The layout of Congress Street was accepted by the City of Hartford on July 9, 1855. It was deeded to the City on November 1, 1855. One to Nine Congress Street was constructed by Nicola Motto in 1891, with an expansion or enlargement in 1900.

Nicola Motto was a successful fruit and confectionary dealer. Proud of the symbol of his prosperity, Motto placed his name in large letters at the top of the building, naming it the Nicola Motto Block. The style is Renaissance Revival in the Flat Iron shape. The Block featured multiple store fronts and was architecturally significant for the curved glass windows in the wood paneled apex facing Barnard Park / South Green.

Beginning in 1893, living and working in the building, Motto ran his "Motto Fruits" business until his death in 1899 or 1900. His sons, John and Joseph, who were clerks in the business, continued to live in the building with their mother, Rose. With John remaining as clerk, Joseph took over the business, operating as "Joseph Motto Fruits" on Maple Avenue.

By 1911, another Motto, Vincent, began clerking at Joseph's store and living in the Congress Street building. In 1913, Joseph changed the name of the business to J.M.M. and Company. Vincent went off to Baltimore Medical College, returning to open his office of Dentistry at 6 Maple Street in 1916. He continued to live with Rose, Joseph and John until approximately 1918. The building took on its first non family tenant in 1917, when William R. Sloan rented a room.

By 1919, only Joseph Motto remained in the building that carries the family name. Other tenants were Anna T. Leroy and Joseph Comodo. In 1920, Joseph Motto and Anna Leroy left, replaced by Edwin Murphy and John Cronin. Abraham B. Gross, M.D. also opened his practice at One Congress Street.

In 1930, One Congress Street was home to the Eric K. Ericson Lodging House, along with Dr. Gross and his nurse, Grace Hubbard. The building continued to house various tenants and small businesses into the 1970s.

Over the years, the building fell into disrepair as the fortunes of the City declined. A bustling restaurant and bar relocated to the suburbs along with many of its patrons. However, in the 1980s, the structure of One Congress Street, along with some four dozen other historic buildings was rehabilitated. Unfortunately, before the interior floors could be restored, the building became one of many casualties of the Colonial Realty debacle and the building again fell into disrepair.

In 1994, Cesar Noble, Bob Young and Dennis O·Connor, principals of the law firm of Noble, Young & O'Connor, P.C., purchased interest in the property and Mr. O'Connor has overseen a massive rehabilitation, both inside and out. A facade grant from the City aided in the cost to bring One Congress Street back to its former glory, providing a focal counterpoint of interest to the City's renovation of South Green / Barnard Park. All of the windows were replaced for energy efficiency and the mechanicals have been replaced or repaired. Architectural details have been brought out of hiding. A new covered entrance welcomes visitors.

Inside, all four floors have been gutted and the original brickwork uncovered. Currently, the building houses Noble, Spector & O'Connor, along with bio-tech incubator BEACON, other small, energetic firms and Bar-Celona, a very popular café and club. Interested parties should contact Dennis O'Connor at (860) 525-9975 for leasing information.