The Ideal Hosiery Building - 339 Grand Street

 

photograph by Carole Teller

John Jacob Astor I amassed $250,000 in the fur trade by 1800 (nearly $6.5 million in 2026).  He turned to real estate and by the late 182os was erecting scores of Federal style dwellings.  Among them were five three-and-a-half-story houses on Grand Street at the southwest corner of Ludlow Street, completed around 1830.

Like the others, the corner building, 339 Grand Street, was clad in brick and trimmed in brownstone.  The peaked attic was punctured by a single, centered dormer.  A store occupied the ground floor.

James Nelson and his family occupied the house in 1830.  An umbrella maker, he operated his shop here, as well.  In 1837, Mrs. M. D. Hodge, who recently arrived from London, moved in.  On November 17 that year, the Morning Herald said "the beautiful Mrs. Hodge" created "the most elegant Chenille hats in New York."  The article continued:

This lady's store is sought for by all fashionable families in want of such an article.  Mrs. H. is attentive, polite, pretty, and excellent in her business.

Articles continuously mentioned Mrs. Hodge's appearance.  In reporting on her "splendid Victoria Gipsey Hats" on April 4, 1838, the Morning Herald noted, "I am told that both Mrs. H. and her hats are uncommonly beautiful."  The quality of her headwear was certified that year when the American Institute awarded her a "diploma" (an ornate printed award) for "a fine specimen of chenille hats, made without a stitch."

It does not appear that Mrs. Hodge lived above her store.  The Gordon family occupied the upper floors as early as 1840.  Harriet Gordon died here on January 31, 1841 at the age of 40 "after a very long illness," according to the New York Morning Courier.  Her funeral was held in the house the following morning.

Astor continued to have a relatively quick turnover in commercial tenants.  In 1841, Arthur H. Sherman ran his stationery store here.  On December 9, the New-York Tribune reported, "A boy named James Murphy was arrested to-day and committed for stealing a pack of blank cards worth 25 cents from Arthur H. Sherman, No. 339 Grand-street."  And as early as 1847, James Cunningham's stove business occupied the store.  A long-term tenant moved in around 1850.  Jeremiah L. Sackett installed his drygoods business in the store and moved his family into the upper floors.  

By 1854, Jeremiah L. Sackett moved his family to University Place, but he continued to operated his drygoods store here.  In 1855, title to 339 Grand Street was transferred to Astor's granddaughter, Cecilia Langdon de Nottbeck.  By then, a three-story structure had been erected in the rear yard at 57 Ludlow Street.  

Replacing the Sacketts in the upper floors was the Crosson family, while the family of William H. Anderson, a joiner, lived in the upper floors of 57 Ludlow by 1855.  (A joiner was a skilled carpenter.)

Another funeral was held in the Grand Street house in 1855.  Robert N. Crosson died on January 27 at the age of 24.

When 57 Ludlow was erected, a wrought iron fence protected the areaway in front of the basement.  The Anderson family still occupied the upper floors on August 8, 1857 when William Jr., who was six years old, fell from a second floor window.  The New-York Tribune reported that he suffered, "a severe flesh wound on the back part of the head, about three inches in length and half an inches in depth."  The New York Times added, "his left leg was dreadfully lacerated by being caught in one of the iron spikes of the railing in front of the house."

William E. Vanhorn and his family lived in 57 Ludlow Street as early as 1864.  It was a highly convenient location, since he worked as a clerk in Jeremiah L. Sackett's store around the corner.  The Vanhorns would remain here until 1872, when Sackett closed his store after more than two decades.

The store became home to Joseph Freund & Co., dealers of beddings and feathers.  Run by Jacob, Lazarus and Moses Freund (presumably the sons of Joseph Freund), they had two other stores--one at 365 Eighth Avenue and the other at 359 East Houston.  None of the brothers lived in the Grand Street or Ludlow Street buildings.

Joseph Freund & Co. diversified into "linengoods" in 1886.  Their business and the building were threatened by fire on September 2, 1893.  The New York Herald reported, "Fire caused a panic at half-past seven o'clock last evening in the fancy dry goods store of Saul Brothers, at 335 Grand street, and that of their immediate neighbor, C. Wagner, at No. 337."  The article said that Grand Street was packed with "Saturday night shoppers" when suddenly, "purchasers and employes [sic] ran screaming out of the place.  One of the girls fainted and was carried into a nearby store."

By the time firefighters arrived, both buildings were ablaze and "the flames were shooting up through the roof and had caught on the corner of No. 339 Grand street, the ground floor of which is occupied by J. Freund & Co., linen importers."  Although 335 and 337 were devastated, firefighters arrived in time to save 339 Grand Street from serious damage.

The Evening World, May 21, 1902 (copyright expired)

After being in business here for three decades, Freund & Co. closed in 1902.  It was replaced by George and Max Weiner's millinery shop.  The shop would remain until October 14, 1919.

In the Depression years, a children's apparel shop occupied the store.  The storefront was remodeled and an arcade entrance installed.

image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.

On August 10, 1950, The New York Times reported that Edward W. de Nottbeck had sold 339 Grand Street to the 339 Grand Street Corp.  It ended the Astor family's 120-year ownership of the property.  The Ideal Hosiery company leased the building and placed a vibrant red metal sign over the shop.  The firm purchased the building in 1965.

The Ideal Hosiery sign was still vibrant in 1995.  The upper floors were being used as storage.  (original source unknown.)

Like Jeremiah L. Sackett and Joseph Freund & Co., Ideal Hosiery remained here for decades.  On August 21, 2018, The New York Times reported that Ideal Hosiery had placed the building on the market for $7.2 million.

photograph by Carole Teller

The faded metal signage still clings to the facade of 339 Grand Street.  The venerable structure was designated an individual New York City landmark in 2013.

many thanks to artist Carole Teller for suggesting this post.