Cherokee Apartments

History and architecture

The Shively Sanitary Tenements (also known as the East River Homes) are the product of a unique architectural approach to the major societal and medical problems caused by tuberculosis in the early twentieth century.

Conceived by the prominent physician Dr. Henry Shively, these buildings embody his progressive ideas for providing a healthful living environment for sick persons as a means of attacking the disease at its source. The innovative planning ideas of architect Henry Atterbury Smith are incorporated with an unusual facade design which provides a beautiful and sensitive answer to the special needs of the original residents.

The conceptions of these men were translated into bricks and mortar through the generous philanthropy of Mrs. William Kissam Vanderbilt. Together these people created an unprecedented group of buildings which maintains its uniqueness in the city even today.

The Tuberculosis Crisis in Turn-of-the-Century New York

In both 1900 and 1910, tuberculosis was listed as second in causes of death in New York City, only slightly behind pneumonia. These figures showed more than 10,00 people dying from tuberculosis in 1910 while those known to be afflicted with the disease numbered two-and-a-half times that number.

The wide-ranging death and disruption caused by tuberculosis (also called consumption at that time) prompted many efforts to control and stop its spread. Its contagious nature came to be understood only after 1882 when the German bacteriologist Dr. Robert Koch discovered the tubercule bacillus to be the cause of tuberculosis. Efforts then began to focus en identifying existing cases of the disease in order to prevent its further spread.

The East River Homes continued to house tuberculars for many years. In 1923 the trust which ran the tenements was dissolved and, as provided in the original trust agreement, the buildings were conveyed to the Presbyterian Hospital.

The hospital ran them through a rental agent for a time but in October 1924, the buildings were sold to the City and Suburban Hemes Company and since then have been used as regular rental apartments.