John H. E. Whitney was born in New York City on July 30, 1840. He became an expert engraver but in 1861, as noted decades later by The Printing Art, "the Civil War opening at this time, patriotism took the place of self-interest and we find instead of a wood engraver, a 'Hawkins Zouave.'" Following the conflict, Whitney returned to New York and to engraving, becoming an expert in his craft. Whitney lived in a high-stooped brownstone at 37 East 20th Street. He died there on November 22, 1891.
At the time of his death, Whitney's once-refined residential block was seeing change as commerce inched northward into the neighborhood. Six years later, in July 1897, the Knickerbocker Realty Improvement Company was formed for "the erection of business buildings which are to be constructed and operated by the company," as reported by Building & Architecture in New York. Its first project was the demolition of the former Whitney house and its neighbor at 35 East 20th Street, and the erection of an eight-story loft-and-store building.
Only a month into the firm's existence, its architect George Keister filed plans. Unlike many of the mercantile buildings at the time, which were faced in cast iron, the 50-foot wide structure would be clad in limestone and granite. Prominent cornices marked the entrances that flanked the vast ground floor show window--one to the upper floors and one to the store. The rusticated second floor was distinguished by a frieze of interlocking palmettes and a striking, classical caryatid between the show windows. Bowed balconettes at the fourth floor almost assuredly had stone or iron railings, removed later to accommodate fire escapes. Two-story arcades at the top section featured elaborate Corinthian capitals and foliate keystones. A bracketed cornice completed the design.
A sedate caryatid looks out at 20th Street from the second floor. The two blank spaces on either side of the classical urn in the panel directly below would have held the name of the ground floor store.
The building would have a wide variety of tenants. As construction neared completion in October 1898, The Jay C. Wemple Company leased the store and basement "for a term of five years," according to The Sun. The firm's residency would be far longer.
The Drapery Sketch Book, 1914 (copyright expired)
In 1901, E. Haertel & Co., "retailers of high-class fur garments and furs," as described by Cloaks and Furs in May that year, moved into its "handsome new showrooms" here. Also in the building were H. Curtis, makers of The Curtis Hose Supporter; and the Brooklyn Chair Company. The latter's factory was, as the name suggested, in Brooklyn. Among the "high grade goods" offered in 1903 were "office chairs, dining chairs, bedroom chairs, Mission chairs, slipper chairs, and ladies' desk chairs," as well as "a line of good reed rockers."
This 1903 Curtis ad bordered on racy. Beauty & Health, May 1903 (copyright expired)
Alonzo E. Wemple was secretary of the Jay C. Wemple Company. He and his wife and two daughters lived in a handsome house at 180 West 59th Street. The wealthy window shade manufacturer was a member of the Atlantic Yacht, the New York Athletic and Brooklyn Clubs.
At 4:45 on the afternoon of May 17, 1904, Wemple entered Shanley's restaurant at Broadway and 42nd Street. The New York Sun reported that he "ordered a light luncheon. He told the waiter that he felt ill and asked that a glass of water be brought to him as soon as possible."
The Evening World said, "The music was playing and about him everywhere was life as it is known on Broadway.” The carefree atmosphere was about to darken. The New York Sun reported, "After Mr. Wemple had drunk the water he collapsed in his chair." A physician who was dining a few tables away ordered Wemple taken to an apartment upstairs. He died there a short time later.
The wide variety of tenants continued. Kate E. Tirney ran a purchasing agency in the building at the time of Wemple's unexpected death. In January 1904 she began publishing Shop Talk, a monthly magazine "on feminine attire and the contents of the shops," according to the New-York Tribune on January 31.
The premier issue of Shop Talk. (copyright expired)
Oriental carpet merchants and importers Sjun & Tehelram also operated from 35-37 East 20th Street at the time. In 1904, Hadji Hassonoff, a Turkish-born Brooklynite, brought $250,000 worth of rare rugs into the country and dropped them off with the firm, presumably on consignment. The value would translate to a staggering $8.9 million in 2024.
On April 1, 1905, Sjun & Tehelram went out of business. Upon hearing the news, Hassonoff went to 35-37 East 20th Street two days later to retrieve his rugs. The offices were locked and dark. Then, two days later, he recognized Frederick Comp, the 40-year-old bookkeeper of Sjun & Tehelram, going into the office of carpet broker Charles H. Climper at 10 East 17th Street. He followed him and discovered "two beautiful rugs set out for sale" in Climper's office, according to The New York Times. The newspaper said, "he almost shouted for joy, and he lost no time in claiming them as his own."
Hassonoff found a police officer and returned. He pointed to one, saying, "This one is 500 years old. It is made by hand. It is 16-1/2 feet long and 7 feet wide, and it is worth more than $10,000. This smaller one is worth over $8,000." As Policeman Tyndale took Frederick Comp into custody, Hassonoff grabbed him by the shoulders demanding, "Where are my other rugs, you?"
The cornice survived in 1941. image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.
Comp pleaded that he had not seen his employers in days and that he had he been instructed to sell the two rugs on commission. He and Climper were arrested for selling and receiving stolen property. Whether Hassonoff ever regained his other valuable rugs is unclear.
Around 1906, hospital supply firms began taking space in the building. The first was the Greenpoint Metallic Bed Company, whose Brooklyn factory manufactured "metal bedsteads and furniture; hospital supplies; operating tables; dressing, water and instrument sterilizers; metallic and glass cabinets."
It was soon joined in the building by the Watters Laboratories and the Hospital Supply Co. of New York. Both firms manufactured medical instruments. The latter advertised itself as "The largest manufacturers of Hospital Furniture Sterilizers."
The Post-Graduate, April 1911 (copyright expired)
The building saw an influx of new tenants in 1915. They included the Gutman Novelty Company; Simon Durlacher; Rosenberg & Rosenberg, makers of "novelties and muslin underwear;" Edwin Horrax, "notions and small wares;" and the Apartment House Decorative Co., which leased the fifth floor in April that year.
Jay C. Wemple died in 1917. In its June issue that year, The Upholsterer and Interior Decorator announced that Charles Breneman & Co., had purchased "the business, including the good-will, trade-marks, etc." of Jay C. Wemple & Co.--the first tenant of 35-37 East 20th Street. William T. Haywood, who had been president of Jay C. Wemple & Co., was apparently not offered a position by the new owner. He opened a competing company in the same building. The article noted he "has started in business for himself under the name of William T. Haywood, Inc., with general offices and salesrooms at 35-37 East Twentieth Street, New York."
Hand Book of the Upholstery and Allied Trades, 1921 (copyright expired)
The post-World War I years saw apparel manufacturers in the building. These were not the run-of-the-mill clothing makers, however. The Universal Dolls Outfitters leased the fourth floor in November 1919. The following year, in June, it advertised for, "Experienced crocheters and knitters on infants' and doll's sacques, bootees, etc." The successful applicants (who were required to submit samples of their skills) would work from home making doll clothes.
Similarly, Cupid Knitwear Co., Inc. created knitted outerwear for dolls. The miniature sweaters and coats were sold to toy wholesalers.
Playthings magazine, June 1926
All of the building's tenants would have to find new space in 1947. On January 23 that year, The New York Times reported that the Expert Cloth Sponging Co., had purchased the building. The article noted that the firm would occupy all eight floors.
As the neighborhood changed once again in the third quarter of the 20th century, Hadler Galleries occupied the former Jay C. Wemple & Co. space. The New York Times reported on a one-man show of weaver Lewis Knauss's works on September 30, 1975, for instance.
The gallery's existence was indicative of changes to come. A renovation completed in 1981 resulted in apartments above the ground floor. It was possibly at this time that the cornice was removed. Rather than leave a blank scar, as most owners did at the time, the architects fashioned a parapet. It was a laudable, if wholly unsuccessful, attempt to disguise the architectural loss.
photographs by the author
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