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188 BOWERY , Manhattan, New York City  📌  Year: 1   (BOWERY)   Streets of New York City  Random discovery ! ,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

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188 BOWERY , Manhattan

Building year: 1

Borough: Manhattan

City: New York City

Floor height (above ground): 5

Building usage: Residence / Multiple Use - Single or Multiple Dwelling with Stores or Offices S9

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Histograd local id: 383995

Creation date: 2019-05-17 00:32:11 Modification date: 2024-11-05

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History of the Germania Bank Building

During the middle decades of the 19th century, rising numbers of German immigrants in New York led to the development of a neighborhood called Kleindeutschland or Little Germany, which became the most important German-American center in the United States. It had a commercial center on the Bowery north of Division Street. The Germania Bank of the City of New York was established by local businessmen in 1869 in leased premises at 185 Bowery; its first president was Christian Schwarzwaelder, owner of a furniture store on East Broadway, and the vice-president, Joseph Kuntz, owned a brewery on Houston Street and lived on the Bowery.[2] In 1878 the Germania Bank moved to a purchased loft building at 215 Bowery; in the early 1890s it expanded into 217 Bowery next door. To accommodate continued growth, in December 1896 the bank bought three lots at the northwest corner of the Bowery and Spring Street. Plans for a new freestanding, fireproof building were filed on January 3, 1898; it was designed by the German-born architect Robert Maynicke and is considered one of his major works. The construction firm of Marc Eidlitz, an American of German descent, built it at a cost of around $200,000. Construction began on February 4, 1898 and was certified complete on January 21, 1899. The bank had already opened for public inspection on December 28, 1898 and for business on January 3, 1899, the one-year anniversary of the plans being filed.[2] The president of the Germania Bank at the time was Edward C. Schaefer. The building originally contained a public banking hall on the first floor, safe deposit vaults in the basement, and office spaces including the president's office and the meeting room for the Board of Directors.[2][5] In 1900 the bank published a promotional pamphlet emphasizing the security of the vaults.[2] The Germania Bank changed its name to the Commonwealth Bank in early 1918, probably as a result of rising anti-German sentiment during World War I. In the mid-1920s, the Bowery was the location of several banks, the Commonwealth Bank being one of five between Division and Houston Streets. Starting in 1923 with the opening of a branch on Lexington Avenue, Commonwealth expanded to other parts of Manhattan and to the Bronx and Brooklyn. It was then acquired in 1927 by the Manufacturers Trust Company, which became the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company following a 1961 merger.[2] Manufacturers Hanover operated 190 Bowery as a branch bank up to the mid-1960s. In 1966, it sold the building to Jay Maisel, a commercial photographer, who purchased it under the name Archival, Inc.[3][6] Maisel maintained his residence, studio, and gallery there, was married there in 1989,[4] and between 1966 and 1968 rented the second and fourth floors to artists Adolph Gottlieb and Roy Lichtenstein, respectively.[3][7] The building, known locally as "The Bank", was widely thought to be abandoned.[8] The building cost $300,000 annually to maintain, including heat and taxes.[9] In August 2014, it was quietly put up for sale;[10] on February 5, 2015, it was sold to Aby Rosen.[11] A 2019 film by Stephen Wilkes, Jay Myself, documents Maisel's move from the building after 49 years.[4][8][12] from Wikipedia

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103 ELDRIDGE Street, Manhattan

According to NYC building database, this one was built in 1910

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182 BOWERY , Manhattan

Location of Dry Goods Store own and operated by Patrick Wale from 1817 to 1822.

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229 ELIZABETH Street, Manhattan

This is not correct. My family lived here prior to 1902 through the 1960’s. This building was built prior to 1900.

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229 ELIZABETH Street, Manhattan

This is not correct. My family lived here prior to 1902 through the 1960’s. This building was built prior to 1900.

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229 ELIZABETH Street, Manhattan

Do you know when it was built? I don't understand why you say it not correct, there's no building year written for this place.

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71 2nd AVE, Manhattan

why is building classified as a landmark

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300 BOWERY , Manhattan

HI, My great grandfather had a restaurant at 300 Bowery around 1907. Was 300 Bowery always at the same location or has it changed since then? His place was McDonald's Oyster House.

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160 CANAL Street, Manhattan

There used to be a store called Leslie Mark NY that said it was located at 162-163 Canal Street in NYC in 1912. I am trying to find any photos or information about it as I had a cabinet that was made from the store and need to have it reproduced to fit a smaller scaled place. But I cannot find any information on the store, building or anything other than the name and address that is etched on the back of the cabinet. Any help would be appreciated. thank you.

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153 E HOUSTON Street

Are there pictures? of this location 153 Houston St back ending 1970s.

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This page have been seen 1260 times.

Historical score:2019

Localisation: New York City, NYC New York State, USA

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* We do our best to get the best accuracy, but in some maps it's hard to go beyond 20m.

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New York Lost BuildingBillionaires' Row

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To find former residents of this place, visit the directory New York City Directories (1815-1931) on NYPL Digital collection

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Person / organisation type: Other Architect Builder Company Institution Artiste Politician Businessman

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