120 MacDougal Street

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.

1887
St. Benedict's Home for Colored Catholic Children occupies an earlier building on the lot
Before the present tenement, an earlier building on this site was acquired by Reverend John E. Burke, of the African-American Catholic church of St. Benedict the Moor at Bleecker and Downing Streets, who opened it as a home for Black Catholic children. By 1887 ten children were living there.
Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1901
Schneider & Herter put up a seven-story tenement for Leopold Kaufman
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The present building was completed in 1901 from designs by Schneider & Herter for owner Leopold Kaufman. It has seven stories, brick walls with carved masonry, and shops at the front of the ground floor. The main entrance has a round arch resting on marble columns, and fire escapes front and rear were part of the original construction.
“…originally constructed as a tenement with stores at the front part of the first story... round-arched main entry portico... marble columns…”
Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1960
The Why Not? nightclub books Richie Havens early in his career
In the 1960s this address housed a night club called Why Not?. Among its performers was the folk singer Richie Havens, who played there early in his career.
“During the 1960s, this was the location of a night club known as Why Not? whose notable acts included, among others, folk singer Richie Havens…”
Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

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