Wooden Houses in Manhattan

In 1882, NYC outlawed the building of new wooden houses below 82^nd Street in Manhattan.

But a few survivors remain – 12 in all. 

Four of those are on the Upper East Side, so I decided to go check them out.

 

Not surprisingly, most reside in the 90’s. 

The prettiest one is located the furthest north at 128 East 93^rd Street. It was built in 1866 for artificial limb maker Henry W. Shaw.  Apparently, the inside has been extensively renovated, but the outside remains intact.

These two are at 120 and 122 East 92^nd Street.  They are situated between Park and Lexington Avenues and are built in the Italianate style.

This one at 160 East 92^nd Street was probably built by the same builder – Albro Howell. From 1914- 1942 it was owned by the social activists and founders of The New Republic – Dorothy Payne Whitney and her husband William Dickerman Straight.  They used it to house their staff, as they themselves lived on 94^th and 5^th Avenue.

Located at 412 East 85^th, just off 1^st Avenue, this house is believed to be part of the original Archibald Gracie estate.  It had fallen into disrepair until new owners who bought it in 1996 restored it.

In addition to those beauties on the UES, there are two buildings left in midtown east – 312 & 314 East 53^rd Street to be exact. 

The houses in the 80’s and 90’s are for the most part surrounded by brownstones, so they are pretty much holding their own.  But since these two reside in midtown they are dwarfed by the huge towers that surround them. 

 

Six down, six to go.

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2024 PJ Lehrer