24 St. Mark’s Place | Block : 463 | Lot #21

Description & Building Alterations

This six-story brick tenement was constructed in 1903 by Sass & Smallheiser for Braverman, Silverson and Louden. It features splayed lintels with scrolled keystones above the windows and stone surrounds at the second story. The historic cornice was removed sometime after the 1980s tax photo was taken. In the 19th century, 24 St. Mark’s Place housed the offices of the Children’s Aid Society. Between 1853 and 1929, more than 150,000 abandoned, abused and orphaned children were rescued from the streets and slums of New York City and taken by train to start new lives with families on farms across the country. In just a five-month period over the winter of 1875, the Children’s Aid Society’s five Manhattan lodging sites provided lodging for 68,982 needy, and served about 277,200 meals.

In 1965 Martin (Marty) Freedman opened the clothing boutique, Limbo, here. Merchandise ranged from used and embellished jeans to vintage suits, dresses, military uniforms and Indian cotton and silks. It was the clothier to the New York City’s counterculture and was frequented by people such as Tommy Hilfiger, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, the New York Dolls and members of the Velvet Underground. In 1967 the boutique moved down the street to 4 St. Mark’s Place and was there until 1975 when it was replaced by Trash and Vaudeville.