266 East 7th Street | Block : 376 | Lot #25

Description & Building Alterations

Tax records indicate that this three story row house along with several others on the block were constructed circa 1842. The row houses are a remnant marking New York’s shipbuilding past. They housed the merchants and artisans that worked along the East River and the area was called the Dry Dock district.

During the latter half of the 19th century, the area was called Political Row for the numerous judges, lawyers and politicians that lived on East 7th Street. In the earlier part of the 20th century, many of the original residents of Political Row moved away due to nearby tenement housing development. This simple brick row house features a brownstone base, molded lintels and projecting sills on the windows.  In 1928 owner, Herman Mermelstein altered the building which was occupied as a tenement by erecting new interior partitions among other work.  Owner, Rabbi Horowitz installed new oil burners in 1956.