CONTEMPORARY NY
New York Architecture Images- Midtown

Sniffen Court Historic District

architect

 John Sniffen

location

 150–158 East 36th Street, NY 10016

date

 1850s

style

 Romanesque Revival

construction

 brick

type

 stables

 

  

notes

 These ten brick stables of early Romanesque Revival style were built in the 1850s, reportedly by John Sniffen, who was a local builder. Now a New York City Landmark, the stables were converted to townhouses in the 1920s, with a studio at the south end and a small theater, the Amateur Comedy Club, stands at the right on the street. At the far end of the flagstone-paved alley, where horses once watered at the hand pump, is a wall adorned with plaques of Greek horsemen by the sculptress Malvina Hoffman.

images

  

Nestled in prosperous Murray Hill on East 36th Street between 3rd and Lexington is one of the few alleys of the midtown area. Sniffen Court was constructed between 1850 and 1860 and consists of ten handsome brick carriage houses protected behind a locked iron gate.

The carriage houses were built by architect John Sniffen and were originally used as stables until the 1920s, when they were converted into living spaces.

 

The rear wall features plaques of horsemen created by artist Malvina Hoffman, who lived in Sniffen Court for over forty years.

Sniffen Court used to be the home of The Sniffen Court Dramatic Society, an amateur theater group that performed plays in a theater located in the court.

Sniffen Court in summer.

Next time you're in a record store, check out the cover of the Doors' Strange Days. It was shot in Sniffen Court. I can't show it here because I don't want to get sued!
 

 

 Special thanks to www.forgotten-ny.com  

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