Victorian Society in America: Metropolitan Chapter

Metropolitan Chapter of The Victorian Society in America

	Home Page	63 Nassau Street Margot Gayle, the world’s leading expert on cast-iron buildings and also one of the founders of the Victorian Society in America, has long attributed 63 Nassau Street to James Bogardus. Bogardus was a pioneer in the use of cast iron in architecture and was an early champion of the building material. Built c. 1860, 63 Nassau Street is one of just four remaining Bogardus buildings in NYC (the other three - 254 Canal Street, 75 Murray Street, and 85 Leonard Street, are all protected as landmarks). The building, still remarkably intact, is in danger of being demolished for a larger development, and support for its designation as a landmark is needed. Although no identification for the foundry was ever found on the façade of 63 Nassau Street, the building is remarkably similar to the Bogardus building at 85 Leonard Street. In addition, the design of 63 Nassau Street also incorporates medallions of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin that are identical to those on three other Bogardus buildings – the Sun Building in Baltimore, the Harper & Bros. building in New York City, and the Swain Building in Philadelphia, all of which are now demolished. Thus, there can be little doubt that 63 Nassau Street should be attributed to James Bogardus. The Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, through its Margot Gayle Fund for the Preservation of Victorian Heritage, recently commissioned architectural historian Andrew Scott Dolkart to survey all of the undesignated cast-iron buildings in New York City. In this survey, Dolkart refers to 63 Nassau Street as “one of an important group of ‘sperm candle’ style buildings, including 85 Leonard Street and 55 White Street, with two- and three-story arcades supported by thin candles that resemble those made from sperm whale oil.” He notes that the building’s cast-iron façade was probably placed on an earlier brick building c. 1860, making it one of the earliest surviving cast-iron buildings in New York. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission held a designation hearing for 63 Nassau Street in 1966 and 1967. Fortunately, in the 40 years that have passed, this building is still standing in relatively good condition. However, it is clear that this building could be endangered, and it therefore critical that the Commission act soon to save this rare and incredibly significant cast-iron-fronted building. Click here to go back to the 63 Nassau Street page. VSA Metropolitan Chapter 232 East 11th Street New York, NY 10003 Email the Metropolitan Chapter - Victorian Society in America.
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MARGOT GAYLE FUND FOR PRESERVATION OF VICTORIAN HERITAGE