143-145 Avenue D: Banking, Biscuits, Boat Basins, and More
Village Preservation previously conducted extensive research on the history of one particularly peculiar East Village Building, 143-145 Avenue D. This research culminated in a five-part blog series which was eventually used as part of the buildings entry on our East Village Building Block Resource. We were recently reminded of this building’s fascinating history following the launch of our latest Image Archive Collection, Susan De Vries — Federal Rowhouses in Lower Manhattan and Architecture Collection Part II, which features several images of the building from 1995.
Village Preservation first began researching this building after noticing surprising features of a 19th Century house hidden within its facade. These details included Flemish Bond brickwork that was popular in early 19th century Federal style rowhouses, and rarely used after 1838-1840, and several original federal style lintels. A change in pattern in the brick work and the building’s late 19th century style cornice show that the building’s fifth story was added later. After securing tax records for the property, it was revealed the building was originally constructed in 1827 as the Dry Dock Company Banking House, and was originally a four story federal style rowhouse, making it the oldest extant building within Alphabet City. The New York Dry Dock Company played a pivotal role in the development of the area. They constructed their first dry dock, a narrow basin that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform, used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships and boats, at the foot of East 10th Street in 1826. This led the neighborhood to flourish for the next several decades as the Dry Dock District.
By 1848, the Dry Dock Company vacated 143-145 Avenue D, and the building was being used as a facility for Manhattan Steam Laundry. Further research by Village Preservation on the building revealed that in 1870, 143 Avenue D was used as the Strangers Hospital, a facility funded by well-known Philanthropist and Tammany Hall leader John H. Keyser, who established the hospital as a charity to provide care for patients who were unable to pay for their own treatment or who had an unusual disease needing special treatment. The hospital closed by 1874 with the sunsetting of Tammany Hall power and the subsequent bankruptcy of Keyser.
The buildings fifth story was added in 1879 by the Levy Brothers, wholesale clothing dealers. At this time the geometric brick style cornice which is still featured on the building would have been popular. In 1885 the building served as a cigar factory, and in 1888 a cast-iron storefront was added.
By the early 20th century the building was used as part of the F. H. Bennett Biscuit Company Complex. They had also occupied the adjacent building which they constructed in 1927 and is now a designated New York City landmark. The company was purchased by Nabisco in 1931 and continued to operate out of 143 Avenue D until 1957, when they sold the property to investors.
The photos from our latest image archive collection show the building in a somewhat derelict state. Many of the windows are covered with cinder block, and the storefront is empty and covered with graffiti. Both are signs that the building was likely abandoned by the time these photos were taken in 1995.
The building has since gone on to have a second life, with building records indicating that it was converted to residential use in 1999 by a not-for-profit. To date it is still owned by the Lower East Side Housing Development Fund Corporation, who operates the building as affordable housing.
To learn more about this building check out Part I, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 of our previous blog series. You can also check out our East Village Building Blocks Page and entry in A History of the East Village Report and its Architecture prepared by Francis Morrone.