It appears Haff leased the houses until his death in 1838. Around 1850, Jeramiah H. and Mary Ann Youmans purchased 205 Prince Street. They had at least one son, David S., born in 1837. In 1851, a daughter, Eliza, was born. Youmans owned a lumber business (called a "woodyard" in the 1853 city directory) on Washington Street near the Hudson riverfront.
On October 20, the Youmans advertised in the Morning Courier, "Board--One or two large parlors and one bedroom, to let furnished, with board, to a gentleman and wife, or two single gentlemen, in a small private family. Apply at 205 Prince street, corner of McDougal st." (MacDougal street was variously spelled MacDougal, Macdougal and McDougal for years. The confusion was understandable. It was named after Alexander McDougall, whose father spelled his surname MacDougal.)
In 1853, the couple's boarders were Jessie W. Wadleigh and Dr. Baron Spolasco. They would have long-term boarders in Charles E. L. Brinckerhoff and his family starting in 1857. Brinckerhoff and his wife Clara had a 10-year-old son, Charles Rolph.
Born in 1822, Charles E. L. Brinckerhoff dealt in lamps and gas lighting fixtures. He had two stores downtown, one on John Street and the other on William Street. His wife, however, was far more celebrated than he.
Born in London in 1828 as Clara Maria Rolph, she was brought to America by her parents in 1833. Her father, John A. Rolph, was an artist and her mother was a Italian-trained soprano. Clara was trained in singing by her mother. Following her mother's death, Clara was trained by leading coaches, including George Loder, conductor of the Philharmonic Society and his wife.
Clara made her concert debut at the age of 16 at Apollo Hall on Broadway. The principal soprano of Grace Church, she sang the full Christmas service on December 25, 1848, before marrying Charles later that day.
The famed soprano's image appeared on this sheet music in 1873. from the collection of the New York Public Library.
Clara contributed greatly to the family's income. The Youmans allowed her to conduct her voice lessons in the house. An advertisement in The New York Times in September 1857 read,
Mrs. Clara M. Brinkerhoff informs her pupils and the public, that her season for tuition in Vocal Music will commence on Monday, Sept. 28. Terms: $40 for a term of twenty-four lessons; single lessons, $2. Address No. 205 Prince-st., corner of McDougal. At home on Wednesdays.
The tuition for a 24-lesson term would equal about $1,440 in 2024.
Additionally, Clara was a composer, romance novelist (under the pseudonym Henri Gordon) and lecturer. Among her best known songs was One Flag or No Flag, published during the Civil War.
The parlor of 205 Prince Street was the scene of four-year-old Eliza Youmans's funeral on May 15, 1855. The little girl had died the previous day.
The Brinkerhoffs remained in the Youmans house at least through 1862. On October 25, 1861, Clara advertised,
Madame Clara M. Brinkerhoff, having returned from Europe, will be ready for concert engagements and pupils in singing from the 1st of November. Address 205 Prince-st., corner of Macdougal.
Jeremiah H. Youmans died at the age of 61, "after a short illness, in full hopes of a blessed immortality," as worded by the New-York Tribune, on May 13, 1862. His funeral was held in the house on May 16. Mary Ann was still in mourning when David S. Youmans died on February 9, 1863 at the age of 26. His funeral, too, was held in the parlor.
Mary Ann operated her home as a boardinghouse for the next six years. Having buried her entire family, she died here at the age of 57 on August 16, 1869.
Six months later, on February 15, 1870, the "two-story brick house" and lot was sold at auction for $20,250 to Samuel Parsons. (The amount would translate to about $488,000 today.) One month to the day later, an auction of the Youman family's furnishings was held. Among the elegant pieces sold was a "rosewood piano, by Steinway & Sons."
Samuel Parsons continued operating 205 Prince Street as a boarding house. Among his boarders in 1871 was Ronald MacDonald, an editor.
Parsons made significant changes to the house in 1875. He removed the stoop, filled in the basement level, and installed a neo-Grec cast iron storefront on what was now the first floor. It was possibly at this time that the attic was raised to a full floor, taking the shape of a stylish mansard. Parsons's first commercial tenant was O'Leary Bros., a furniture store.
Around 1886, August Berrmann purchased the property. The personality of the commercial space underwent a drastic change that year when brewers Bernheimer & Swartz signed the lease. It was common for breweries to operate their own saloons, thereby assuring that only their own products would be sold.
At the turn of the century, the saloon was run by Peter Mutthiessen. He was fined the staggering amount of $1,630 on February 27, 1903 by State Excise Commissioner Cullinan. The Albany newspaper The Argus explained, "Matthiessen trafficked in liquor at 205 Prince street, New York city, and violated the liquor tax law by having his barroom open [on Sunday]."
The storefront was boarded up and obviously under renovation when this photo was taken in 1941. On the side of the building an R & H Beer (Rubsam & Horrmann brewery) sign can be seen. via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.
The estate of August Herrmann sold the property in March 1906 to Albert J. F. Sibberns and his wife, Clara L. Calling his saloon a "café," it became what today would be called a sports bar and a training venue for boxers and wrestlers.
In 1909, the Bridgeport, Connecticut newspaper The Farmer reported that Young Evans was in town. "He has put away some clever boxers, including Tommy Devlin of Philadelphia, Joe Percenti of Chicago, Bob Smillie of Salem, and Johnnie Dohan of Brooklyn," said the article. "He is willing to take on any promising youngster in this State at 136 pounds. Communicate with his manager, Al Sibberns, 205 Prince street, New York."
The bar was also the headquarters of the Bugs Association baseball team. Al Sibberns played centerfield for the group.
Sibberns was not the only trainer who worked from the saloon. In 1915, according to the Brooklyn Standard Union, boxer Johnny Hayes's manager was Chick Kenney, and Dummy Dragon's was Louis Masso.
Albert J. F. Sibberns declared bankruptcy in November 1916. The Sun reported that he had liabilities of $7,610 and assets of $300.
A saloon would remain here until Prohibition. The space continued to house a restaurant or tavern throughout most of the 20th century.
The building was returned to a single family home in the 1970s, its owners replacing the storefront infill with handsome arched windows reminiscent of a Dickensian London bookshop. The renovation earned the owners a 1979 Certificate of Appreciation by the Association of Village Homeowners for "enhancing the surroundings with renewal of facades in a way appropriate to the historic character of the district."
photographs by the author
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