Little remains of the structure's 1827 appearance.
Lewis P. Perego, a mason, lived at 42 MacDougal Street in 1826, the year he began construction of a house next door at 44 MacDougal. Completed in 1827, it was most likely a near match to his own home. Faced in Flemish bond brick, it was originally two-and-a-half stories tall with a peaked, dormered roof.
In 1828, Perego sold 44 MacDougal Street to Charlotte Selby. Born Charlotte Sanxay, she was listed in city directories as "widow of Skeffington Selby." Whether she was stretching the truth is debatable. Skeffington Selby was born in England in 1767 and immigrated to Philadelphia around 1799. If he and Charlotte were married, there are no records that survive. In 1820 he returned to England where he died on March 30, 1821.
Before leaving New York, Selby wrote his will. He left Charlotte several Manhattan properties, referring to her as "Charlotte Sanxay alias Selby (who sometime since resided with me at New York)." The city council added to the mystery in 1822 when, in discussing her property, called her "Charlotte Selby, alias Sanxy" [sic] and in 1823 as "Charlotte Selby or Sanxay." Charlotte also inherited $6,000 in Government stocks (equal to about $167,000 in 2024 terms) and 71 shares in the Globe Insurance Company.
The enigmatic Charlotte Selby remained in the house until around 1832, when it was shared by the families of cabinetmaker Elihu Rose and grocer John P. Haffjun.
The Woodruff family moved in around 1836. Born in New Jersey on October 29, 1802, Amos Thomas Woodruff was a mason. He and Sarah Scudder were married in November 1827 and were the parents of at least 10 children. Around 1840, the family moved to 158 Laurens Street (today's West Broadway) and for several years 44 MacDougal Street was home to Valentine Sillcocks, relatives of the Woodruffs.
The Sillcock family was followed by the Hatfields, here in 1850. Both Samuel and Samson Hatfield were tailors at 164 Broadway. Finally, in 1855, 44 MacDougal Street saw long-term residents.
Apparently widowed, William Moore did not list a profession in 1855, suggesting he was retired. Living with him were his two grown sons, Henry and Elias. The brothers were merchants, both doing business on Canal Street. Henry's drygoods store was at 66 Canal Street. Also living here was Philaretta Tombs, who was presumably William's sister-in-law (she was listed as the aunt of Henry Moore). Philaretta was 87 years old in 1855 when the family moved in.
The Moores placed an advertisement in the New York Herald on October 5, 1859: "Wanted--An active, tidy young girl for kitchen work; must be a plain cook and first rate washer and ironer; none others need apply at 44 Macdougal st."
At the time of the ad, Henry was married and his wife, Harriet, was pregnant. They had a baby girl, Harriet Gertrude, in November 1859. Sadly, she died at the age of one-and-a-half on May 16, 1861. Her funeral was held in the parlor the following afternoon.
Philaretta Tombs lived to be 96 years old. She died on July 16, 1864. Her funeral was held here on July 18.
As his brother had done, when Elias B. Moore married, he brought his bride back to MacDougal Street. Elias and Sarah E. Moore had a son, John W., in November 1870. In a tragic case of déjà vu, he died at the age of one-and-a-half on May 9, 1872.
There would be another Moore funeral in the house two years later. William Moore died at the age of 81 on July 16, 1874.
After William's death, Elias and Sarah Moore left MacDougal street. In 1874, Henry and Harriet took in a boarder, Peter Eckler, a printer/publisher.
The Moores sold the house to Thomas Norton in 1875. In September 1875, he filed plans to raise the attic to a full-third floor and make interior alterations. The renovations cost him the equivalent of $63,000 today. It does not appear that Norton ever lived here. Rather, the enlarged house was operated as a boarding house. Peter Eckler remained through 1877 before moving to Brooklyn. Other white collar residents at the time were Louis Lee, a clerk; and John W. Brittingham, a counsel to the City of New York.
Despite his respectable position in city government, Brittingham seems to have been a bit shady. On December 4, 1878, The New York Times reported, "The DeGreiff-Triacca-Begley conspiracy case was to have been resumed before United States commissioner Shields yesterday morning, to begin the cross-examination of Mr. John W. Brittingham, the principal witness for the Government." But Brittingham did not show up. A week earlier, the trial had to be adjourned for the same reason. That time, said the article, "it was said that he was in Washington" but, "Mr. Brittingham was not absent from the City, but was in his residence at No. 44 Macdougal-street." Calling Brittingham's delays "vexatious," Assistant United States Attorney Butler declared that Brittingham should be formally subpoenaed.
Three years later, Brittingham was not a witness in a government case, but the defendant. He was sued by his brother, John W. Brittingham for the theft of $10,000 and by the city for embezzlement. His trial began in December 1881.
No. 44 MacDougal Street remained a boarding house until around 1886 when the Sharkey family moved in. Patrick D. Sharkey was born in Ireland in 1831 and his wife, Mary Dougherty, was born there in 1832. The couple had nine children.
In 1887, Patrick earned extra money as a "watcher" during the November elections. Poll watchers were hired by candidates to ensure there was no tampering with the election process.
Living with his parents in 1891 was 33-year-old Michael T. Sharkey, who was an attorney. On June 15 that year, he was among the guests of shipping agent John L. Eccles on his 46-f0ot luxury sloop yacht Amelia. The afternoon started out nicely. The New York Times reported, "The pleasure seekers took dinner at Nyack, strolled about the town, and boarded the yacht again about 5 o'clock." But at around 1:00 in the morning, the yacht was struck by a tugboat, "cutting her nearly in two," according to the newspaper. "She sank almost instantly, leaving her passengers struggling in the water."
Sharkey and the other passengers and crew who were on deck at the time survived. But two, Frank Jennings and William Bahn, Jr., had gone below to sleep. They both drowned.
In 1898 Michael Sharkey was elected to the assembly. His successful legal and political career was cut short after he suffered sunstroke in the summer of 1900. On March 20, 1901, the New York Morning Telegraph reported, "Michael T. Sharkey, former Assembly man, was sent to Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum yesterday, having become violently deranged from the effects of a sunstroke which he suffered last Summer. At his home, 44 Macdougal street, his mother and wife said his condition became serious a few days ago, when he was sent to Bellevue for treatment."
In 1906, Dr. James F. Navoni purchased 44 MacDougal Street. He lived and practiced here until 1916, when he purchased a house on Washington Place.
Change came to 44 MacDougal Street in 1920 when owners Peter Nervo and Joseph Balbiani hired architect Frank E. Vitolo to remodel the the ground floor for their P. Nervo, Balbiani & Co. bakery. The renovations cost them $5,000, or about $76,000 today.
Both the Nervo and Balbiani families lived in the upper floors. They brought Vitolo back two years later to remodel the storefront and bring the first floor even with the sidewalk.
Peter Nervo's wife and daughter were active in local politics. On February 21, 1933, the Queens newspaper The Daily Star reported, "William J. Sbarra, chairman of the 1933 ball committee of the James J. Paretti Association, Long Island City, was given a surprise party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nervo, 44 Macdougal street, Manhattan. The party was arranged by Rose and Mildred Nervo, who are members of the ladies' auxiliary."
P. Nervo, Balbiani & Co. remained here for three decades. In 1972 the former bakery space was converted to a garage and art studio for the single family home on the upper floors. The several renovations starting in 1875 have left little trace of the home's appearance when Charlotte Selby moved into it just under 200 years ago.
photographs by the author
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