Developers Egan & Hallecy erected numerous Manhattan rowhouses at the turn of the last century. The architectural firm of Neville & Bagge designed several of their projects, including the six upscale homes at 245 through 255 West 101st Street in 1900. Completed in 1901, they were a balanced row of three designs in an A-B-C-C-B-A plan. Nos. 245 and 255, at either end, were mirror images and by far the most fanciful of the row. The entrances within the rusticated stone bases sat above shallow porches. Their formal, elegant porticoes, upheld by classical columns with Scamozzi capitals, would have been at home in London's Mayfair district.
While the houses in between were rigidly symmetrical, these had romantic personalities. A full-height bay projected forward from the rest of the row. It featured paired windows with a elegant fan light under an ornate Renaissance style eyebrow at the second floor. At the third floor was a tripartite window with bracketed cornice and sill. Most eye-catching were the storybook elements to the side--stone-framed oculi in the staircase hall and a Rapunzel-ready quarter-round oriel.
An advertisement in the New York Herald on January 31, 1901 touted: "Six of the best American basement houses yet constructed, having all modern improvements; artistically designed and built in the most completed and thorough manner, under personal supervision of the owners, Egan & Hallecy."
It would not be until October 1902 that Edwin J. Benson and his wife, the former Clausine M. Doscher, purchased 255 West 101st Street. The couple had two sons, Reynolds and Claus. Moving into the house with the family was William C. Doscher, presumably Clausine's unmarried brother.
Edwin Benson was a visible figure within the sports community. He sat on the Board of Governors of the New York Athletic Club, and on January 11, 1910 was elected its vice-president.
William C. Doscher was also athletic. Born in 1853, he was described by The New York Times as "a noted oarsman." He joined the Atalanta Boat Club on May 10, 1880 and served as captain of the crew from 1884 to 1886, and was elected president in 1906. Doscher died in the house at the age of 59 on April 30, 1912. His funeral was held in the parlor on May 2.
Both Reynolds and Claus were enrolled in Columbia University at the time. Following his family's tradition, Reynolds was described by The New York Times as "a star of Columbia's basketball and baseball teams" from 1912 to 1916.
America's entry into World War I changed the brothers' lives. In 1917, Reynolds enlisted in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. He would serve with the French Army at Verdun, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne and rise to the rank of captain. Claus, too, enlisted in the Army and fought in France. In January 1918 he was promoted to first lieutenant. Both brothers were awarded the Croix de Guerre.
Sadly, in their absence, their mother died. Clausine M. Benson died on May 12, 1918 and her funeral was held in the home three days later.
Following the declaration of peace, Reynolds returned home in 1918 and his brother early in 1919. Claus made it back just in time for Reynolds's wedding. On January 26, 1919, the New York Herald reported that "Capt. Reynolds Benson, Air Service, U.S.A." had been married the previous evening to Sarah Redway Smith. "Claus Docher [sic] Benson acted as best man for his brother. Capt. Benson recently returned from France." The article mentioned, "After their wedding trip [Reynolds] and his bride will live at 255 West 101st street."
Later that year, in September, Benson sold 255 West 101st Street to Samuel Copeland for $25,375 (about $447,000 in 2025).
image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services
Claus Doscher Benson would marry Maxime Harrison-Berlitz in 1921, and his brother would become athletics manager of Columbia University in 1924. Reynolds would serve his country again when America entered World War II as an officer of the 45th Combat Bomb Wing, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross.
In the meantime, the Copeland family appeared in social columns rather than on the sports pages. On May 21, 1920, for instance, The American Hebrew reported, "Miss Josephine Copeland, of 255 West 101st street, has just returned from a trip West, where she attended the Kentucky Derby and visited at French Lick Springs."
As early as 1932, Dr. Albert J. Decker occupied the house and operated his private practice here. But the end of the line for 255 West 101st Street as a single family residence was near. In 1936 it was converted to apartments, one each through the first through third floor and two on the fourth. A subsequent renovation completed in 1962 resulted in two apartments per floor above the first story. In a questionable choice, at some point the brick was painted lavender.
photographs by the author
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I say it's lavender, sir, and to hell with that color choice!
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