Behold the Gilsey House, a captivating landmark. It stands at 1200 Broadway and West 29th Street. This Second Empire masterpiece whispers tales of a bygone era.
The Gilsey House was erected between 1869 and 1871. It was envisioned as a high-class hotel with 270 rooms. The eight-story building reaches a height of 125 feet. It occupies 64.5 feet on Broadway and 148.8 feet on Twenty-ninth Street.
Stephen Decatur Hatch designed it for Peter Gilsey. Peter Gilsey was a Danish immigrant merchant and city alderman. He was elected in 1871. Gilsey’s vision extended beyond this hotel. He also built the Gilsey Building, the St. George Hotel, the Coleman House, and Apollo Hall.
Construction commenced in 1869. The site was once the Casper Samler homestead. The Gilsey House formally opened on April 15, 1871. Simultaneously, Dr. Henry T. Helmbold’s pharmacy opened under the Gilsey House. It had a rich display. The building quickly became one of the most imposing palace hotels in New York City. It became a popular destination for transient guests and small families. Breslin, Gardner & Co were the proprietors.
The rooms were lavishly decorated. Rosewood and walnut finishes adorned the interiors. Veined marble fireplaces added to the ambiance. Bronze-gilt chandeliers illuminated the spaces. The hotel provided gas lighting and hot water. It was the first hotel in New York City with telephone service. Speaking tubes connected each room to the main office. Steam elevators offered convenient access from roof to cellar.
Peter Gilsey passed away on April 8, 1873. Andrew Gilsey then took ownership of the hotel. By 1882, James H. Breslin & Bro. became the proprietors of Gilsey House. The hotel boasted 345 rooms by 1884. The restaurant was renowned for its excellence. Alexander Graham Bell penned letters to his wife on Gilsey House letterhead in 1892. Celebrated figures such as Oscar Wilde and Samuel Clemens also graced the hotel with their presence.
Edward O. Roessle became the new proprietor on May 1, 1900. The Broadway section underwent asphalt pavement by the year’s end. In 1904, the Gilsey brothers leased the hotel to Albert R. Keen and Lancaster as the Seaboard Hotel Company. Major improvements were made to the hotel’s decoration. The new lessees soon faced financial difficulties. They alleged false statements regarding the hotel’s earning capacity.
A lease dispute ensued and reached the Supreme Court by June 2, 1904. Mr. Keen received a dispossess notice on December 9. The hotel closed its doors on the following day. This left 180 guests in a humiliating situation. However, the hotel reopened on December 12 under Henry Gilsey’s orders. George H. Moore became the new manager.
In 1908, creditors filed a petition in bankruptcy against Louis Frank. Rube R. Fogel acquired the building in 1909. He later leased it to the Palacio Company. In 1911, Croton Realty Company purchased the Gilsey House and ground lease. The hotel closed its doors that year.
The Krower-Tynberg Co. leased the building in 1912. The old hotel was remodeled. In 1915, Samstag & Hilder Brothers leased the Gilsey House property from Fogel. The external columns on the ground floor were later removed.
The Gilsey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1979. The building was sold in 1980. It was converted into a residential co-op after a modest restoration. The facade underwent restoration in 1992.
Today, the Gilsey House stands as a testament to its rich history. It has witnessed transformations and adaptations, its legacy forever etched into the vibrant tapestry of New York City.