157-159 East 3rd Street | Block : 399 | Lot #58

Description & Building Alterations

Although now one building, Nos. 157 and 159 were built as twin buildings by two separate owners.  The two lots were owned by John Jacob Astor, but in 1849 they were sold to Jacob Hillenbrand and Peter Palm, who built the two Greek Revival buildings.  Unlike most of the buildings in the area, these two did not originally have shops on the ground floor or basement, but it is unclear whether they were built as single-family homes or apartment dwellings.  In the 1850s both buildings were used to house the infantry, so it is possible that they were built for that purpose.

Around 1860 the buildings were converted to tenements, with multiple families living above ground-floor shops. The simple window lintels have been shaved down and the entire facade painted.  The small cornice with dentil moldings is original.  In the 1960s the stores were replaced with apartments.