101 Manhattan Avenue (aka 51 West 104th Street)

101 Manhattan Avenue

Date: 1890

NB Number: 1122-1889

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  Angell, Edward L.

Developer/Owner/Builder:  Joseph Turner (owner)

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: Manhattan Avenue Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival

Primary Facade:   Brick, Metal, and Stone

Stories: 3 and basement

Historic District: Manhattan Avenue HD

History of 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119 and 121 Manhattan Avenue: These eleven Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival row houses were developed by Joseph Turner and designed by architect Edward L. Angell. Commenced in August 1889, construction of the row was completed in May 1890, at a recorded cost of $10,000 per house. Angell established his architectural practice in New York City by 1886. During his career, Angell worked in various popular styles, designing Queen Anne, Romanesque, neo-Grec, and Renaissance Revival works in mainly Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side. His earliest known commissions were 241-49 Central Park West (1887-88, altered), 340-48 West End Avenue, 262-68 West 77th Street (both 1889-90), and the Hotel Endicott (1890-91), at Columbus Avenue and 82nd Street. All are extant and located in historic districts on the Upper West Side. The dwellings in the historic district were somewhat smaller than the average row house of the late nineteenth century, apparently intended for middle-class occupation. A large number of the tenants had Irish or German backgrounds, though many were U.S. born and had moved here from other states. Occupations included salesmen, real estate brokers, physicians, as well as a janitor, engineer, teacher and bookkeeper. Many of the households employed servants, mainly of Irish descent. In subsequent decades, an increasing number of lodgers and boarders were recorded by census enumerators, and many of the houses were divided into rooming houses following the First World War.

Description of 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119 and 121 Manhattan Avenue: The eleven row houses designed by Angell are varied and picturesque, featuring scalloped Flemish gables, distinctive decorative cornices, double height tripartite bay windows, wide arched entrances, textured stone, and various types of brick. Like the other rows in the Manhattan Avenue Historic District, no house is identical to its neighbor, but specific elements repeat to establish a sense of visual coherence. For instance, many of the houses feature projecting bay windows and rounded arch windows and doorways, and several have continuous brick facades. Each house was originally accessed by way of a conventional stoop, some of which have been removed or replaced. Much of the original ironwork is still in place at areaways, as well as beneath remaining stoops.

Description of Manhattan Avenue facade: Three bays; brick facade above rusticated brownstone basement, first story and conventional stoop; carved band with foliated ornament above water table; alternating smooth stone bands at first story; possibly original door enframent, including glass transom, denticulated transom bar, paneled reveals and paneled wood-and-glass double doors; rectangular sandstone lintels and projecting sills at first and second stories; arched third story fenestration beneath brick relieving arches and projecting brick lintels; four pairs of engaged sandstone columns at third story; scalloped Flemish gable and brick parapet; inset carved panel at gable; ironwork at areaway (newels only) and basement security grilles

Alterations to Manhattan Avenue facade:  stuccoed stoop; non-historic windows and sashes; arched third story fenestration did not historically feature transoms; security grilles at first story; ironwork at areaway except for newels; security gate at stoop; lighting at entryway

Description of West 104th Street facade: Brick facade above rusticated brownstone and brick basement (Manhattan Avenue brownstone facade wraps around slightly at first story); brownstone water table; rectangular sandstone lintels and projecting sills at basement, first and second stories; first story tripartite fenestration featuring Corinthian pilaster mullions; arched third story fenestration beneath sandstone arches and projecting sandstone sills; chimney with stepped brick base projects slightly from facade; molded cornice wraps around chimney and is continuous with Manhattan Avenue facade; one-story brick addition at rear (present in 1940s tax photograph) featuring door with stone lintel, recessed brick panel and stone coping; historic ironwork at areaway (newels and around basement windows only)

Alterations to West 104th Street facade: basement window closest to Manhattan Avenue sealed; non-historic windows and sashes; double-hung, tripartite windows historically featured transoms, arched windows did not; ironwork at areaway except for newels and around basement windows; security fencing at stairs; security grilles at basement and first story