In 1886, developer and architect Edward Cunningham purchased the vacant lots on the western side of New Avenue (renamed Manhattan Avenue the following year), between 116th and 117th Streets. A partner in the construction firm Cunningham & Henderson, in April that year he filed plans for 11 houses along the avenue and three others on West 116th Street. The project, according to the Record & Guide, would cost $135,000 to erect, or just over $4.5 million in 2024.
Similar to the houses of developer-builder-architect William J. Merritt being erected in the district at the time, Cunningham's row was a harmonious row of Queen Anne style homes--each a bit different from the other. Among them was the brownstone-faced 395 Manhattan Avenue. Three stories tall above a rough-cut stone basement level, the cast iron stoop railing with urn-shaped balusters descended to beefy newels.
The parlor floor openings were framed by quoins and topped with Renaissance inspired, rounded pediments. Cunningham gave the second floor windows graceful, scalloped lintels, and paired the top floor openings with a shared frame and single molded cornice.
Cunningham put the titles to the homes in the name of his wife, Jane. The couple initially leased 395 Manhattan Avenue. In June 1893, Jane sold the property to real estate operator Robert Black. He, too, leased the house before selling it in 1906 to Solomon Schinasi, who had begun buying up houses along the row. Among his initial tenants were the Thompson family. Gertrude Thompson died here on October 25, 1908.
On August 28, 1910, Schinasi advertised 395 Manhattan Avenue for lease again. The rent was listed at $75--an affordable $2,500 per month by today's terms.
Three years later, The Sun reported that Schinasi had sold 395 Manhattan Avenue to Wilhelmina Walther, noting, "This is the third house sold of a row of six lately taken in exchange from Solomon Schinasi." Walther, like all of the owners to date, was a real estate operator. She continued leasing the house until selling it in June 1918 to Ezekiel Fixman. In reporting the sale, the New-York Tribune described the house as "a three-story flat," reflecting its operation as unofficial apartments.
Living here in 1929 was Mary Marcus, who did bacteriological research for Dr. Joseph L. Wathick. On October 25, 1930, he described Mary in a letter to Agnes H. Brock saying, "Her personal character is beyond reproach. She is reliable, ethical, honest and of good habits; zealously guarding her reputation."
Dr. Wathick's letter was a result of a tangled legal case in which Mary Marcus had become embroiled. (Agnes H. Brock was a probation officer.) In 1930, Mary bought a dress and as she left the store, was arrested by store detectives who testified they did not see her purchase anything. Her attorney argued, "There is no argument but she bought it that day; she paid for it. She couldn't have walked out with this dress. That in itself shows that there is a contradiction in the testimony of the Officers." Nevertheless, Mary was convicted of shoplifting and her employer's letter attesting to her character was important in her appeal.
Interestingly, while the Harlem neighborhood by now had morphed into the center of Manhattan's black community, one tenant of 395 Manhattan Avenue around this time was an Irish immigrant. Patrick O'Neill was born in Ireland in 1850. According to the Mount Vernon, New York newspaper the Daily Argus, O'Neill first had returned to Ireland in 1900 when he retired as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. After that trip, he returned to his native land every summer.
The substantial cast iron stoop newels survived in 1941. image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.
In August 1938, O'Neill was enjoying his 38th trip to Ireland. He was scheduled to return to New York on the President Harding on August 20, but a few hours before boarding he suffered a fatal heart attack. The 88-year-old's body was placed on the liner Manhattan a week later. The Daily Argus reported, "It is understood that a United States Army escort would receive the body at Governor's Island."
Benjamin F. Thomas married Ann E. Branson on December 23, 1943. The newlyweds moved into 395 Manhattan Avenue. Ann, who was the widow of H. J. Branson, was "very active in the social activities of the community," according to the New York Age. Thomas was prominent in the Harlem community. The former proprietor of the Hotel Maceo and the Broadway Auto School, he was one of New York State's first automobile inspectors. He was, as well, treasurer of the Harlem Children's Fresh Air Fun and a director of the Association of Trade and Commerce.
The 18-foot-wide house has never officially been converted to apartments. Nevertheless, there are three rental units in the building today. Externally, (other than the loss of the stoop newels) the house is little changed after nearly 140 years.
photographs by the author
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