77 Pearl Street
also 44 Stone Street | Financial District | built 1983
Open on the map4 entries
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.
- 1645
Thomas Willett acquires a large plot that includes the lot at 77 Pearl Street, and a house stands on it by 1660
Thomas Willett, a soldier serving the West India Company, acquired a large tract of land that included this site in 1645. His widow, Sarah Cornell, then married Charles Bridges, an official who had arrived with Pieter Stuyvesant. The 1660 Castello Plan shows a house on the lot, and the land stayed in the Willett family until 1783. This entry describes an earlier building on the site.
“In 1645 Thomas Willett , a soldier in the West India Company's service , acquired a large plot of land, of which this site was a part.”
- 1837
John V. Greenfield rebuilds the lot as a Greek Revival store and loft building after the 1835 fire
Before the great fire of 1835, merchant John V. Greenfield owned a through-block building here and ran his business from it. Afterward he bought the neighboring lots at 79 and 81 Pearl Street and put up three Greek Revival store and loft buildings with a shared base of pilasters. The one on this lot was sold to James H. Greenfield and finished in 1837, and one pilaster survives on the Stone Street side. This entry describes that earlier building, which was later cut down and rebuilt.
“Following the fire, he purchased Nos. 79 and 81 Pearl Street and erected three Greek Revival store and loft buildings on the three lots…”
- 1875
Ebenezer Cauldwell, who ran a crockery business from the old building, dies as a leading merchant in his trade
Ebenezer Cauldwell (1791-1875), born in Birmingham, England, owned the Greek Revival building at 77 Pearl Street for many years. His crockery firm occupied it, and he also served as a director of the Tradesmen's Bank. By the time of his death he ranked among the most influential merchants in his trade. This entry concerns the earlier building on the site.
- 1983
A 1982 unsafe-building violation leads to the old Greek Revival structure being cut down and rebuilt in a colonial style
After the city issued an unsafe-building violation in 1982, Stoneview Realty brought in architect Frank P. Farinella, who took off the upper stories of the five-story Greek Revival building. The rebuilt structure, completed in 1982-83, is clad in brick made to look handmade and has a hipped roof with dormers. The Landmarks Commission notes that its appearance does not reflect the district's overall architectural character.
Nearby
- 79 Pearl Street4 entries
- 81 Pearl Street3 entries
- 83 Pearl Street3 entries
- 52 Stone Street1 entry
- 76 Pearl Street1 entry
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