11 Gay Street

West Village | built 1860

The city photographed every building for its tax records around 1940 and again in the 1980s. NYC Municipal Archives.

Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.

1860
Thomas Cumming's stables stand here before his houses replace them in 1860
Before the 1860 house went up, this lot at No. 11 Gay Street held stables belonging to Thomas Cumming, a paving contractor who did much roadwork for the city from the 1820s. Cumming lived at 137 Waverly Place from 1839. In 1860 he replaced the stables with houses built for Henry Luhrs.
Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1903
May 11
Two Black art students announce an exhibition at 11 Gay Street
A New York Times item of May 10, 1903 said that E. Hawkins and S. O. Collins, two Black artists of 11 Gay Street, were announcing an exhibition at that address, open May 11 through 15. The paper described them as art students rather than artists. For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries the little street was home mainly to Black residents.
Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

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