119 Avenue B | Block : 390 | Lot #105

Description & Building Alterations

Lot 105 consists of the rectory for St. Brigid’s Church, a landmark of the former Dry Dock district. The name is derived from the high number of dry docks that were located along the riverfront and serves as a marker of New York’s storied shipbuilding past. It is unclear when the current structure was erected, however according to research from tax records, 1852 or 1864-67 are the most likely dates. The land originally came under the ownership of the Roman Catholic Church in 1848, and in the same year, construction began on St. Brigid’s Church. St. Brigid is the patron saint of sailors, and the church and rectory were built to serve a major shipbuilding center.

It was in 1851 that the ownership of Lot 105 changed to Reverend R. Klein, and by the following year a building had been constructed on the property. A number of changes were reported in the tax records in 1864, indicating either significant alterations or the construction of a new building. The building is four stories tall and faced in a stucco-like material with minor ornamentation apart from the cornice. As of late 2012, the building appears to be undergoing significant restorations as part of the plan to rehabilitate St. Brigid’s Church.