91 South Street Building

History and architecture

Forming a part of Schermerhorn Row, this Federal style building was remodeled in the eighteen-sixties when it was increased to five stories in height. Today it has lost the heavy bracketed cornice which was added when the building was remodeled, but it does retain its fire escapes. These fire escapes constructed the full width of the building at each floor, and with their diagonal bracing appear much more like balconies than they do like fire escapes and are an interesting and attractive addition to this otherwise severe front. A store front has been added at street level. It should be noted that the fourth and fifth floors have three instead of two windows. Built in 1811, No. 91 was assessed to Peter Schermerhorn at $5,000. In 1810 this land was vacant, and the empty lots on which Nos. 91, 92 and 93 were built was assessed to Schermerhorn at $4,000.

No. 91 South Street was increased in height from its original four stories with attic to five stories in 1897 for William F. Milton by Kurtzer and Rohl, architects, at an estimated cost of $1,200. This increasing of a buildings height by adding one or more floors at the top was frequently done in New York. By 1897, No. 91 was a hotel with the usual ground floor store. In 1890 it had been a warehouse and saloon; in 1888 the store in the building sold wholesale Liquor.