Century Association Building

History and architecture

The Century Association Building was designed by the firm of Gambrill & Richardson, whose partners were both members of the association and one of whom, Henry Hobson Richardson, went on to become one of this country's most prominent architects. Built in 1869, the building appears to be Manhattan's oldest surviving structure erected as a clubhouse. Its exterior, which remains remarkably intact, heralded a wave of neo-Grec buildings in the early 1870s.

The Century Association, founded in 1847 to promote interest in literature and the arts, attracted authors, artists, and amateurs of letters and the fine arts, many of whom were national leaders in their fields. During the era when the Union Square vicinity flourished as New York's amusement district, the organization established its first permanent home in 1857 on this East 15th Street site in an existing dwelling. The Centurions rebuilt the clubhouse in 1869 to the designs of Gambrill & Richardson and remained there until 1891. The Century Association Building is a concrete reminder of the distinguished history of one of New York's most prominent institutions.

The Century Association

During the second quarter of the nineteenth century, a few private clubs were formed by men of similar social standing or shared interests. Among these organizations was the Sketch Club, founded in 1829, which promoted interest in literature and the arts. In 1847 it merged with an organization of Columbia University alumni, the Column Club, to form The Century.

The association's founders, including poet and editor William Cullen Bryant and Gulian C. Verplanck, an author and congressman, adopted its first constitution in January, 1847, and invited one hundred gentlemen — authors, artists, and amateurs of letters and the fine arts — to join the group. The organization's name was a product of the number originally invited to be members. Dedicated to "plain living and high thinking," Centurions were men of culture and achievement noted for their informal social intercourse, frugal dinners and refreshments, inspiring art exhibitions, and jovial Twelfth Night celebrations.

Like other New York clubs during that era, the Century had several temporary locations, eventually settling in the area of Manhattan near Union and Madison squares, now known as Ladies Mile. At first the Century met at No. 495 Broadway, over Del Vecchio's picture store. Subsequently the members rented rooms in No. 435 Broome Street and then in No. 575 Broadway, over a millinery shop. An increase in membership required larger facilities for the semi-monthly meetings, so the club moved to No. 24 Clinton Place (now 46 East 8th Street) in 1852.

During the spring of 1857 The Century was incorporated as the Century Association, increased its maximum number of resident memberships to 250, and purchased No. 42 East 15th Street (now known as No. 109-111, see fig. 1), remaining at that location for thirty-four years.

During the first decades of the club's existence, its membership rolls increased dramatically, comprising a veritable "Who's Who* of American artists, architects, authors, publishers, actors, statesmen, businessmen, and educators. (See appendix A for lists of significant Centurions of that period.)

Many other social, political, and special interest clubs formed in the nineteenth century; however, apparently none of these clubhouses remain. Some of the clubs never erected specialized buildings in the first place, simply converting existing dwellings for their purposes.

The other organizations built clubhouses which they later sold in order to move uptown and these buildings were either demolished or unrecognizably altered. Therefore, it seems that the Century Association Building on East 15th Street is the oldest surviving clubhouse in Manhattan.