260 East 7th Street | Block : 376 | Lot #22

Description & Building Alterations

Tax records indicate that this three story Greek Revival row house, along with several others on the block, was constructed between 1842 and 1843. The three bay wide window features molded lintels, projecting bracketed sills, double doors, and a cornice with dentils. The red door stands out against the rest of the building’s features which have all been painted the same cream color. The building also showcases iron railings with swirling horizontal volutes at the top of the stoop descending to vertical volutes at sidewalk level.

During the mid-19th century, this house was part of a row of adjacent houses known as the Dry Dock District and later the Political Row: the block of Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D where many of the Eleventh Ward’s political figures lived. This area was therefore linked to the early development of New York’s waterfront. By the turn of the 20th century, the erosion of the Political Row was underway as many of its original occupants moved away due to the onslaught of tenement construction. Like its neighbor at 258 East 7^th Street, this building was owned by a physician in the 1930’s. Dr. Samuel Herzstein owned the building, which held his offices and upper floor apartments. In the early 1960’s the building was converted into a two family dwelling by Thomas and Mary Wallace.

Block : 376 / Lot : 022 / Building Date : 1842-43 / Original Owner : James B. Sparrow / Original Use : Residential / Original Architect : Unknown