The 1908 James G. Johnson House - 306 West 107th Street

 

On September 25, 1909, William J. Casey, "owner and builder," placed an advertisement in the New York Herald for three of his four newly completed houses.  (Casey omitted No. 308 because he kept it for his own occupancy.)

New York Herald, September 25, 1909 (copyright expired)

The advertisement pointed to the homes' luxurious amenities, like the four bathrooms and billiard room.  The "needle bath" would nearly surround the user with a series of sprays.

The bathrooms were outfitted with needle baths similar to this one.  from the collection of the New York Public Library

The row was designed by Neville & Bagge in an A-B-B-A configuration.  Each of the neo-Georgian-style residences was five stories tall.  The entrance of No. 306, one of the B models, sat behind a dignified portico with fluted Ionic columns.  Above the limestone base, the upper floors were clad in warm, red brick, and the openings were fronted with Juliette balconies with iron railings.  The fifth floor was sandwiched between substantial cornices, the uppermost of which was surmounted by a brick parapet.

On October 10, 1909, the New-York Tribune reported that Casey had sold the "five story American basement dwelling house" at 306 West 107th Street.  James G. Johnson had spent $65,000 for the residence, or about $2.3 million in 2025 terms.

New-York Tribune, October 10, 1909 (copyright expired)

Born in Monaghan, Ireland in 1831, Johnson arrived in New York City in 1850 and joined the dry goods business of another Irish immigrant, Alexander Turney Stewart.  In 1856, Johnson founded the importing and manufacturing millinery firm of James G. Johnson & Co. at Canal and Wooster Streets.  He was, additionally, a vice president of the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank.

A widower, Johnson had five grown children, George B., Thomas W., Edward S., Annie McEntyre, and Elvira Kelly.  Elvira was a widow and she and her children, Adelaide and Herbert J., also moved into the new house.  The Kelly family shared Johnson's summer home in East Hampton, as well.

The engagement of Annie McEntyre's son, James G. McEntyre, to Helen Marie Sheehan, was announced in the spring of 1913.  On May 25, The Sun reported, "On Wednesday evening Mrs. E. Kelly, aunt of Mr. McEntyre, was the hostess at a theatre party.  She took her guests to see 'The Amazons' and after the performance to her home, 306 West 107th street, for supper and informal dancing."  The New-York Tribune commented that also attending were the bridegroom's grandfather, James G. Johnson, and Adelaide (who would be the maid of honor) and Herbert.  Herbert would serve as an usher at the wedding.

James G. Johnson died in the West 107th Street house on December 29, 1916 at the age of 85.  In reporting his death, The East Hampton Star commented that his business success had "brought him fortune and prosperity."  The newspaper added, "He was sparing with his fortune however, and used much of it for the benefit of the poor and the community in which he dwelled, generally."

His estate was appraised at the equivalent of $18.2 million today.  Elvira inherited the equivalent of $3.65 million, and Adelaide and Herbert were bequeathed just under $30,000 in today's money.  Elvira and her children remained at 306 West 107th Street.  

America entered World War I in April 1917 and the following year The Sun headlined a first page article, "The Fighting Irish Who March With 'Kelly and Burke and Shea.'"  The article reported on the recruits of the "Fighting Sixty-ninth" which had been commissioned at Camp Wadsworth.  It listed three full columns of Irish surnames, including Herbert Johnson Kelly of Company K.

Elvira received terrifying news on April 16, 1918.  The Evening World reported, "Word was received to-day by Mrs. John B. Kelly, of No. 306 West 107th Street that her son, Corpl. Herbert Johnson Kelly, Company K, 165th Infantry, has been wounded in action."  (It appears that Herbert survived his injuries and the war in general.)

Within the year, Elvira sold 306 West 107th Street.  The new owners converted it to a "dwelling for two families and bachelor apartments," according to the Certificate of Occupancy that year in 1919.  

image via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services

At least one of the two apartments was a duplex, home to Edwin Bell and his wife.  It was occasionally the venue of social events.  On May 23, 1920, for instance, The Sun reported, "At a luncheon and musicale given recently by Mrs. Edwin Bell at her home, 306 West 107th street, announcement was made of the engagement of Mrs. Anne Nancy Gottschalk of Cincinnati and this city to Mr. Herman Wagner of Providence, R. I., and New York."  The Bells' apartment was large enough to take in a renter.  They placed an advertisement on October 2, 1921 for "A furnished suite consisting of unusually large room, bath and complete kitchen, in private duplex apartment.  Bell, 306 West 107th st."

More typical was the apartment of a tenant named Scott, who advertised on March 13, 1921, "Very attractive apartment, 2 rooms, bath and kitchenette, near Riverside Drive, to be sublet until October."

At least some of the residents at the time were affluent enough to own an automobile.  On November 30, 1921, The Evening World reported that Frank Wesley and George Engle had been arraigned, "charged with the theft of an automobile owned by Henrietta [Madison] of No. 306 West 107th Street."  The pair's arrest ended a months-long string of thefts.  Two days later, the New York Herald reported that Wesley and Engle had confessed "to having stolen more than forty automobiles."

A renovation completed in 1961 resulted in two apartments per floor in the former mansion. 

photographs by the author