39 Harrison Street House (Joseph Randolph House)

History and architecture

This house is one of six Federal houses which compose a group that is unique in New York City, Nowhere else is there a survival of this many houses of this style - all of which retain their original pitched roofs and dormers. The fact that they wrap around a corner, showing a distinctive gable-end profile, also makes this group one-of-a-kind in the City today.

This two-and-one-half story house is constructed of Flemish bond brickwork. Though all of the original details on the ground floor were lost when these houses were converted to warehouse use, the upper stories retain most of their charming Federal character. The arched dormers are particularly rare in their condition, as are the paneled stone lintels above the original window openings. Handsome paneled blocks have been set at the front ends of the party walls, which extend up through the roof, to conceal the coping - which acted as a fire-break.

These houses were build for specific owners, already in possession of the property: they were not speculator's houses, as were so many of the period. Most of the original owners were master craftsmen or prosperous business men, and 329 Washington Street was built in 1828 for Joseph Randolph. This house and its neighbors show the craftsman-like attention to detail and scale - so pleasing to the eye - that is characteristic of the Federal Style.

When these houses were built, they were refreshingly close to the river.