Monday, September 26, 2011

☞ ARCHITECTURE: Harlem's Smallest House?


There is a little brick house at 401A Convent Avenue and 147th Street which appears to be one of the most compact residences to be found uptown.  The petite red brick, semi-detached building is in the historic district and therefore an official landmark but not much material can be found on its origins.  Most of the other homes in the area are grand limestone townhouses and this particular property appears to be a fraction of the size of its towering neighbors. Does anyone have any more details on the history of this curious building?

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this - I walk by almost daily and have wondered aloud to my husband what it used to be. I've joked and said it was a cobbler's home from long ago. I'll be watching this post to see if anyone answers. . .

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  2. Wow...I'm so shocked and surprised to see this post. This house belonged to a very close family friend of my father's for years. I remember visiting this family friend I called "Uncle" for years. Him and his wife at the time (the 80's) played a huge role in helping me make my move and transition into the NY Fashion Industry during my college years. Sorry to say I took those visits for granted back then, missing that neighborhood now, as well as dear Uncle Larry (deceased). His family owned many apartment in Harlem for years. But times have changed. If I knew what I know now maybe I'd be living in that very house in this picture now. As far as I know it's always been private home and I've always wanted to know who is living there now.

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  3. That was my Uncle Larry's old house. he had a corner store around the corner on St. Nick! That iron fence was a dead give away!

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  4. BB
    It used to be a garage for nurses who lived in the house around the before Larry parents owned it, once his folks retired they converted it into this cute little triplex.

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