67 East 93rd Street House

History and architecture

This charming house was built in 1931 end designed in a modified version of the popular neo-Federal style by the prestigious firm of Delano & Aldrich. It forms a cohesive architectural unit with the larger George F. Baker, Jr., House complex to the east which includes the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia and 69 East 93rd Street, both designated New York City Landmarks, which were also designed by Delano & Aldrich.

The area in which the house is located acquired the name "Carnegie Hill" soon after Andrew Carnegie erected his mansion at Fifth Avenue and 91st Street at the turn of the century.

Although middle-class residences had been built in the area in the 1880s and 1890s, Carnegie's move uptown inspired other well-to-do business and professional people to also build here—a trend which continued into the 1930s. George F. Baker, Jr. (1878-1937) began his banking career with J.P. Morgan, a close friend of his father, George F. Baker, known as the dean of American banking.

In the First National Bank of the City of Mew York, he rose from clerk to Vice-chairman and at the death of his father in 1931, succeeded him as Chairman of the Board. It was intended that George F. Baker, Sr., should live at No. 67 Fast 93rd Street, but he died before he could move in. In 1931 the property was transferred to Edith Baker, the wife of George F. Raker, Jr., who now lives in the house.

The four-story house is built of red brick laid in English bond and is carefully designed to harmonize with the larger Baker complex. The main doorway on the ground floor is enframed by stone and surmounted by an striking arched "broken" pediment enframing a motif of paired dolphins with central finial that includes the house number. A leaf-and-tongue molding decorates the lower chord of this pediment which is supported on console brackets. The subordinate service door is capped by a lintel with Greek fret motif at the ends. At the mezzanine above the first floor, small square windows are accented by stone enframements.

The two lower floors are separated from the upper stories by a broad bandcourse linking the house to the Baker complex. on the east. The tall parlor floor windows above the mezzanine have handsome curved wrought-iron window guards and pediment-shaped lintels with classical fruit ornaments, while the fourth floor windows have lintels displaying chain motifs. The house is crowned by a stone roof cornice with a decorative molding beneath it.

The architectural details and the carefully executed brickwork of this house are characteristic of the neo-Federal style and are used to charming effect. Carefully combined with the Baker complex on the east to form a cohesive architectural unit, this house adds distinction to the block and enhances the Carnegie Hill area.