Exploring Federal Era Rowhouses in the Susan De Vries Collection
The latest addition to our historic image archive, the Susan De Vries — Federal Rowhouses in Lower Manhattan and Architecture Collection Part II, features roughly 350 images taken by Susan De Vries throughout Lower Manhattan in 1995. Susan De Vries is a historian, researcher and photographer who has been active in the preservation field for over two decades, and is currently the photo and research director at Brownstoner. From 1994 to 1999 she worked for Village Preservation (then known as the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation), first as a research associate intern and then as a staff member.
As an intern, De Vries undertook invaluable photo surveys of late 18th and early 19th century architecture of Lower Manhattan. Many of these photographs are of federal-era (ca. 1790-1835) buildings. Federal style buildings are the oldest pervasive building type in New York City. Federal style rowhouses are typically two to three stories and often feature peaked roofs, low stoops and entrance door. They commonly have brick facades laid in a Flemish-bond pattern with simple architectural ornamentation.
The photos in the collection of federal style rowhouses were taken following a request made by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission that the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation conduct a survey of federal era buildings based on a list they provided. Susan De Vries undertook that survey, photographing the buildings that were included on the list and much more. Many of the buildings included in this survey have since been designated as landmarks, either individually or as part of a historic district. Today we will look at some of the buildings included in the collection where such is the case.
57 Sullivan Street
57 Sullivan Street is a federal era rowhouse originally built in 1816-1817 as a speculative development property by Frederick Youman, a carter. The three-bay, wood frame house features Flemish bong brickwork, incised paneled stone lintels, incised entry arch with a keystone and impost blocks, and a low stoop. The house was originally two stories tall with a gabbled attic and dormers. The paneled window lintels at the first and second stories are thought to be among the earliest surviving examples in Manhattan. The arched first-story entrance surround with incised panel decorations, imposts, and keystones is also very early and rare.
57 Sullivan was designated an individual landmark in 2016, following a proposal made by Village Preservation and the NY Landmarks Conservancy in 2002 to landmark13 federal era buildings in Lower Manhattan. 57 Sullivan is also part of the Sullivan Thompson Historic District, a ten block 160-building district that was designated in 2016 following a proposal made by Village Preservation.
4 St. Marks Place
Another one of 13 buildings proposed for landmarks designation in 2002 by Village Preservation and the NY Landmarks Conservancy was 4 St. Marks Place, a federal era rowhouse constructed in 1831 and designated an individual landmark in 2004. The house was built by English born real estate developer Thomas E. Davis, who developed the entire block of St. Marks Place between Second and Third Avenues. The home is notable for its 26-foot width and 3 and half story height. Prominent federal style details on the home include Flemish bond brickwork, high stoop, long parlor-floor windows, Gibbs surround entrance with triple keystone and vermiculated blocks, white marble base with openings also with Gibbs surrounds, molded pediment lintels, peaked roof, and double segmental dormers.
In 1833 Davis sold 4. St Marks Place to Col. Alexander Hamilton, son of the late founding father and first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton would live here for the next nine years with his wife Eliza, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (the elder Alexander Hamilton’s widow), his sister, Eliza Hamilton Holly, and Eliza’s husband Sidney. The landmarked home is often referred to as the Hamilton Holly house in their honor.
127, 129 and 131 MacDougal Street
127, 129 and 131 MacDougal Street were three of the 13 rowhouses proposed for landmark designation by Village Preservation and the NY Landmarks Conservancy in 2002. This row was constructed in 1828-1829 on speculation on lots owned by Alonzo Alwyn Alford, a downtown hat merchant. At the time, the area around Washington Square was being developed into an elite residential enclave, as the potter’s field had been converted to a park in 1826-1828.
Each of the houses stands at 2 and half stories and feature Flemish bond brick work and a gabled roof. The entire row, including adjacent 125 MacDougal Street, were also designated as part as of the South Village Historic District which Village Preservation secured in 2013. Through Village Preservation’s efforts, they were also listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2013.
To see more images like these, check out the Susan De Vries — Federal Rowhouses in Lower Manhattan and Architecture Collection Part II and her two previous image archive collections, the Susan De Vries — Architecture Collection and the Susan De Vries — Federal Rowhouses in Lower Manhattan.