Life in New York before the stock market crashed in 1929 was very different indeed. Almost every apartment of 2 bedrooms or more contained at least one Maid’s Room, and a tiny adjacent bathroom. The typical Maid’s Room was around 6’ to 6’-6” in width, and 11’ to 13’ in length....

Circa 1915  //  ARCHITECT: Schwartz & Gross  //  BUILDER: Undetermined   I had the good fortune to be contacted by the owner of an Edwardian 5 at 771 West End Avenue, who was hoping to determine an accurate construction date for the building — his own research led him to either...

Circa 1927  //  ARCHITECT: Undetermined  //  BUILDER: Undetermined   639 WEA is a very attractive smaller building, clad in very light brick with detailing done in a yellow-hued stone. There is a vague Mediterranean feel to the detail and the red barrel tile roof of the penthouse,...

Circa 1920  //  ARCHITECT: Gaetan Ajello  //  BUILDER: Paterno Brothers 905 is the third and final of the three buildings built by the Paterno Brothers and designed by Ajello along the western side of the Avenue between 103rd and 104th Streets. Like 885 WEA, 905 is 13 stories and is...

Circa 1916  //  ARCHITECT: Gaetan Ajello  //  BUILDER: Paterno Brothers   Here is another ‘set’ of three buildings, all designed by the same architect and built as speculative ventures by the Paterno family construction company. Comparing the three illustrates some of the subtle...

Circa 1912  //  ARCHITECT: Gaetan Ajello  //  BUILDER: Paterno Brothers   This building is the first three buildings built between 103rd and 104th on West End Avenue via collaboration between the Paterno Brothers and architect, Gaetan Ajello. More elaborately detailed than the...

Circa 1912 // ARCHITECT: Neville & Bagge   This is a very handsome building and quite restrained for the time period. If it weren’t for the low glass to wall ratio, it could pass for a 1920’s building. The architects, Neville & Bagge designed many buildings on the Upper West...

Circa 1924 // ARCHITECT: Rosario Candela   Sited on the east side of West End Avenue, this building is simple and elegant, with a two-story stone base, and clad in tan brick above. The only significant ornamentation on the facade are four columnar brick quoins, not typical of Candela....

Circa 1913 // ARCHITECT: Schwartz & Gross   Sitting at the northern end of WEA, this Edwardian Era building is still very successful. The WEA facade is quite handsome, with the brick facade accented by an elegant two-story stone base, echoed with significant stone detailing at the...

Circa 1929 // ARCHITECT: Emery Roth   This building is really special for a number of reasons. The facade is very restrained for Roth in 1929, but subtly fuses Classical and minimal Art Deco motifs; it is almost bland, unless you take the time to really look at it. It’s all brick, with...