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