Rummaging the Past

Many months ago, I read on Curbed about how Columbia University’s Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library was digitizing its New York Real Estate Brochure Collection (i.e., old real estate brochures). At the time, only Brooklyn was done, so I made a note to check back. Well, Manhattan has been finished, and it’s really interesting. The entries are far from comprehensive, and maddeningly, dates are rare. But if you like history and/or real estate, you’ll have a blast on the site. The collection’s main URL is http://nyre.cul.columbia.edu/, but to search by neighborhood, go to http://nyre.cul.columbia.edu/neighborhoods/view/MN24. I’ve posted a bunch here…. Click on any image below to enlarge it, and note that you can see them larger—with accompanying maps (the site is very well done)—on the Avery site.

11-17 Beach

 

52 Duane

52 Duane

100 Church

100 Church

250 Church

250 Church

261 Broadway

261 Broadway

290 Broadway

290 Broadway

321 Broadway

 

1 Comment

  1. The language used in presenting these properties for rent is almost poetic. Makes one sorry that language these days is crass and non-friendly to potential buyers/renters. Enjoyed looking at these very much…makes one long for the past and civiized language.