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Landmarks Preservation Commission August 1967, Number 4 LP-0317 HAMILTON GRANGE, 287 Convent Avenue, Borough of Manhattan. Built 1801; architect John McComb. Landmark Site: Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 2050, Lot 4. On July lt, 1966, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the proposed designation as a Landmark of Hamilton Grange and th e proposed designation of the related Landmark Site. (Item No. 20). The hearing had been duly advertised in accordance with the provisions of law. Six witnesses spoke in favor of designation. There were no speakers in opposition to designation. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS The almost square architectural mass of Hamilton Grange is impressive in its symmetry and handsome proportions. Designed by one of the City's best early architects, John McComb, Jr., and incorporating features suggested by Hamilton, this Federal style house, with its porches and unpretentious clapbo a rd exterior, has a gracious dignity. "The Grange" was planned as a country seat by A lexander Hamilton for the open countryside and was named after his pate rnal grandfather's home in Scotland. It is one of the f ew remaining notable historical hous es , designed in the Federal Style, of true archi t ect.ural distinction. In 1889, the two-story frame mansion was moved five hundred feet from its original site nece ssita ting the construction of a new foundation and baseme nt to rec ei ve it. At its pr esent site the mansion first served as a chapel and later as a r ectory for Saint Luke's Church and the original front now faces the church. The original front porch was moved around and added to the side ve randa which now faces the street, the original entrance door was moved to a corner of the veranda. It is an exc eptionally fine doorway with leaded side- and has a f an design within th e transom. Due to vandalism the l eaded side lights wilJ h ave t o be r e stored. The front door is set in panelled reveals, and pilaste rs adorn and flank the exterior sidelights. The front facing the street has a featured central window at the second fl oo r; th e r ear is five windows wide, while the sides have four. In the r ear support ed by six eve nly spaced Doric columns is one of the two side verandas which extend the full width of the hous e. Two handsome octagonal r ooms r eflect them- selves externally by proj ecting as three-sided bays into the side verandas. These bay windows have the elegant full length triple sash so typical of Federal house s. The handsome roof cornice is Doric, with triglyphs in the fri e ze, and, as seen in photographs taken of the hause in 1933, was once surmounted by a fine Federal balustrade which encircled the l ow-lying hip roof. Similar balustrades were t o be f ound above the side verandas and the entrance and r ear porches . Four large chimneys(two of brick and two false ones of frame) ris e prominently and emphasize the symmetry of the house, History of the Ho us e Alexander Hamilton built the ho use with assistance from his father-in-law, General Philip It was erect ed in 1801 with Ezra Weeks as builder and w as intended t o provide a county s eat from which Hamilton could e scape th e ri gors of his career as soldier and statesman . The thirty-five acre prope rty w as once located on K ing sbridge Road (The Old Albany Post Road) so it was conveni ent f or him to take the stagecoach to th e State Capitol wh en the arose. Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), one of th e able st leaders of his day, was a staunch Fede ralist with str ong passi ons and pre judic es which finally br ou ght on his duel with Aaron Burr. In the Revoluti ona ry war he se rved as secretary and aide-d e-camp t o General with the ra nk of li e ut enant c olo nel . L ate r he co mmanded a r egiment under General Lafayette . In 1798 he w as appoint ed Inspector-General of th e Army. A brilliant he served in the Contine ntal Congre ss of 1782 and of 1788. A memb er of the New York State Legislature in 1787, he was appoint ed Secre tary of the Treasury in 1789. He is credited with proposinf a nati onal bank in 1791 and the mint in 1792, a nd he advocated th e excise tax on spirits . With some fri ends he founded the New York Evening Post in 1801, He left a rich l egacy of political writings, manY Federalist papers , t o his country and t o posterity . '(6,*1$7,21 $0(1'(' -81( - 6(( $''(1'80
Transcript of '(6,*1$7,21 $0(1'(' Landmarks Preservation Commission -81 ...
Landmarks Preservation Commission August 1967, Number 4 LP-0317
HAMILTON GRANGE, 287 Convent Avenue, Borough of Manhattan. Built 1801; architect John McComb.
Landmark Site: Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 2050, Lot 4. On July lt, 1966, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing
on the proposed designation as a Landmark of Hamilton Grange and the proposed designation of the related Landmark Site. (Item No. 20). The hearing had been duly advertised in accordance with the provisions of law. Six witnesses spoke in favor of designation. There were no speakers in opposition to designation.
DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS
The almost square architectural mass of Hamilton Grange is impressive in its symmetry and handsome proportions. Designed by one of the City's best early architects, John McComb, Jr., and incorporating features suggested by Hamilton, this Federal style house, with its porches and unpretentious clapboard exterior, has a gracious dignity. "The Grange" was planned as a country seat by Alexander Hamilton for the open countryside and was named after his paternal grandfather's home in Scotland. It is one of the f ew remaining notable historical houses, designed in the Federal Style, of true archi t ect.ural distinction.
In 1889, the two-story frame mansion was moved five hundred feet from its original site necessitating the construction of a new foundation and basement to r eceive it. At its present site the mansion first served as a chapel and later as a r ectory for Saint Luke's Church and the original front now faces the church. The original front porch was moved around and added to the side veranda which now faces the street, the original entrance door was moved to a corner of the veranda. It is an exceptionally fine doorway with leaded side-
and has a f an design within the transom. Due to vandalism the l eaded sidelights wilJ h ave t o be r estored. The front door is s e t in panelled reveals, and pilasters adorn and flank the exterior sidelights.
The front facing the street has a featured central window at the second floor; the r ear is five windows wide, while the sides have four. In the r ear supported by six evenly spaced Doric columns is one of the two side verandas which extend the full width of the house. Two handsome octagonal r ooms r eflect them-selves externally by projecting as three-sided bays into the side verandas. These bay windows have the elegant full length triple sash so typical of Federal houses.
The handsome roof cornice is Doric, with triglyphs in the frieze, and, as seen in photographs taken of the hause in 1933, was once surmounted by a fine Federal balustrade which encircled the l ow-lying hip roof. Similar balustrades were t o be f ound above the side verandas and the entrance and r ear porches . Four large chimneys(two of brick and two false ones of frame) rise prominently and emphasize the symmetry of the house,
History of the House
Alexander Hamilton built the house with assistance from his father-in-law, General Philip It was erected in 1801 with Ezra Weeks as builder and was intended t o provide a county seat from which Hamilton c ould escape the rigors of his career as soldier and statesman. The thirty-five acre property was once located on Kingsbridge Road (The Old Albany Post Road) so it was convenient f or him to take the stagecoach to the State Capitol when the arose.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), one of the ablest leaders of his day, was a staunch Federalist with strong passions and prejudices which finally brought on his duel with Aaron Burr. In the Revolutionary war he served as secretary and aide-de-camp t o General with the rank of lieutenant colonel . Later he commanded a r egiment under General Lafayette. In 1798 he was appointed Inspector-General of the Army. A brilliant he served in the Continental Congress of 1782 and of 1788. A member of the New York State Legislature in 1787, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury in 1789. He is credited with proposinf a national bank in 1791 and the mint in 1792, and he advocated the excise tax on spirits . With some fri ends he founded the New York Evening Post in 1801, He l eft a rich l egacy of political writings, manY Federalist papers , t o his country and t o posterity.
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As the building is now situated, the Grange cannot be made to reflect either its architect's conception or its condition when it was Hamilton's residence.
However, Congress has passed legislation (76 Stat. 57) establishing the Grange as a national memorial and appropriating funds for its restoration contingent on the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior that "the lands which have been donated are sufficient to assure the relocation of the Grange •••• " The National Park Service is preparing several alternate site proposals, all within one or two blocks of the present site, and there is every indication that a good new site will indeed soon be agreed upon.
FINDINGS AND DESIGNATIONS
On the basis of a careful consideration of the history, the architecture and other features of this building, the Landmarks Preservation Connnission finds that Hamilton Grange has a special character, special historical aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and characteristics of New York City.
The Commission further finds that, among its important qualities, Hamilton Grange is an outstanding example of Federal architecture, one of the few country seats of the period remaining in New York; that the structure contains excellent proportions and distinctive architectural features; and that the historical associations connected with its original builder and owner are of importance to the history of the country and to the people of the City of New York.
Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8-A of the Charter of the City · of New York and Chapter 8-.A of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designates as a Landmark Hamilton Grange, 287 Convent Avenue, Borough of Manhattan and designates TRX Map Block 2050, Lot 4, Borough of Manhattan, as its Landmark Site.
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Amendment of Landmark Designation Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange June 30, 2020
Designation List 518 LP-0317A 3 of 4
AMENDMENT OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION
Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange 414 West 141st Street, Manhattan
LANDMARK TYPE
Individual NEW LANDMARK SITE Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1957, Lot 140 in part, consisting of the land beneath the building. AMENDMENT OF LANDMARK SITE June 30, 2020
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Lisa Kersavage, Executive Director Mark Silberman, General Counsel Timothy Frye, Director of Special Projects Cory Scott Herrala, Director of Preservation Kate Lemos McHale, Director of Research REPORT BY
Timothy Frye, Director of Special Projects
COMMISSIONERS
Sarah Carroll, Chair Frederick Bland, Vice Chair Diana Chapin Wellington Chen Michael Devonshire Michael Goldblum John Gustafsson Anne Holford-Smith Everardo Jefferson Jeanne Lutfy Adi Shamir-Baron
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Amendment of Landmark Designation Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange June 30, 2020
Designation List 518 LP-0317A 3 of 4
Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange 414 West 141St Street, Manhattan Designation List 518 LP-0317A Built: 1801 Architect: John McComb, Jr. New Landmark Site: Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1957, Lot 140 in part, consisting of the land beneath the building Amendment of Landmark Site: June 30, 2020 Amendment Calendared: May 19, 2020 Public Hearing: June 30, 2020 On June 30, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the proposed amendment of the Landmark Site of Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange (Item No. 3). The hearing had been duly advertised in accordance with the provisions of the law. The Commission received no testimony regarding the item. .
Designation The Alexander Hamilton House, also known as the Grange, was designed in the Federal style by John McComb, Jr. in 1801. It once stood on a 35-acre tract, and in 1889, when development threatened its survival, it was given to St. Luke’s Church and moved from Convent Avenue and West 143rd Street to 287 Convent Avenue. The house was briefly used as a church and then a rectory. In 1960 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1962 it was donated to the U.S. Department the Interior. On August 2, 1967 the property was designated a New York City Landmark, and in 1976 Congress passed legislation establishing Hamilton Grange as a national memorial. Background and Existing Conditions In 1993 LPC issued a Certificate of Appropriateness approving a schematic proposal by the National Park Service to move Hamilton Grange from 287 Convent Avenue, adjacent to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, to nearby St. Nicholas Park. While funds were appropriated in 1976 for its relocation and restoration, the National Park Service operated the memorial adjacent to St. Luke’s until 2006, when it closed to the public to fulfill the long-term restoration and relocation plan. Through a 2002 easement granted by the City of New York to the National Park Service, the subject building was relocated and restored as Hamilton Grange National Memorial, on a lot in part within St. Nicholas Park. Amendments to the Certificate of Appropriateness were also approved to address the subject building’s orientation at the relocation site, and additional roof restoration work in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In 2008 the move was completed, and in 2011 the restored property opened to the public as the Hamilton Grange National Memorial, operated by the National Park Service.
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Amendment of Landmark Designation Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange June 30, 2020
Designation List 518 LP-0317A 3 of 4
Findings and Amendment Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange The Landmarks Preservation Commission finds that the Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange, was moved from its former Landmark Site at 287 Convent Avenue. The Commission further finds that its former Landmark Site, Manhattan Block 2050 Lot 4 no longer possesses a special character or special historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York City, and that the relocated site at 414 West 141st Street, does possess a special character or special historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York City and hereby amends the Landmark Site. Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 74, Section 3020 of the Charter of the City of New York and Chapter 3 of Title 25 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation Commission amends the designation of the Alexander Hamilton House, aka Hamilton Grange, to make its Landmark Site 414 West 141St Street, Borough of Manhattan Block 1957 Lot 140, in part, consisting of the land beneath the building.
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