“Cary Building” is etched into history. This building stands as a testament to New York’s commercial boom. It flourished in the mid-19th century. Let’s delve into the story of this iconic structure.
The Cary Building, located at 105-107 Chambers Street, is an architectural marvel. King & Kellum designed it in 1856-57. The building showcases early use of cast-iron and Italianate forms. These were major trends of the era. It’s likely influenced by the A. T. Stewart Store.
Daniel D. Badger’s Architectural Iron Works cast the facade. It was one of the first to use an entirely cast-iron facade. The upper four stories are identical. Arched window openings are supported by paired Corinthian columns. Faux rustication imitates stone. A bracketed cornice and pedimented roof crown the building. A cartouche bears the Cary Building’s name.
Isaac Cary started a small store in 1827. It sold fancy goods on Pearl Street near Maiden Lane. This area was the center of the dry goods business. After his death, his son William H. Cary took over. He changed the name to William H. Cary & Co.
William Cary’s business boomed by the mid-century. In 1856, he took on two partners. The store became Cary, Howard & Sanger. They bought a plot from Chambers to Reade Street. King & Kellum designed a new emporium.
Completed a year later, it was the largest structure on the block. Two identical facades featured intricate cast iron. Daniel Badger’s firm cast them. He was known as the pioneer of iron for building. His rolling iron shutters secured the building. They disappeared into the facade without disrupting the design.
King & Kellum’s design mimicked stone blocks and carved pillars. Sand mixed into the yellow-white paint enhanced the stone illusion. Each arched window was separated by Corinthian pillars. The Cary Building sold jewelry, perfumes and watches. It also sold cutlery, guns, musical instruments and combs. Annual sales reached $3 million.
William Cary died in 1861. The store was renamed Howard, Sanger & Co. The Cary family retained ownership of the building. Sanger died in 1886. The store’s name changed again. It became Howard Brothers and Co. in 1882. Finally, it was S. E. Howard’s Son and Co. in 1890.
Samuel Emerson Howard continued the business until his death in 1896. He possessed a great taste for business. He also had a full knowledge of finance.
Church Street widened in the 1920s. Buildings next to 105 Chambers were razed. The Cary Building became a corner building. Its red brick side stood out against the ornate cast iron.
Great emporiums moved north toward The Ladies’ Mile. The Chambers Street area became lofts and warehouses. The Cary family kept the property into the 1950s.
The Cary Building became a New York City Landmark in 1982. Its architectural elements remained intact. The Reade Street columns had lost their Corinthian capitals.
Twenty years later, the Cary Building saw new life. Chambers Street, L.L.C. purchased it. Architect Martin J. Marcus renovated the lower floors into commercial space. Li/Saltzman Architects restored the exterior. They revamped the top floor into apartments.
Today, the Cary Building gleams. It has a historically accurate paint job. It looks much like it did during the Civil War. Shoppers sought out their fancy goods here. The Cary Building stands as a reminder of New York’s past. It is a masterpiece of cast-iron design.