As early as 1845, stable owner Phillip Clary and his family occupied the newly built brick-faced house at 181 Ninth Street (renumbered 210 East 9th Street in 1867). Typical of the Greek Revival style, its brownstone details included understated sills and lintels, heavy doorway pilasters and entablature, and a simple cornice.
About a block way was St. Mark's Church on the Bowery, erected in 1795-99. Its sexton, Charles L. Carpenter, moved his family into the Ninth Street house in 1851. Born in 1810, Carpenter, apparently a widow, shared the house with his four sons--Leonard J., who was in real estate; Dennis M., a lawyer; Samuel, a deputy sheriff; and Merritt, who was a carman--and two daughters, Mary J. and Theresa W.
What must have been snug conditions within the house became slightly less so when Theresa was married in St. Mark's Church to Epheram Chamberlain on September 13, 1860.
On the evening of March 7, 1863, a brazen burglar entered the house, going as far as the hall tree just inside the door. Three days later, an advertisement appeared in the New York Herald:
$15 Reward--Taken from the hallway of No. 181 Ninth street, on the evening of the 7th instant, two Overcoats and a Silk Umbrella; any person returning the same to L. J. Carpenter, 24 Third avenue, will receive the above reward and no questions asked.
The reward would translate to about $385 in 2025.
In 1865, Charles L. Carpenter moved his family to 228 East 11th Street where he died at the age of 61 on March 15, 1869. The East 9th Street house became home to the Andrew Campbell family. Andrew and Margaret Campbell had three children: Andrew McKenzie, who entered the College of the City of New York in 1866; John; and Margaret Ann.
The house was the scene of eight-year-old Margaret Ann's funeral on July 23, 1866. The Campbells had another daughter, Jane Graham, shortly afterward, but she, too, died in childhood. Her funeral was held in the parlor on November 25, 1869.
John Campbell was old enough to start a career at the time. He was listed the following year as running a saloon at 68 Broome Street.
Following the Campbell family, two other St. Mark's Church sextons occupied 210 East 9th Street. William Fair moved into the house in 1872 and remained through 1875, followed by George W. Hammill. He listed his profession as "Sexton of St. Mark's Church and general furnishings undertaker, receiving vaults for Greenwood and other cemeteries."
The East 9th Street dwelling became a boarding house, run by Anna Steen, in 1879. She leased it from C. Battenhauser and it was most likely he who gave the exterior a pseudo-modern makeover. Pressed metal sills and cornices were applied to the openings and an ambitious terminal cornice with brackets, swags and a triangular pediment (more expected in a commercial building) were installed.
By 1891 a Mrs. Thomas Miller ran the boarding house, which The New York Press on April 21 that year said, "has been the source of considerable gossip in that neighborhood."
In October 1890, Paul Behrend, a German-born pianist took a room. Mrs. Miller described the 25-year-old to a reporter from The Evening World as, "well educated and...an accomplished musician, having several piano pupils in various parts of this city." She said he came from a "good German family," and The Evening World discovered, "in 1889 Behrend was forced to leave his home in Germany because his father had disgraced the family by forging a check and was sent to prison. At that time the young man was studying law and he felt the disgrace keenly and came to this country."
In February 1891, 22-year-old Elsa Dannheimer took a room. Mrs. Miller said that no one in the house "ever suspected any particular attachment between the handsome, blond young pianist and the dark-haired Elsa." But soon after Elsa's arrival, there was an attachment.
The reason that The New York Press mentioned that 210 East 9th Street was "the source of considerable gossip," was revealed in a article in The New York Sun. On April 21, 1891, it said that Behrend "came here from Germany less than a year ago and began playing [piano] in a house of ill repute...kept by Mrs. Thomas Miller." The article said, "he was general utility man as well as pianist, and was frequently seen carrying pitchers of beer and whiskey from neighboring saloons to the house."
At 10:00 on the morning of April 19, 1891, Behrend and Elsa Dannheimer checked into the Grand Union Hotel as "P. Behrend and wife." Around 8:30 that night, a hallman smelled gas and looked into the transom over the door of their room. "The young man and woman were dead upon the bed in their night dresses, wrapped in each others' arms," reported the New York Sun. The couple left two letters, one for Mrs. Miller and the other for Paul's cousin, Fred Behrend.
In Mrs. Miller's envelope was a latch key and a note that read:
My Dear Mrs. Miller: I herewith send to you notice that both of us are tired of life, and both have come to the conclusion to proceed to end it. Elsie's trunk should go to the Coroner, who will dispose of the effects to pay for our funeral. We thank you and Mrs. Albert for kindnesses you have shown us.Paul Behrend.
A reporter from The New York Press rang the bell at 210 East 9th Street. Understandably, Mrs. Miller attempted to distance herself.
"Well, all I have to say is this: I met those people some time ago, here in the city, in a casual way. They are no particular friends of mine; simply acquaintances."
The reporter added editorially, "It was plainly evident from Mrs. Miller's general actions that she knows more about the people than she wishes to divulge. While she was talking to the reporter at the door three very well dressed couples passed into the house."
If the "gossip" about 210 East 9th Street abated after the incident, it was renewed in 1893 when hearings concerning corruption within the police department were held. On December 22, The World reported that Captain Doherty had been ordered to "make a correct list of every disreputable place, including gambling-houses and houses of ill-fame, in the Fourteenth Precinct." Included on the list was "the place at No. 210 East Ninth street."
The negative publicity most likely resulted in a change of proprietors. L. Baumann took over the lease in 1897.
Among the roomers living here in 1911 was Tillie Chesman. At the time, the East Village was the center of the Socialist and Communist communities, and its blue collar residents were fighting valiantly for fair labor conditions and wages.
On January 30, 1911, The New York Times reported, "Nearly 2,000 Anarchists marched down Broadway yesterday afternoon singing 'The Marseillaise.'" As police attempted to disperse the crowd and arrest those who resisted, Tillie Chesman lost control. The Times reported:
Tillie Chesman, a young girl of 210 East Ninth Street, threw herself on the policeman, scratching and kicking while she shouted to the others to follow her lead. She was more than a match for the policeman who tried to arrest her, and it took three men finally to pinion her arms and get her into a patrol wagon.
When architect Louis A. Sheinart made interior renovations to the house in 1923, the Department of Buildings described it as a "tenement." The term generally referred to any multi-family structure; however, it suggests that the occupants were short-term roomers.
The basement level was converted to business in 1984. It became home to Hasaki, a sushi restaurant that remains today. There are five apartments within the upper floors.
photograph by the author
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment