Did you notice the Flemish-bond red brick facade? It rises three stories. We are standing in front of Bond House. It is located at 26 Bond Street. This building has quite a history.
In 1831, James Roosevelt sold this property to Alfred De Forest. De Forest was a merchant. It is unclear if Roosevelt built the mansion. It is also possible that De Forest had it constructed. Either way, the new Federal-style residence was exquisite. Bond Street was developing into an exclusive neighborhood. The city’s wealthiest citizens built lavish homes here. These homes were red brick with white marble trim. Each house on Bond Street had two trees planted in front. This created a handsome row of foliage.
The De Forest house set a high standard. The builder spared no expense. The refined entranceway used white marble. Stone steps led to the arched doorway. The doorway had a Gibbs surround. This is an enframement interrupted by blocks of stone. It is named after the architect James Gibbs.
Even with 20th-century changes, the marble Gibbs surround survives. The original stoop still exists. Intricate plasterwork adorned the ceilings inside. Rich woodwork and marble mantels added to the upscale tone. A glass skylight sat above the winding staircase.
Alfred De Forest’s uncle was Benjamin De Forest. Benjamin was a wealthy merchant. He conducted business at 185 South Street. Benjamin convinced Alfred to join his business in 1811. The uncle and nephew each had a sizable fortune. Alfred married Augustus Wright’s daughter. She inherited a considerable fortune. Alfred inherited her estate when she died. Benjamin married Mary Burlock. She was the daughter of Thomas Burlock. Mary inherited a large portion of her brother’s estate. The extended family moved into the new home at 26 Bond Street in 1831. They lived across the street at number 27.
Alfred De Forest had no children. Benjamin and Mary had daughters but no sons. They brought George B. De Forest into the firm around 1842. George was a distant relative. George had been in the dry goods business. He lived close to the De Forest house. George married one of Benjamin’s daughters. He moved into the Bond Street house with the family.
When Alfred De Forest died in 1847, he left his estate to Benjamin. Benjamin died three years later. His estate was worth about $31.5 million today. George and his wife stayed in the Bond Street house for a while. The migration of society led them northward. They moved to 66 East 21st Street.
In 1853, John Haggerty bought the house. He was a leading merchant. His assets were listed as $1 million. The New York Times called him the richest man in the auctioneering business. By the end of two decades, Bond Street had changed. The wealthy residents had moved northward. Their fine homes became boarding houses.
In 1880, 26 Bond Street was a boarding house. Eugene Regard and his wife Mariette ran it. Herman H. Wolff, a Prussian, lived there. He turned out to be a scalawag. Wolff stole from Abiel B. Marks. He was later caught and arrested.
Commerce moved into Bond Street. In 1882, the house was converted to include a workshop. Rooms were leased upstairs. In 1888, the house was raided. A gambling house was operating on the second floor.
The neighborhood became the center of the fur trade. In 1888, Herman Coney ran a furrier shop in the building. Another furrier, Edward Metcalf, convinced an employee to rob Coney’s shop. Other businesses moved in. In 1890, M. J. Klein & Co., Columbia Neckwear Co., and Max Blau were here. Illegal gambling houses still shared the upper floors.
In 1920, businesses operated from all floors. The elegant parlor windows were changed for a store window. The lease amount increased due to the scarcity of space. The house attracted small businesses like Paul Hendler’s hat shop.
By the time Paul Hendler was accused of cheating customers, the homes of Bond Street were in poor condition. However, number 26 retained its glorious entrance. It also kept its Federal dormers and interior details.
During the second half of the 20th century, the house saw residential tenants again. In 1967, James N. Fouratt lived here. As the 21st century dawned, the Bond Street neighborhood experienced a renaissance. The house at number 26 was converted to a multiple-family dwelling. It was sold in 2013 for $10 million. It retains some interior details. These details hint at its former glory. The owners once appeared on the list of New York’s wealthiest citizens. A “coffin niche” survives on the staircase. The De Forest family once placed flowers or statuary there.