knowledge of the Dix Building’s evolution is thanks in part to Arnold Christian Samuelsen, a lifelong Elizabeth resident and local historian. Samuelsen documented its significance in his research, noting the building’s first appearance in local directories and its role in the city’s retail history.

Though altered in height, the Dix Building remains an architectural and historical landmark—a physical link between the Elizabeth of today and the bustling, industrious city it was becoming in the late 1800s.