The house was originally two-and-a-half stories tall, like its once-identical neighbor to the right.
Born in 1798, James Mandeville Vandenbergh, Jr. was listed as a mason in 1819. He was a partner with Isaac Freeman, another mason, with an office at 14 North Moore Street. That year merchant Isaac Jacques purchased several lots in Greenwich Village, then negotiated a deal with Vandenberg and Freeman. The pair purchased several of the plots and erected identical, two-and-a-half story homes for themselves and Jacques. Completed in 1821, Isaac Freeman owned 66 Bedford Street, which he rented, while Vandenbergh owned and moved into 68 Bedford Street.
Like its neighbors, 68 Bedford Street sat above a shallow basement level. The wood-frame structure was faced in red Flemish bond brick and trimmed in brownstone. Two dormers pierced the peaked attic roof.
James M. Vandenbergh would become a prominent builder in Greenwich Village. A bachelor, he lived here until a few years after his marriage to Eliza Ann Ackerman in 1830.
By 1836 Hobart Weekes, a grocer, leased 68 Bedford Street. His store was conveniently just steps away, at the corner of Bedford and Morton Streets. For some reason, Weekes sold the business that year. An advertisement in the Morning Courier & New-York Enquirer offered, "For Sale--the grocery, stock and fixtures...together with the lease for four years from the first of May."
Samuel Delamater Vandenbergh occupied 68 Bedford Street by the early-1850s. An older brother of James, he was born in 1790 and listed his occupation as "turner"--a woodworker who manufactured items like spindles on a lathe. He and his wife, Cornelia Lott, were married on March 15, 1814. The couple had three daughters.
On September 1, 1855, Samuel D. Vandenbergh died at the age of 65. His funeral was held in the parlor on September 5.
Cornelia lived on in the Bedford Street house. It was not, apparently, until 1864 that she took in a boarder, Henry D. Rogers, who was a fish dealer in the Fulton Market. Her boarder in 1866 was Gamaliel R. Christie, a truckman (or delivery driver), and in 1867 it was Charles H. Wright, a clothier on the Bowery. Anna L. Fountain, a teacher in the primary department School No. 16 on West 13th Street who lived here in 1868 was, perhaps, Cornelia Vandenberg's last boarder. As early as 1870, Ignatius and Annie Flynn occupied the house.
Flynn had two disparate occupations. He was a deputy sheriff in the County Courthouse, and owned a saloon at 51 Carmine Street. He was, as well, the president of the Ancient Boon Companions.
It was most likely the Flynns who raised the attic to a full third floor. The architect carefully matched the brick color, without going to the expense of carrying on the more costly Flemish bond brickwork. Pressed metal cornices were installed over the lintels and diminutive brackets under the sills. A handsome Italianate cornice completed the updating.
Before the updating, the house matched 66 Bedford Street, to the right (other than that house's remodeled doorway). The clapboard siding can be seen on the side of the addition. image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.
Ignatius Flynn died at the age of 43 on September 19, 1874. His funeral was held in the house three days later, followed by a requiem mass at St. Joseph's Church.
Somewhat surprisingly, Annie took over the operation of the saloon. As Cornelia Vandenbergh had done, she took in a boarder. The year after Ignatius Flynn's death, teacher Hattie McKinley lived in the house, and the following year William Madden listed his address here. The arrangement seems to have been a conflict of interest, since the saloon owner's boarder was a clerk in the Board of Excise (the state department that controlled liquor licenses). Madden earned a salary of $1,000, equal to about $29,300 in 2024.
Mary Cook, the widow of Sidney Cook, leased 68 Bedford Street by 1882, operating it as a boarding house. A succinct article in The New York Times on March 22, 1884 read, "A fire last night at No. 68 Bedford-street, the residence of Mary E. Cook, did $500 damage to the furniture and about $300 damage to the building." The total damages would amount to about $25,600 by today's conversion.
The working-class status of Mary's tenants was evidenced in an unusual position-wanted ad on December 30, 1889. It read, "Janitor--Mother and son wishes to take charge of flat or apartment house. Address George Miles, 68 Bedford st."
The house was sold in December 1891 to Albert Etzel and Emanuel Kronacher. It continued being leased and operated as a boarding house. Two tenants were looking for work in 1895. An advertisement on June 19 read, "Day's Work--Widow wants work by the day, washing, ironing & housecleaning," and on November 18 another read, "Tailoress--Young lady to do tailor's sewing at home. 68 Bedford st., basement."
Emil Mueller, who worked as a cabinet maker, was first listed here in 1897. By the time of his death at the age of 56 on October 5, 1902, he had Anglicized his surname to Miller.
An interior renovation completed in 1925 resulted in rented rooms. An advertisement on August 9 in The New York Times offered, "Greenwich Village--Charming room, adjoining bath; $25," and another read, "Attractive room, adjoining bath; $35; remodeled house, 68 Bedford st." The rent for the more expensive room would equal about $608 today.
On January 9, 1964, The Villager reported that John J. Repetti had sold 68 Bedford Street. The buyers, said the article, "will occupy it as a one-family house after extensive restoration."
By the turn of the century, Anthony Tarsitano and his wife Deborah owned 68 Bedford Street. The owner of a successful advertising agency, Tarsitano had made a drastic career change in his 50s by turning to filmmaking. In 2008, he wrote and directed Calling It Quits, followed by Ice in 2013 and Lost Cat Corona in 2017.
The following year Stacey Cunningham was appointed the first female president of the New York Stock Exchange. She stepped down in December 2021, and shortly afterward purchased 68 Bedford Street from Tarsitano. Outwardly, little has changed to the house since its updating in the second half of the 19th century.
photographs by the author
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