The 1887 Michael Hughes House - 365 West 123rd Street

 

The blocks just east of Morningside Park saw a flurry of construction in the 1880s.  In 1886, real estate developer Samuel H. Bailey purchased "the lots on the northeast corner of Ninth avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-third street," as reported by the Record & Guide and hired architect Charles E. Baxter to design a row of brownstone-faced houses on the site.  Completed on April 30, 1887, the neo-Grec-style homes were three stories tall above high English basements.  Baxter blended touches of Queen Anne into his design.  Instead of the striking copper oriels seen at the second floor of the other houses, the end homes, including 365 West 123rd Street, featured full-height angled bays.

That house became home to the Michael Hughes family.  He and his wife, the former Mary A. O'Grady, had four children, three sons and a daughter.  

The two rows of stylized acanthus leaves that decorate the cornice enhanced the Greek motif.

Hughes joined dozens of men who were "engaged in business in the northern part of the city of New York" in signing a petition to the Common Council on November 27, 1895.  Pointing out that the district "lying north of One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street and fronting the Harlem river is a rapidly growing locality," they complained that the riverfront was not keeping up.  The businessmen asked for "wharves and dock facilities" which would make merchandise more easily received.

Mary was looking for a servant in September 1897.  The wording of her ad suggested the girl would not have an easy workday.  "Strong girl for general housework."

Nearly a half century after moving into the house, Michael Hughes died on March 26, 1921.  His funeral was held in Annunciation Church three days later.  

image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.

Mary A. Hughes advertised 365 West 123rd Street for sale the following summer.  Her ad in the New York Herald read, "House, brownstone, 10 rooms, fine condition; could be used by two families."  It was purchased by Michael T. Reilly and his wife Catherine.  

In the fall of 1940, the Daily News challenged housewives to be a "pigskin clairvoyant" by picking the weekend's football game winners.  Of the 117,263 entries who guessed the outcome of the November 30 games, Catherine Reilly received the third prize of $25.

Michael T. Reilly sold 365 West 123rd Street in September 1941 to Thelma York for $5,500 (about $117,000 in 2026 terms).  She and her family lived here nine years, selling the house to Jacob Goodman & Co. in April 1950.

When Daisy Hatcher purchased it two years later, The New York Times described the property as a "four-story rooming house."  Among the roomers living here that year was musician and band leader Rudolph "Rudy" King.

Born in Trinidad, Rudy King introduced the steel pan to the United States in 1949.  The evolution of the steel pan began in Trinidad when empty cans were struck with bamboo shoots, according to King in an interview later.  He organized a band called the Tropican.  

Of the original row of six homes, three survive, including 365 West 123rd Street.  Greatly intact on the exterior, a renovation completed in 1989 resulted in a two-family home.''

photographs by the author

The 1887 Dr. John J. McPhee House - 367 West 123rd Street

 

Architect Charles E. Baxter designed a row of brownstone-faced houses for developer and builder Samuel H. Bailey on "the lots on the northeast corner of Ninth avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-third street," as described by the Record & Guide.  Completed on April 30, 1887, they rose three stories above English basements.  Baxter blended touches of Queen Anne into his overall neo-Grec designs. The end homes featured full-height angled bays. 

The identical center homes, including 367 West 123rd Street, boasted striking, curved metal oriels capped with delicate iron cresting.  Their double-doored entrances within columned porticoes sat atop solid, stone stoops.  The windows of the parlor and top levels sat within architrave neo-Grec frames.  Complex multi-level pressed metal cornices crowned the design.

Dr. John J. McPhee lived here by the early 1890s.  The young physician had graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Vermont in 1890 and was now a visiting neurologist and professor with the Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital.

In 1895, Mylon H. Fox and his wife, the former Mary Jones, purchased the house.  The couple were born in 1840 and 1842 respectively, and living with them was Mary's mother, Irene N. Jones, the widow of Thaddeus S. Jones.  Irene died in the house on April 5, 1896 at the age of 89.

On July 19, 1898, the Foxes sold 367 West 123rd Street to Benjamin C. Bent and his wife, Louise Linden, for $16,000 (about $624,000 in 2025 terms).  The husband and wife were both musicians.

Born in England in 1847, Bent came to New York City around 1872.  In 1884, he became the cornet soloist in Gilmore's Band.  Louise was born Louise Pott on September 10, 1862 in New York City.  She began studying saxophone and made her first public performance in 1876.  The couple met in May 1878 and a romance quickly developed.  Bent, who was 30 years old, and Louise, who was not yet 16, eloped to Newport and were married on July 18.  

Benjamin C. Bent. (original source unknown)

Before long, the two performed and toured mostly independently.  Louise was known by audiences as Louise Linden--the surname of her brother-in-law and teacher Fred der Linden.  By the time they purchased 367 West 123rd Street, they were appearing together.  Three months earlier, on March 27, 1898, they appeared in a benefit performance at the American Theater.

Louise was featured on this poster around 1880. from the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

The Bents' residency at 367 West 123rd Street was cut short five months after purchasing the house.  On December 30, 1898, Benjamin C. Bent died "from paralysis of the brain," as reported by the New York Herald.  He was 51 years old.  Recalling that he had been "for many years the principal cornet soloist of Gilmore's Band," the newspaper said he, "was considered one of the most finished artists on that instrument in his profession."

Less than two months later, on February 16, 1898, Louise Linden Bent advertised in the New York Herald, "At sacrifice, handsome 3 story and basement brown stone house; terms reasonable.  367 West 123d st."  She moved to the Bronx where she died in 1934.

The new owner leased the house to a succession of occupants for decades.  In the spring of 1910, policeman Walter F. Shea rented it.  Shortly after moving in, he was severely injured.  On May 22, The New York Times reported, "While traveling nearly a mile a minute to overtake a speeding automobile, Motorcycle Policeman Walter Shea was thrown violently to the road yesterday morning when his motorcycle broke in half."

The article explained that Shea was patrolling the Merrick Road in Queens when he noticed the speeder.  "His motorcycle could make fast time, and he opened it up, and started in pursuit."  It appeared that the frame broke when he drove over a rough spot in the highway.  The Brooklyn Eagle reported, "Shea is in now in St. Mary's Hospital, suffering from numerous injuries, both internal and external.  His condition is said to be precarious."

The stoop of 367 West 123rd street shares a railing with the house on the end of the row.  image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.

Around 1917, the house became home to the St. Joseph's Council, No. 443, Knights of Columbus.  In addition to the normal activities of fraternal organizations, the members of this one were avid runners.  On November 25, 1919, The Daily Item said the club was "one of the fastest teams in the metropolitan district."

Like many social organizations throughout the city, St. Joseph's Council entertained troops passing through New York City.  On May 3, 1919, for instance, the New-York Tribune announced that a dance would be held here "for men in uniform," and on April 16, The New York Times reported there would be "entertainment by the K. C. at 367 West 123d Street from 2 until 8 in the evening" for the troops.

At the end of the war, the club's focus returned to running.  On January 18, 1920, The Sun reported, "St. Joseph's Council, Knights of Columbus, of Harlem, was granted a sanction...to conduct an open handicap road run on Sunday afternoon, April 18."  The five-and-three-quarter-mile run began "in front of the clubhouse, 367 West 123d street," said the article.

By the beginning of the Great Depression, the house was operated as rented rooms.  An advertisement in The New York Age on May 11, 1940 offered, "Neatly furnished rooms, rent, all improvements, $4 up."  The base rent would translate to about $89 per month today.

A renovation completed in 1983 resulted in two duplex apartments--in the basement and parlor level, and in the second and third.  

photographs by the author

The 1887 Edward Morrison, Jr. House - 373 West 123rd Street

 

In March 1886, Samuel H. Bailey purchased "the lots of the northeast corner of Ninth avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-third street," as described by the Record & Guide.  Bailey was a developer and builder, and his wife, Mary, E., seems to have been the business end of the partnership.  When Bailey completed a row of houses on the site on April 30, 1887, the titles were listed in Mary's name.

The identical residences were designed by Charles E. Baxter.  Faced in brownstone and three-stories tall above English basements, they were a blend of the neo-Grec and Queen Anne styles.  The double-doored entrances above the sturdy, stone stoops sat within columned porticoes.  The parlor and third floor windows had architrave neo-Grec frames.  Colorful stained glass transoms graced the parlor and second-floor openings.

Baxter introduced Queen Anne at the second floor with curved metal oriels capped with delicate iron cresting.  The metalwork was embossed with jaunty bosses.  Elaborate multi-level, pressed metal cornices completed the design.

via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.

The Baileys rented the houses for a year, before selling the group to Michael Hughes in April 1888.  The price of each of the 16-foot-wide residences was $17,000, or about $562,000 in 2025 terms.

No. 373 West 123rd Street became home to the Edward Morrison, Jr. family.  Morrison was a director in the Central Pacific Railroad.  He and his wife had two children, Beatrice and Edward 3d.

The parlor was the scene of a society wedding at 8:00 on the night of April 4, 1894.  The New York Herald reported, "Miss Fannie Fielding Stewart, daughter of the late Alexander T. Stewart, was married to Mr. William Wallis Young, of Orange, N. J., last evening...at the home of her sister, Mrs. Edward Morrison Jr."  (The sisters' father should not be confused with millionaire drygoods merchant Alexander Turney Steward.)  The article noted, "Little Beatrice Morrison, the bride's niece, was maid of honor, and Masters Edward Morrison, 3d, and Lyle Wallis were pages."

Edward's father visited the family on June 13, 1897.  Edward Morrison, Sr. was a respected stockbroker, having first worked on Wall Street as a clerk when he was 13 years old.  He acquired his seat in the Stock Exchange in 1869.  

Around 5:00 that afternoon, the two Edwards went for a walk.  At the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive, "the elder Morrison fell to the sidewalk unconscious," according to The Sun.  The 75-year-old was taken to Manhattan Hospital where doctors said he was "suffering from nervous collapse."  The article mentioned that the patient was "well to do."

Morrison, Sr. was sent to his home at West 39th Street to recover.  After a week of convalescing, he was expected to return to his office on Monday, June 21.  But on Saturday, reported The Sun, "he again became very sick and continued to fail."  The broker died two days later.

The following year, on May 5, 1898, 373 West 123rd Street was sold to John and Mary Johnson for $15,500 (about $587,000 today).  The couple had a 14-year-old daughter, Helen.  Living with the family was Mary's niece, Eleanor Frances Weiss (who went by her middle name), who was also 14.  The Sun explained, "Miss Weiss's mother died two years ago and she came to live with Mrs. Johnson."  Frances's father, John Weiss was "a well-to-do wine merchant," as described by The Sun, and lived in Trenton, New Jersey.  The newspaper said that she and Helen "became inseparable companions [and] both attended Public School 14, at 117th street and St. Nicholas avenue."

On Friday March 11, 1899, the two girls asked Mary if they could go downtown to shop after school.  Oddly, that afternoon Frances left school early.  She told Helen she had something to do and asked her to wait for her after school.  Helen waited for an hour, but Frances never returned.  She came home and told her parents what had happened.

Mary Johnson sent a telegraph to Frances's grandmother in the Bronx.  A returned message said she was not there.  At midnight, Mary sent a telegraph to Frances's father.  He had not seen her, either, and asked "for full particulars of his daughter's absence," reported The Sun.

The next morning, a postcard was delivered to the Johnson house.  It said succinctly, "I am alive and well.  Good-by."

Although the card, sent from the post office at 105th Street and Columbus Avenue, was in Frances's handwriting, Mary Johnson was certain she had been abducted.  She told reporters,

Frances was a good girl and I don't believe she is staying away of her own free will.  She had no countenance with any men so far as I know and she was always home with me except when she was at school, and then she was with my daughter.  My own opinion is that some men and women have kidnapped the girl and are keeping her somewhere in the neighborhood of 105th street and Columbus avenue for purposes of their own.

As it turned out, Frances had answered an advertisement and was hired as a chambermaid in a house on West 105th Street.  Her new adventure, however, quickly came to an end.  The detailed description of the teen that was published in all the newspapers caught the eye of her employer, who turned her over to the police.  Frances's foray ended badly for her, and her life with the Johnsons was over.  On March 14, The Sun reported that her infuriated father, John Weiss, "took her to the Harlem Police Court yesterday.  On his statement that his daughter was incorrigible, Magistrate Brann committed her to the Home of the Good Shepherd."

The Johnson family left West 123rd Street that year, renting the house to George A. McDowell and his second wife, the former Jane Carpenter.  George had three children from his former marriage, Fannie, Fred and Alexander H.  (Two other children, Ella and George, had died.)  Moving in with the McDowells was Harry A. Hawkins who, like the McDowells, were members of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers.

Both men were on the executive committee of the First-Day School Association of the Society of Friends.  The "New York Yearly Meeting of Friends" in 1899 was held in the McDowell house.

By 1903, Alexander H. McDowell was a member of the Society of Chemical Industry.  His scientific profession did not interfere with his religious affiliations and that year he was listed as secretary of the Young Friends' Aid Association.  The New York Charities Directory explained it, "Gives relief in food and clothing to the worthy poor families brought to their notice."  George A. McDowell was the treasurer of the group.

In September 1905, the International Peace Congress was held in Lucerne, Switzerland.  Pacifism is a major proponent of the tenets of the Society of Friends and on July 8, 1905, Friends' Intelligencer reported, "It is desirable that the society of Friends should be represented at the International Peace Congress."  The article said those who wished to contribute funds to sending a delegation should be sent to "Harry A. Hawkins, 373 West 123d Street, New York city, who is treasurer of the General Conference."

George A. McDowell had a scare on December 6, 1912.  The New York Times reported, "A collision between two elevated trains on the sixty-foot high S curve of the Sixth Avenue line in Columbus Avenue near 110th Street, at 10 o'clock yesterday morning caused the injury of ten persons."  The article said, "The three-car train plunged directly into the rear platform of the five-car train, and simultaneously there was a shower of electric sparks and much screaming by the passengers on both trains."  Aboard one of those trains was 72-year-old George McDowell.  The Sun reported he suffered, "nose cut and faced bruised."

Jane McDowell was also involved with charitable work.  An article in The Evening Post on February 15, 1914, explained that the Friends' Employment Society "gives sewing to needy women without regard to race or creed."  The group, organized in 1862, provided unfinished garments to needy women who then completed them.  The women received $1 or $2 per week for their work, which was used in hospitals and day nurseries.  The article said, "please send all contributions to the Treasurer, Mrs. Geo. A. McDowell, 373 West 123rd Street."

In May 1921, the Johnson family sold the house to Delia Trainor.  She leased it to George B. Kiely (who was organizing a girl's semi-pro baseball team in April 1922), before selling it in February 1923 to Louisa G. Hargrave.  The following month, Hargrave sold 373 West 123rd Street to Anna Stroetzel.  The notice in The Sun remarked that she "will occupy."

Wedged between modern structures today, the Morrison house survived as a single-family residence until 1999 when an apartment was installed in the basement.

photographs by the author

many thanks to reader Ted Leather for prompting this post.