The semi-detached house with the faux mansard roof on 52 West 132nd Street is still the most distinct structure on the block between Malcolm X and 5th Avenue. The south side house faces some banal public housing on the north side of the street so this charming old timer and its neighbors are holding fort in keeping any character in this part of the neighborhood. The very detailed wooden porch has been replaced by a meager cast iron rail, the substantial cornice is long gone and the the entire house has been covered with cedar siding. Maybe one day, a benefactor will come along and uncover the past glory of these disappearing 19th century houses. Post Great Depression, many photographers have captured them in an ever engulfing cityscape and it is always a pleasure to run into one of the surviors. Archival photo courtesy NYPL
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