The Livingston House

149 Mercer Street | SoHo | built 1826

Open on the map5 entries

The lot about 1940
About 1940. Via 1940s.nyc
The lot about 1985
About 1985. Via 80s.nyc

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.

  1. 1826

    Robert Schuyler builds a 14-room Federal house on Mercer Street, probably as an investment

    Robert Schuyler, from one of New York's oldest and wealthiest families, finished a three-and-a-half-story Flemish-bond brick house here in 1826. Daytonian in Manhattan doubts that he and his wife ever lived in it. The 25-foot-wide house had 14 rooms, paneled blocks under its stone lintels and two pedimented dormers; the original joined chimneys survive.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

  2. 1863

    October 24

    A client at a Mercer Street brothel reports his $85 gold watch stolen and accuses a boarder, Margaret Murphy

    After its owner died in 1855 the house became a brothel, run by a "Mrs. Van Ness" until at least 1859. On October 24, 1863 the New York Herald reported James McClusky's complaint that while "taking a peep at the elephant" at No. 149 he lost a gold watch and chain worth $85. He suspected a boarder, Margaret J. Murphy, and the magistrate committed her for trial in default of $500 bail.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

  3. 1864

    February 17

    A divorce suit names Madame Bell of 149 Mercer Street, and the Times calls the evidence unfit to print

    Madame Bell took over the house after Mrs. Van Ness. On February 17, 1864 Sara Melville sued her husband Henry for divorce, alleging he visited a house of ill fame at 149 Mercer and committed adultery there with Madame Bell and others. Henry denied it, so the details were aired in open court. The New York Times told readers only that the evidence was unfit for publication.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

  4. 1887

    November 4

    A benzine fire in the cellar of 149 Mercer sends 150 feather and fur workers rushing for the stairs

    M. Feigel & Brother sold oils, paints and varnishes from the building, and its flammable stock burned in September 1887 and once more that fall. At 6 p.m. on November 4 benzine ignited in the cellar and smoke poured into the street. In the neighboring feather and fur shops, where about 150 women worked, the sight of smoke set off a panic until supervisors sent them back to their places.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

  5. 1915

    June 25

    Two firefighters are indicted for burglary after a fire at a Mercer Street loft

    A fire on June 25, 1915 hit the Dorothy Waist Company on an upper floor, and the responding lieutenant found its doors already broken open. Owner Max Goldberg missed $800 of custom silk, which turned up at a tailor's shop on Orchard Street. The tailor said he had bought loot for years from firemen of Truck 20 and another company. Two firefighters, John Ferrick and William Maloney, were indicted for burglary and grand larceny.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

Further reading

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