Exploring Manhattan's Murray Hill

by Alfred Pommer, Joyce Pommer

Overview

Since this Manhattan neighborhood was named for the Murray family and their contributions to the American Revolution, many of New York's most illustrious residents have made Murray Hill their home. The mansions of J.P. Morgan Jr. and William Waldorf Astor stood along its streets. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt lived here as newlyweds, as did Admiral Farragut, Commodore Perry and Sinclair Lewis, along with Andy Warhol's famous Factory." Not only homes but also many quintessential New York landmarks are located in this historic district—visit the original Tiffany & Company building, the Civic Club, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a once-famous B. Altman Department Store that is now New York's Science, Industry and Business Library. Experience the striking architecture and discover the stories of Manhattan's Murray Hill."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626190597
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	11/05/2013
Series:	History & Guide
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Alfred Pommer is a licensed New York City Guide who has given tours in Manhattan's diverse neighborhoods for over 20 years. He is a member of the Guides Association of New York and has co-authored two previous books published by The History Press. He is retired from the New York City Parks Department. Joyce Pommer owned an art gallery in New York City, and worked with many local and international artists. She is an abstract mixed media artist, member of ArtTable and the National Collage Society. Joyce attended the Academy of Art, San Francisco, and The Art Institute of Boston.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction 11

Chapter 1 Local History 15

Murray Hill's Boundaries and the Murray Hill Historic District's Boundaries

Story of the Murray Hill Farm (Iclenberg)

Mary Lindley Murray and the British General Howe

How Murray Hill Got Its Name

Robert Murray (the Beulah Affair)

Robert Lindley Murray

Development of the Area after the American Revolution

Chapter 2 Our Tour Begins: Second Avenue, East 35^th Street, East 34^th Street and East 35^th Street Between Third Avenue and Lexington 21

A Provocative Sculpture of Christ

Southeast Corner of East 35^th Street and First Avenue, St. Vartan's Cathedral

Abstract Expressionist Sculpture Raising the Cross

Estonian House (Originally the Civic Club)

Fredrick Norton Goddard

First View of the Empire State Building

Three Buildings that Started as Carriage Houses (Malvina Hoffman)

Charles H. Parkhurst

Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University (Packard Commercial School)

Chapter 3 Entering the Murray Hill Historic District: Lexington Avenue, East 35^th Street, East 36^th Street and East 38^th Street 35

James ED. Lanier Mansion

New York New Church (from 1858)

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt

Admiral David G. Farragut

Admiral Perry

Sniffen Court Historic District

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne

Gutzon Borglum

Chapter 4 Bowdoin Stable to the Townhouse Apartments: East 38^th Street to East 40^th Street Between Third Avenue and Park Avenue 47

George S. Bowdoin Stable (from 1902)

Jonathan W Allen Stable

Gate House

Dashiell Hammett

F. Scott Fitzgerald

J.Q.A. Ward

Delano & Aldrich

Abraham Lincoln's Granddaughter

Townhouse Apartments

Chapter 5 The Murray Hill Hotel to the Scandinavia House: Park Avenue Between East 40^th Street and East 37^th Street 59

Murray Hill Hotel

All-Steel "House of the Modern Age"

Church of Our Savior

Adelaide L. T. Douglas Mansion (Originally from 1911)

Augusta Bliss Reese Townhouse

Site of the Murray Hill Farm House (Plaque)

Union League Club

Scandinavia House

Chapter 6 Millionaires, Suffragettes and Humanity's Hero: East 38^th Street, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and East 37^th Street 73

Site of R.C. Grace Mansion

Site of Theodore A. Havemeyer Mansion

Victoria Woodhull

Mid-Manhattan Library

Lord & Taylor Department Store

Tiffany & Company Building (Originally from 1916)

Stewart & Company Building (from 1914)

Mark Twain

Jan Karski ("Humanity's Hero")

Joseph Raphael De Lamar House (Originally from 1905)

Chapter 7 J.P. Morgan Jr. Mansion to Alexander T. Stewart: East 37^th Street, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and East 34^th Street 85

Isaac Phelps Mansion (from 1852; J.P. Morgan Jr. Mansion from 1904 to 1943)

J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan Library and Annex

J. Hampton Robb Mansion (Originally from 1898)

Thomas B. Clark House (Originally from 1902)

Church of the Incarnation (from 1868)

James and Sara Roosevelt

B. Altman Department Store (Now Science Industry & Business Library Branch of the New York Public Library)

Alexander T. Stewart

Chapter 8 The Astors and the Empire State Building to the Wilbraham Building: Fifth Avenue, West 34^th Street, West 32^nd Street and East 30^th Street 101

Empire State Building

William Backhouse Astor

Caroline Astor

William

Waldorf Astor

Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Kaskel & Kaskel Building

Sinclair Lewis

Alfred Stieglitz (Site of 291 Gallery), 261 Fifth Avenue

Wilbraham

Building

Chapter 9 The Marble Collegiate Church to Andy Warhol: Fifth Avenue, East 29^th Street, Madison Avenue, East 31^st Street, East 32^nd Street, Park Avenue and East 33rd Street 111

Marble Collegiate Church

Church of the Transfiguration ("Little Church Around the Corner")

Emmet Building

Hotel Seville

Hubert Home Club

The Colony Club (from 1905), American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Henry Miller

Madison Avenue Baptist Church Parish House

Remsen Building

Andy Warhol

Chapter 10 Our Tour Ends Expressing a Microcosm of Ideas and Human Goals: East 32^nd Street, Park Avenue South, Park Avenue, East 33^rd Street and East 34th Street 123

Grolier's Club (Originally from 1889)

Schwarzenbach Building (the Silk Center)

Ely Jacques Kahn

Ayn Rand

Triad

Obelisk to Peace

2 Park Avenue

Alexander T. Stewart's Home for Women

Vanderbilt Hotel (Originally from 1912)

Delia Robbia Bar (the Crypt)

3 Park Avenue

Norman Thomas

Subway Station (and Eagles that Disappeared)

Bibliography 133

Index 135

About the Authors 143