Vintage Viewfinder

Vintage Viewfinder Step into the past—one photo at a time. Capturing the evolution of American streets and skylines.

1915 - The Hotel Earle, at Waverly Pl. and Macdougal Street in Washington Square.Named for its owner, Earle L’Amoreaux, ...
06/02/2026

1915 - The Hotel Earle, at Waverly Pl. and Macdougal Street in Washington Square.

Named for its owner, Earle L’Amoreaux, the slim, eight-story Hotel Earle went up on Waverly Place, just west of Washington Square, in 1902.

Six years later, L’Amoreaux expanded the hotel by building an identical tower next door.

In 1917, he added an additional floor and connected to a further adjoining building at the corner of Macdougal Street, referred to as the Annex (second photo).

As Washington Square and Greenwich Village transition from an elite enclave to a Bohemian district, many notable artists were either guests or residents, including Ernest Hemingway, Dylan Thomas, and Bob Dylan.

In 1986, the Earle was renamed the Washington Square Hotel.

1900 - Gilsey House is a former eight-story 300-room hotel located at 1200 Broadway at West 29th Street in the NoMad nei...
06/02/2026

1900 - Gilsey House is a former eight-story 300-room hotel located at 1200 Broadway at West 29th Street in the NoMad neighborhood. The Second Empire hotel was built in 1871.

Gilsey House closed in 1911 after legal conflict beginning in 1904 between the operator of the hotel, Seaboard Hotel Company, and the Gilsey estate over the terms of the lease. Parts of the facade, such as cast-iron columns, which went over the property line were removed, and the building deteriorated, with rust, water damage and sagging floors.

In 1925, plans were filed to rebuild the structure as an ordinary loft building of brick and stone, but were never carried out, although the ground-level storefronts were modernized in 1946.

The building’s future was decided when it was purchased in 1980 by Richard Berry and F. Anthony Zunino and converted into co-operative apartments after a cosmetic cleanup of the exterior, which won a commendation from the Friends of Cast Iron Architecture. The facade was finally almost fully restored in 1992 by Building Conservation Associates.

1905 - The Hippodrome Theater, at 43rd St and Sixth Avenue.Built in 1905, it was called the world’s largest theatre by i...
06/02/2026

1905 - The Hippodrome Theater, at 43rd St and Sixth Avenue.

Built in 1905, it was called the world’s largest theatre by its builders and had a seating capacity of 5,300, with a 100x200ft (30x61m) stage. The theatre had state-of-the-art theatrical technology, including a rising glass water tank.

It was demolished in 1939, the site laying vacant due to WWII for over a decade. In 1952, a modern office tower took its spot- taking the name Hippodrome Center. The lobby pays homage to its predecessor.

1910 - Track level at the original Penn Station shortly after completion
06/02/2026

1910 - Track level at the original Penn Station shortly after completion

1912 - Woolworth Building nearing completion. On the bottom right, you can see the roof of the Mullett Post Office.Upon ...
06/02/2026

1912 - Woolworth Building nearing completion. On the bottom right, you can see the roof of the Mullett Post Office.

Upon completion, it would be tallest building in the world until 1930.

The building was designed by Cass Gilbert, whose famous works include the NY Life Building and the US Supreme Court Building in DC.

Today, it has been turned into a luxury residential building. Google search images of the penthouse.

Fun fact: Although Woolworths the company went bankrupt and all stores in the US were closed in the late 90s, the company still exists today- the company today is Foot Locker!

1910 - The City Investing Building, also known as the Broadway–Cortlandt Building and the Benenson Building, was an offi...
06/02/2026

1910 - The City Investing Building, also known as the Broadway–Cortlandt Building and the Benenson Building, was an office building and early skyscraper. The Singer Building can be seen as well.

Serving as the headquarters of the City Investing Company, it was on Cortlandt Street between Church Street and Broadway in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. The building was designed by Francis Kimball and constructed by the Hedden Construction Company in 1908.

In 1964, United States Steel acquired the City Investing Building, along with the neighboring Singer Building. U.S. Steel planned to demolish the entire block to erect a new 54-story headquarters on the same site. Although preservationists attempted to get the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to protect the Singer Building, the City Investing Building received relatively little notice. Demolition of both buildings was underway by 1968.

The U.S. Steel Building (later known as One Liberty Plaza) was built on the site, being completed in 1973. One Liberty Plaza had at least twice the two former buildings’ combined interior area. One Liberty Plaza contained 37,000 square feet (3,400 m2) per floor, compared with the 5,200 to 19,500 square feet (480 to 1,810 m2) per floor in the City Investing Building. At the time of its destruction, the City Investing Building was the third-tallest building ever demolished, behind the Morrison Hotel and the Singer Building.

1932 - 114 Hudson Street, east side, between Franklin and N Moore Streets, A Federal style frame home.Built in 1801, at ...
06/02/2026

1932 - 114 Hudson Street, east side, between Franklin and N Moore Streets, A Federal style frame home.

Built in 1801, at a time when Hudson St had recently been laid north into undeveloped land.

By mid 1800s, there was a dry goods store on the ground floor.

By 1900, it was a restaurant.

And by now the tall buildings were surrounding the small frame home. The building next door built in 1889, for instance.

No. 114 Hudson Street still survived in the 1980s as a coffee shop within the ground floor space.

In 1989 the 188-year old house was bulldozed by a developer. The building had been on the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s list of structures “highly worthy of saving.” But because it had not yet been calendared by the LPC for a hearing regarding potential landmark designation, the New York City Department of Buildings could not withhold approval of the demolition application.

It was vacant until 2005 when a modern glass apartment building was built.

1933 - Knickerbocker Village, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Shown here are Monroe St on the right, Hamilto...
06/02/2026

1933 - Knickerbocker Village, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Shown here are Monroe St on the right, Hamilton St (now gone) on the left.

The area known as Lung Block, for its high number of TB cases, was a slum and in the 1920s slated for renewal.

Today it’s home to the Knickerbocker Village apartment buildings with a large common courtyard in the middle.

1922 - South Brooklyn Savings Bank, 160 Atlantic Avenue at Clinton Street.This stately building was originally construct...
06/01/2026

1922 - South Brooklyn Savings Bank, 160 Atlantic Avenue at Clinton Street.

This stately building was originally constructed in 1871 and designed by Ebenezer Roberts for the South Brooklyn Savings Bank, which moved to a larger building at 130 Court Street in 1922.

The bank had a number of influential board members, including merchant James Van Nostrand and businessman and politician James S. T. Stranahan, who, during his time as president of the Brooklyn Park Commission, was largely responsible for securing funding and support for the creation of Prospect Park.

The Neo-Grec style, Tuckahoe Marble-clad building features round and square pilasters, corner quoins, arched windows supported by colonettes, and a bracketed cornice.

Many of its original details have been lost, however, including a two-story pedimented temple front entrance and a balustrade with decorative urns on the roof. The ground floor has also been remodeled. The bank interior had been clad in marble and black walnut woodwork, but was refurbished many times over the years to accommodate new uses.

The buildings are located in the Cobble Hill Historic District.

1905 - St Patricks Cathedral, 51st Street and Fifth Avenue.The area was bucolic and still largely residential but would ...
06/01/2026

1905 - St Patricks Cathedral, 51st Street and Fifth Avenue.

The area was bucolic and still largely residential but would change quickly and drastically over the next twenty years as residential mansions were razed and commercialization as we know it today swept north through the area.

Address

New York, NY
00501

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vintage Viewfinder posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category