935–939 Broadway is a six-story Italianate brownstone structure designed by the architect Griffith Thomas in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City.

935–939 Broadway
935–939 Broadway (also known as 159–161 Fifth Avenue), as seen from Broadway and 22nd Street
Map
General information
Architectural styleItalianate style
Location935–939 Broadway
Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°44′26″N 73°59′23″W / 40.7404719°N 73.9897151°W / 40.7404719; -73.9897151
Completed1862
ClientRichard Mortimer
Design and construction
Architect(s)Griffith Thomas

History

edit

The six-story Italianate building, commissioned by Richard Mortimer, was built between 1861–1862 and was designed by architect Griffith Thomas.[1] Throughout its lifetime, the structure has been referred to as the Mortimer Building, the Albert Building, and the Glenham Hotel.[2] Early tenants include Bryant, Stratton & Packard's New York City Business College[3] and the J.&C. Johnston Dry Goods company[1] that opened in 1881.[4] The building originally had five stories and a sixth story was added in 1919 by the architects Rouse & Goldstone.[3]

Glenham Hotel

edit

Conflicting information exists[2] that refers to this building as the former Glenham Hotel. The Glenham Hotel however has been listed as 153 and 155 Fifth Avenue,[5][6] now the address of the adjacent Scribner Building.[1]

On April 2, 1882, 51-year-old Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt committed suicide in his fifth floor room, number 80, by firing his Smith & Wesson revolver into his left temple.

In 2021, the building began hosting the site of the first official Wizarding World and Harry Potter flagship store in New York City, now simply referred to as "Harry Potter New York".[7]

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "The 1862 Mortimer Building -- 935-939 Broadway". daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  2. ^ a b White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
  3. ^ a b "Ladies' Mile Historic District Designation Report" (PDF). Landmarks Preservation Commission. May 2, 1989. p. 144. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "J. & C. Johnston's Opening". The New York Times. March 31, 1881. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  5. ^ "The Glenham Hotel Sale". The New York Times. October 7, 1893. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  6. ^ "Historic List Of Every Hotel In New York In 1882". stuffnobodycaresabout.com. April 22, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  7. ^ "Harry Potter New York". harrypotterstore.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.