Stephen Van Rensselaer House

History and architecture

The Stephen Van Rensselaer House is a good example of a small early Nineteenth Century Federal style house. The two story structure, with basement and attic, is typical of the modest dwellings described by Montgomery Schuyler, the noted critic, writing for the Architectural Record in 1899.

In an article entitled The Small City-House in New York, he stated that it was "the most respectable and artistic pattern of habitation New York has ever known."

Built at No. 153 Mulberry Street in 1816 for Stephen Van Rensselaer, and assessed for $3,750, the building was moved to No. 149 Mulberry Street in 1841. The basement and first floor are now occupied by a commercial establishment, and the upper stories by living quarters.

This house followed the design pattern well established by the 1820's. Two stories high with an attic story and tow basement, the main floor is raised above the street level with the entrance door at one side of the front. The stone stoop, seven steps high, retains some of its original wrought iron handrailings with castings of later date.

The three remaining decorative cast iron panels above the top step consisting of wreaths with bows and arrows arc beautifully composed. The structure, three windows wide, is built of brick laid-up in Flemish bond, set on a stone basement. The window sills are of stone, and the stone lintels are paneled. There is a narrow sunken areaway enclosed at street level with an iron railing. Six steps down from the sidewalk, on the right side, is the basement door and centered in this stone watt is a window.

The characteristic gambrel roof, one of the few remaining in Manhattan, contains two handsome dormers, and be tow the roof tine there is a wood fascia board.