263 Henry Street Building

History and architecture

This four-story modified Federal town house retains at first floor and basement levels much of its fine original appearance. Some of the details such as the stair rails and the two tall windows beside the door are good examples of the Federal Style of architecture.

All of the lintels above the windows were redone in the late 1870's in the then fashionable Neo-Grec Style with traces of the oncoming Queen Anne Style of the 1880's seen in the lintel panel and sunburst above the front door. The heavy cornice at the top is of the same period. This building is the westernmost of three houses which form the famous Henry Street Settlement founded by Lillian Wald in 1893. Pride in these buildings resulted in restoration work carried on in 1964 in lieu of razing them and rebuilding on the site.