The 1852 Catherine Stapleton House - 321 Second Avenue

 

The upper floor windows were almost assuredly originally framed in stone.  photograph by Ted Leather

The first of the mansions that would encircle Gramercy Park (or Gramercy Place as it was sometimes called) began rising in the early 1840s.  A decade later, the high-tone tenor of the neighborhood had spread and in 1852 a row of identical homes were erected by the wealthy Stuyvesant family along the western side of Second Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets.

Four stories tall, they were two bays wide.  Unlike the English basement style homes that were proliferating throughout the city, their Anglo-Italianate design forewent high stoops.  Their arched entrances sat just above the sidewalk.

Likely a full-width cast iron balcony originally fronted the second floor windows.  photograph by Ted Leather

No. 321 Second Avenue became home to dressmaker Catherine Stapleton, who was most likely a widow.  The best of the dressmakers at the time created the wardrobes of wealthy socialites and earned significant incomes.  Catherine had a boarder in 1853, Samuel Durand, a moulder (a maker of castings or, sometimes, a brickmaker).  He may have occupied the smaller house in the rear yard.

Boarding with Catherine Stapleton by 1859 were Hannah Merritt Smith and Joseph Seymour Mathews, his wife Elizabeth, and their infant daughter, Fannie.  Mary Cleary, the widow of James Cleary, occupied the rear house.  Catherine Stapleton offered the parlor on June 5 that year for Hannah Smith's wedding to Caleb Green Dunn.

J. Seymour Mathews was a commissioner of deeds and an engrossing clerk within the Aldermen's Office.  (As an engrossing clerk he checked departmental entries for accuracy.)  He received a bonus of sorts on December 1, 1859 of $250 "for extra services," according to the Proceedings of the Board of Aldermen.  The windfall would translate to about $9,730 in 2025.

In June 1860, Manhattan society was captivated by the arrival of the first Japanese Delegation of the United States.  The 76 ambassadors were called "the Japanese princes," by newspapers.  J. Seymour Mathews was given a crushing responsibility.  He and Simon Myers were appointed "the principals in charge of the visit."

On June 30, 1860, five days after the the Japanese delegation left New York, Charles DeForest Fredricks created this portrait of Simon Myers and J. Seymour Mathews (right).  from the collection of Getty Museum.

Catherine Stapleton's parlor was the scene of little Fannie Mathews's funeral on December 5, 1861.  She died on December 3, one day after her second birthday.

Three months later, Joseph Seymour Mathews died here on March 19, 1862 at the age of 38.  His funeral was held in the Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church near Third Avenue.

By 1868, Thomas Ingham, an iron merchant, and his family occupied 321 Second Avenue and would remain until 1875 when Felix Marx moved in.  Marx ran an "eatinghouse" at 185 Church Street at the time.  By 1879 his son, J. L. Marx had joined him and they opened a second restaurant at 438 Broome Street.

Felix Marx leased 321 Second Avenue in 1881 to G. F. Abraham, who operated it as a boarding house.  Among his initial tenants was Rev. Griffith H. Humphrey.  The 32-year-old bachelor had been the pastor of the Welsh Presbyterian Church on East 13th Street for four years.  The Sun described the young minister as "a tall, slender man, with a full brown beard."  

In July 1882, Laura A. Jones came to New York from Llanberis, Wales.  She found a room in a boarding house on Eighth Avenue and became a member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church.  The Sun reported, "She was looking for employment and made frequent calls with this object on Mr. Humphrey at his residence, 321 Second Avenue."  The newspaper said, "He says he requested her not to call so often."  Her repeated visits, however, resulted in "much talk about their acquaintance."  By the early months of 1883, rumors were so rampant that Humphrey "requested the church to investigate the matter," according to The Sun.

Laura Jones was interviewed by church elders in April.  She told them that Rev. Humphrey had proposed marriage.  A few days later, she wrote to the deacons and retracted her statement.  Then, a few days after that, she asserted that Humphrey had again proposed to her.  When called to testify to that in person, she again retracted her statements.  She was expelled from the church "for falsehood."

With her out of the picture, Humphrey most likely thought he was free from scandal.  In the summer of 1883 he was married.  But Laura Jones reappeared.  On December 17 she sued Humphrey for $10,000 for breach of promise (about $323,000 today).  Her illegitimate child was born on December 30.

Rev. Humphreys was arrested at his residence on February 13, 1884 "on Miss Jones's complaint that he was the father of her child."  She told the court that "she had no means of support and was likely to become a charge on the county."  The trial revealed shocking testimony.  Boarders in the house where Laura Jones lived said they had seen her in bed with Ellis Owens, another boarder.  A Mrs. Crook testified that when Laura was first in a "delicate condition," she "asked her about Mr. Humphrey, and Miss Jones said there had never been anything wrong between them."  Rev. Griffith H. Humphrey was absolved of any crime.

Living here in the early 1890s were T. R. Fell, a stenographer who worked in the Mayor's Office; and Charles Walton, who worked for a painter and decorating firm.  Walton was estranged from his wife.  His employer, Leopold Freund, was known to the courts for abusing his employees with litigation.  The Evening World said Freund "has come to be known as a professional complainant."

Early in July 1894, Freund procured a summons on a charge "of stealing a pair of overalls" against Walton.  Walton did not appear in court and so on July 13, a court officer appeared at 321 Second Avenue.  The New York Times reported, "At Walton's home...he was told that the man he sought was at his wife's home, 116 Seventh Street."  What he was not told was that Walton was dead.

The article said that when the officer arrived to the wife's home, he "found preparations for a funeral in progress."  The article said:

The woman who answered the door bell explained that when Walton was served with a summons he took it so much to heart he went to his room and killed himself by inhaling gas.  Walton had lived apart from his wife, but when she heard of his death she had his body brought to her home.

The same day, Freund appeared in court against another employee, Henry Paul, whom he accused of stealing painting materials.  In the courtroom were friends of Walton who told the judge "that Freund had hounded the old man and thus drove him to suicide."  Justice McMahon responded by dismissing the complaint against Paul and ordered Freund out of court.  "You have fooled this Court long enough and you will do so no longer," he said.

Nellie Thomas worked as a salesperson and lived here as early as 1904.  Starting around 1902, John A. Price, a theatrical agent, became enamored with her.  On January 21, 1905, The Sun said, "for the past three years he has been paying court to Miss Thomas with poor success."  In fact, Price had become what today would be called a stalker.  The article said, "His attentions became so annoying that she caused his arrest six months ago, and he was put under bonds to keep the peace."

"Under bonds" was what today would be known as a restraining order.  During that time, Nellie began dating a young man.  On January 19, 1905--the same date that the restraining order expired--the two went out.  They were walking along East 17th Street when Price appeared.

"Hello, Nell.  Don't you love me any more?" he said.

"Don't you speak to me.  I don't want anything to do with you," she replied.

"I love you as the flowers love the sun.  You are driving me crazy, and I don't care what happens to me unless I get you for my wife.  Shoot me, throw me in the river, but don't say you won't be my wife.  Chase this young fellow away and say you love me."

Nellie said, "I've told you dozens of times that I'd never marry you.  If you speak to me again, I'll have you arrested."

At the time, Detective Bradley was walking on the opposite side of the street.  He later testified that he "saw Price raise a heavy cane and strike the young woman on the head with it.  The blow cut her scalp open and knocked her to the sidewalk."  Price ran down the street with Nellie's companion and Bradley in pursuit.  He was arrested a few blocks later.

Nellie's head wound needed stitches.  Later she signed a formal complaint.  In court Price told the judge, "Yes, I'm guilty.  Do with me as you like.  If I can't get my Nell, I don't want to live."

Nellie asked the prisoner, "Why did you beat me so?"

"Because I love you.  Do as you like with me."

Then, as is often the case with the victims of physical abuse and emotional control, Nellie began to soften.  She told the court, "He wants to marry me, Judge."

The magistrate responded, "So he tried to woo you with a club, eh?"

"It was only a cane, Judge, and I don't know as I want to press the complaint."

Nellie sat for a few moments, then walked over to Price.  "The two began talking earnestly," reported The Sun.  Nellie approached the bench and said, "Judge, we are going to get married.  Jack is a good fellow, and I know he didn't mean any harm."  The pair left the courtroom together.

On August 14, 1920, The New York Times reported that the Rutherfurd Stuyvesant estate had sold "the four-story dwelling 321 Second Avenue to Henry Braveman."  When he sold it a month later, the Record & Guide described the property as a "four-story tenement house."

In 1941 the stone details had been removed and the third floor windows shortened.  image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.

The building was renovated in 1922 to bachelor apartments.  The Certificate of Occupancy demanded, "not more than two families cooking independently on premises."  It was likely during the remodeling that the stone frames of the windows were replaced by brick.

photograph by Ted Leather

There were subsequent renovations over the next decades.  Today there are five apartments in the building.

many thanks to reader Ted Leather for suggesting this post