338 West 77th Street
338 West 77th Street
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Date:Â 1896-97
NB Number:Â NB 641-96 (Alt. 684-49)
Type: Â Townhouse
Architect: Â True, Clarence
Developer/Owner/Builder:Â Clarence True
NYC Landmarks Designation:Â Historic District
Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District
National Register Designation:Â N/A
Primary Style: Â Elizabethan Renaissance Revival
Primary Facade: Â Â Brick, Limestone, and Roman Brick
Stories:Â 4
Elements:Â As designed, No. 338 was identical to No. 336 West 77th Street above the ground floor. The ground floor was probably also identical to or a mirror image of No. 336. Tile roofing survives on No. 338.
336 – Four-story town house with three-story bowfront and mansard roof; Roman brick facing with limestone trim; one-over-one wood sash windows with Gibbs surrounds; recessed ground level round-arched entry with single leaf wood door with glass panel and decorative entablature supported by stylized scrolls; ground level round-arched windows and servants’ entrance; decorative parapet at top of bowfront; fourth floor round-arched windows; modillioned metal cornice; two interrupted semicircular pedimented metal dormers with shields and pilasters; stepped, coped party wall with chimneys.
Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD
Alterations:Â Original stoop removed; original ground level facade altered with new brick veneer; original round-arched sash at fourth floor replaced by paired one-over-one flat-arched sash; storm windows added to dormers; entry lamps added.
History: Built as one of a group of six houses (Nos. 44-46 Riverside Drive and Nos. 334-338 West 77th Street). Sold to Rastus Seneca Ransom on Jan. 6, 1897, and owned by the family until 1948. Rastus Seneca Ransom was a one-time law partner with (later) president Chester Alan Arthur, in the firm of Arthur, Knewals & Ransom. Building converted from “furnished rooms” to apartments in 1949.
References:Â New York City, Department of Buildings, Manhattan, Plans, Permits and Dockets.
New York Times, December 21, 1914, 9:4. Who’s Who, 1911.