312 West 77th Street

312 West 77th Street

 

Date: 1891-92

NB Number: NB 955-91 (Alt. 1531-59)

Block: 1185

Lot: 81

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  Mott, Charles T.

Developer/Owner/Builder: Edward Pursell

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Francois I and Renaissance Revival

Primary Facade:   Brick, Brownstone, Roman Brick, and rusticated brownstone

Stories: 3 with basement

Elements: As designed, No. 312 was identical to No. 310 West 77th Street.

310 – Three-story rowhouse with basement and mansard roof; rusticated brownstone basement, smooth brownstone ashlar first floor, Roman brick above; splayed Roman brick lintels and curved brick moldings enframe the windows on the second and third floors; one-over-one double-hung wood sash; second-story oriel window with foliate and fruit basket carved base; dentilled string course moldings define the second and third floors; original cornice was a copper table corbel with panelled parapet; elaborate Francois I style ornamented dormer in copper; mansard roof with imbricated slate shingles, copper cresting and stepped ends at party walls; wrought-iron grilles at basement windows.

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

Alterations: Converted to multiple dwelling in 1959. Stoop and door removed and entry relocated to basement; windowless metal door installed at basement; window pane missing at second floor center window; cornice and parapet removed; roof cresting removed and slate shingles replaced with asphalt shingles; facade painted; entry lamps added; metal chain link fence installed at areaway.

History: Originally built as one of a row of thirteen houses (Nos. 308-332; Nos. 314 and 316 were demolished, ca. 1924). Edwin E. Dickerson, president of the Boynton Furnace Co. and private secretary to U.S. Vice-President Wheeler in 1877-81, lived at No. 312 from 1895 to 1919.
William Royal Wilder resided at No. 312 from Nov. 10, 1921, until his death on February 15, 1923. He was a senior partner of the law firm of Wilder, Ewen and Patterson. His wife Mabel remained at this address until 1952.

References: New York City, Department of Building, Manhattan, Plans, Permits and Dockets. New York Times, April 22, 1925, “William Royal Wilder” (obituary), p. 23. Who’s Who, 1918.

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