REMEMBER: THE COLLYER BROTHERS PARK

Many might know that the term for hoarding is Collyer syndrome but do not connect it to the history of Harlem.  The Collyers were two hermit brothers living in Harlem who were one of the last white families to still live on the block after the Depression years and ended up amassing tons of useless items in their brownstone that would eventually cause the siblings' untimely death.  There is a community garden at the site now since the house was eventually torn down and those who take a closer look will notice the famous family name posted out front.  Read more on the Collyer Brothers in our past article: LINK

ARCHITECTURE: THE ORIGINAL COLLYER BROWNSTONE

Harlem Bespoke:  Many might know that the term for hoarding is Collyer syndrome but do not connect it to the history of Harlem.  The Collyers were two hermit brothers living in Harlem who were one of the last white families to still live on the block after the Depression years and ended up amassing tons of useless items in their brownstone that would eventually cause the siblings' untimely death.  

☞ REMEMBER: The Collyer Brothers

Langley and Homer Collyer, like the Beales of the Maysles Brothers' Grey Gardens, were also forgotten eccentrics from a time when opportunities were grand but fleeting (albeit the Harlem version). Born into a well-to-do family that purchased a brownstone in the new neighborhood of Harlem at the turn of the century, the brothers eventually would stay in the house when the majority of white families started to move out. The older brother, Homer, went blind and his brother Langley (pictured at right) would be his sole provider. The odd house in the neighborhood would draw a crowd of over 1,000 onlookers in 1947 when the police opened up the brownstone to discover the two had passed away, buried in a gargantuan hoard (mostly newspapers) weighing over 15 tons. Langley had once said his brother would return to health one day and that he wanted the periodicals around so Homer could catch up with the times. "Collyer Syndrome" is used this day as term for those who have issues with hoarding. The house was located on 2078 5th Avenue at 128th Street, but a park now sits on its original site. See previous post for the park information: LINK

☞ READ: Langley & Homer by E.L. Doctorow

The New York Times recently caught up with author E. L. Doctorow and discussed his fictional account of Harlem's Collyer Brothers. Doctorow is no stranger to Edwardian Era period pieces since he is most known for his novel, Ragtime, which also had central characters from Harlem. The author was a teenager when the news broke on the deaths of the Collyers, and six decades later, the reclusive hoarders who introduced the world to term "Collyer Syndrome" still provide a fascinating muse for this writer known for blending historic fact and fiction. Read more in the NY Times article: LINK. To see what happened to the Collyer House or more on the eccentric brothers, read our past post: LINK.

☞ WALK: Collyer Brothers Park

Named after the infamous Collyer Brothers, this small community park sits on the original lot of their family brownstone. Little-known but long on history, the park is a reminder of Harlem's cross-cultural past. The brothers were one of the last white families to remain in central Harlem during the years after the Depression and would meet a tragic fate. See the following post for more information: LINK. Located on 5th Avenue and 128th Street, the park can be reached by taking the 2, 3 train to 125th Street.

☞ DWELL: The St. Claire Condominiums

Back in April 2008, the St. Claire Condominiums at 2077 Fifth Avenue (corner of East 128th Street) debuted but would eventually succumbed to a market that was quickly on the decline. By September of that year, 5 out of the 13 units were in contract according to The Real Deal and things looked like they were progressing along before 2009 arrived: LINK. Apparently not much happened last year and the existing contracts fell through since all the sales listing were pulled off the market at that time. Streeteasy now shows that the entire new development was bought out in February 2010 for the sum of $8.5 million: LINK. Does anyone know if this building has gone rental?

Another point of interest about this location was is that the building sits right across from Collyer Park (2078 Fifth Avenue), which is the location of Harlem's hoarding hermit brothers who died in their house stuffed with 15 tons of collected garbage back in 1947: LINK. The St. Claire is actually built on the lot of the Collyer's brothers other house which the IRS seized in 1947 for failure of paying back taxes: LINK. DOB records show that the brownstone at 2077 Fifth Avenue was demolished back in 1951 and this corner was mostly an open lot until recently. Photo by Uysses

☞ SEE: Grey Gardens

The Harlem-based Maysles Brothers' career started with their documentary on Jackie O's forgotten relatives, the Beales. Living in squalor and lost in a bygone time, the mother and daughter team reminds us a little of Harlem's Collyer Brothers (but without the Jackie-swooping-in-to-save-them part). Last month, HBO released a well-received movie on the Beales and their estate on Long Island, Grey Gardens. See the previous post on the Maysles: LINK. See here for the Collyer Brothers: LINK.

☞ SEE: Harlem Holiday Tree Lighting Events 2010

Saturday, December 4th:
Collyer Brothers Park- tree lighting and caroling to commence at 5:30 PM: LINK 

Convent Garden- tree lighting, caroling, and refreshments from 6:00-8:00 PM: LINK

Monday, December 6th:
Marcus Garvey Park- event will begin with a tree lighting procession and caroling from Pelham Fritz Recreation Center at 6:00 PM; followed by a special holiday program inside the Recreation Center; dinner will be served: LINK

Tuesday, December 7th:
West Harlem Piers Park- tree lighting and caroling to begin at 5:30 PM; refreshments provided by Fairway Market: LINK

Thursday, December 9th:
Morningside Park- Friends of Morningside Park’s Winter Celebration and Tree Lighting to begin at 4:00 PM: LINK

Saturday, December 11th:
St. Nicholas Park- Friends of St. Nicholas Park will be having their annual Holiday Tree Lighting from 5:30-6:30 PM: LINK

Wednesday, December 15th:
Jackie Robinson Park- Jackie Robinson Park Conservancy will hold their annual “Lights of Hope” event beginning at 4:00 PM in the Jackie Robinson Recreation Center: LINK

ARCHITECTURE: 2086 FIFTH AVENUE

Harlem Bespoke:  We noticed that an empty lot at 2086 Fifth Avenue just north of 128th street now has plywood up on it.  There appears to have been 5 identical townhouses built when all was new over a century ago but two had since been torn down. As far as the new building goes,  DOB permits mention that there will be 8 units in total so the developer is trying to put as many apartments in as possible for such a low level construction.   This location is actually on the line of brownstones where the infamous Collyer Brothers lived on which is where one of the great tragedies of New York City unfolded: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2020