42 Riverside Drive

42 Riverside Drive

NB Number: NB 752-97 (Alt. 2823-20)

Type:  Townhouse

Architect:  Buek, Charles and Buek, Charles & Co.

Developer/Owner/Builder: Charles Buek

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Eclectic Renaissance Revival

Primary Facade:   Limestone

Stories: 5

Elements: Five-story limestone town house; curved four-story bay at right and two-story angled bay above entrance; ground level molded round-arched entry with paneled double-leaf doors, set within carved columns and entablature; decorative carving on angled bay spandrel panels and parapet and fourth floor small balcony on curved bay; stylized engaged colonnettes; Art Nouveau type window above angled bay; modillioned copper cornice and ornamented copper parapet; fifth floor round-arched windows and ornamental metal brackets supporting glass screen; molded copper gutters; copper leaders; wrought-iron grilles on ground floor windows and door; decorative wrought-iron areaway fence.

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

Alterations: 1920 fire destroyed original tile roof and two elaborate conically roofed dormers, roof replaced by stucco wall with arched openings and open balcony with ornamental metal brackets supporting glass screen; wood windows replaced with one-over-one aluminum sash windows, some with transoms; grilles at cellar windows replaced; entry lamp added.

History:  Sold to Alan W. Wood on Dec. 12, 1901, and owned by his family until 1906. Wood was a steel tycoon in Pittsburgh who left a $15 million estate at his death in 1905. Inhabited 1906-1938 by Max Brill, founder of a large clothing business. Inhabited 1938-40 by educator, author, and lecturer, Margaret Elizabeth Wells , founder and director of Riverside School 1930-48 and one of the first women to receive a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

References: New York City, Department of Buildings, Manhattan, Plans, Permits and Dockets.
New York Times, Aug. 14, 1905, 7:6;Jan. 20, 1938, 23:5, Aug. 27, 1952, 27:1.