So here's a before and after of number 72 East 127th Street, between Park and Madison. The top photo from 1932 shows the porch as it stood originally and today there's a built out section of the facade in the former open space. There also seems to be a garage that no longer exist today. Archival photo by NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses
Vinyl siding is the bane of our existence. I bet if you took that crap off, the original masonry for the rounded top windows would still be there. Could be a nice renovation if anyone cared. The only thing good about Harlem's level of poverty was that many of the buildings were left untouched, they either fell down or just sat and waited. This one apparently was none such lucky.
ReplyDeleteMy friend owns that building. He tries to take good care of it. The inside is a mess though. Wow, you learn something new everyday. Thanks Ulyesses.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo -- please keep posting the vintage stuff. It's an inspiration to us who are trying to bring Harlem back to its former grandeur!
ReplyDeleteThis poor poor house has had a tough life :'(
ReplyDeleteSomeone, maybe Bob, please bring it back to its former grandeur.
Thanks -- I wish I owned it! If I had the capital, I would love to sponge away the decades of neglect, vandalism and wanton destruction that has plagued so many lovely buildings in Harlem. Looking at them as they once were, we might have the inspiration and opportunity to restore and revive the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great before and after photo, the before photo has typical carpentry construction details and craftsmanship including 2 over 2 arched sash windows, nice window frame jamb, sill and lintel details, mansard roof with cornice detail at the gutter line and weather boarding facing. It all works to create a well proportioned interesting façade. Fast forward to the replacement modern construction where the old world detail has been stripped and replaced with modern rectangular construction details. The building is now far less for it in fact the building is now fairly plain in comparison. I think these two photos demonstrate clearly what has been lost in terms of construction craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing I see in the second photo are the lines showing that everything original is probably underneath there.
ReplyDeleteIt's much cheaper to cover than to strip everything away, that could be this buildings saving's grace in the future!!