967 North Broadway - The home of Eva Smith Cochran photographed in 1901
Eva Smith Cochran was one of the true patron saints of Yonkers, having given so many institutions of the city more
than $2,000,000 in lasting gifts. The Cochran name remains in many places in the City of Yonkers, even to this day 101 years
after her death in 1909. The Cochran's named their residence Duncraggan. The beautiful Victorian home and estate was later
sold by Eva's daughter to Samuel Untermeyer their neighbor on the south. Duncraggan at that time was 22 acres. See below what
the home looked like and read a little about this incredible woman. She is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers in the most
simple setting. Her estate was valued at the time of her death in 1909 at over 8 million dollars. The mansion has long been
demolished, but the stone pillars that once stood at the entry to the estate still bear the Duncraggan name and still stand
on either side of the bus shelter in front of St. Johns Hospital (This hospital was just one of her gifts to Yonkers)!
A small plaque that hangs in St. Johns Church in Getty Square. The words are powerful!
Eva Smith Cochran's gravesite in Oakland Cemetery Yonkers
612 North Broadway, Yonkers NY Photographed in 1900.
At
that time the home was owned by Charles A. Fulton, a businessman. He and Theodore Heinrichs of Yonkers were partners in a
mining company. This home is a truly spectacular example of Victorian Craftsmanship. Stained and leaded glass, Curved windows,
superb stone work. It even has a matching horse stable in the rear of the property. This home and stable still exists today
in pristine original condition. Look at the "Then and Now" section of this site to see what it looks like today.
390 North
Broadway Yonkers photographed in 1901 - The Victorian mansion of James Renwick Brevoort
Noted
Hudson River School Painter. Take a look at his obituary from the New York Times posted below the photo of his residence.
You will note that the photos after these are of his next door neighbor's residence located at 352 North Broadway.
352 North Broadway in Yonkers - The magnificent Victorian Mansion of John Craig Havemeyer photographed
in 1901
This was the home of John Havemeyer in the early 1900's. He names his estate
"Robin Lawn". You can read his 1922 obituary (below the photograph and map) from the New York Times for some insight
as to who he was and what he did.
430 North Broadway in Yonkers - The Magnificent Victorian Residence of Charles Perceval Photographed
in 1900. The photos below show this residence in 1900. The second shows the home in 1905 as
it was placed for sale. There is a detailed description of the home and its features. Finally below this is a map from 1907
that shows its location on North Broadway. Today the site is occupied by garden apartments. Take a look at the then and now
section of this site.
Here are
two early 1900's photos of 123 Valentine Lane in South Yonkers.
This was the home
of John T. Duff, a Yonkers real estate investor. Mr. Duff also had a hobby raising Chickens on his property. Take a
look at the "Then and Now" section of this website to see what this spot looks like today.
The photo above shows the homes of John T. Duff (extreme right) and Charles F. Cay along with some distant
views of more homes along Hawthorne Avenue circa 1903. The 1907 map below shows the location of these homes.
View from 147 North Broadway, Yonkers looking
West - Circa 1900
Photograph of the view from the back window of 147
North Broadway, then the home of Robert H. Neville, Yonkers circa 1900. To the left is the African Baptist Church (demolished).
The small street is Ashburton Place and in the distance on the right is the spire of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church (demolished
in 1967).
The 1907 map shows the location and owners of the residences in the photo above this map.
Circa --1910 Hudson View Terrace homes newly built off North Broadway near Glenwood Avenue,
Yonkers, NY
These homes were listed with Christian Gaul, a local realtor/developer at
the turn of the last century. They are all still there today.
1904 Park Hill on the Hudson
- Miss Anne Brown's Highcliffe Hall - School for Girls
This school for girls operated from 1904 to 1906 when Anne Brown retired. The building was demolished years
ago.
The map below shows the location of Highcliffe Hall in Park Hill. Its next door neighbor was "The
Aerie" later renamed Wallace Lodge. See the two photos below the map for different views of this magnificant building.
It too has been demolished.
The property was owned originally by Andrew S. Brownell and his wife Matilda Gwyn Brownell
(her nickname was “Tillie”). “The Aerie” was one of the early Park Hill residences. The principals
of the American Real Estate Company, the developers of Park Hill, of which Andrew was one of them, built their homes first.
Andrew and Edwin K. Martin were principals in the American Investment Union (Andrew was president and Edwin Vice President)
which sold real estate stock to get the capital to underwrite the loans which it made to the homebuyers of Park Hill and other
developments around the US. Investors got a guaranteed 6% on their money which was secured by the land. Plus they received
a pro rata share of any profits which has averaged around 12%.Andrew was also one of the founders of the Yonkers Board of
Trade, The Park Hill Country Club, the Park Hill Association and a number of other incorporated organizations.
1869 - The Warburton Avenue Baptist Church - The magnificent $200,000 gift from John Bond Trevor and James Boorman Colgate
Wealthy
Victorians had very strong ties to their houses of worship. They believed their wealth was a gift from God and many gave back
significantly to their communities especially through their houses of worship. At that time churches were a central
part of society and socialization, so what better way to share than through their churches. This particular story had
a profound effect on the "Village" of Yonkers in 1869 and continues to play an interesting role in the "City"
of Yonkers in 2010. The two men gave the land and new building to the church with a number of conditions which are referred
to as covenants. Below is covenant #3. They wanted to insure that their gift would be forever. This condition was accepted
by the church.
Read about how the history of this church evolved from a small building on North Broadway behind the stores
that are on Warburton Avenue across the street from Philipse Manor. Read about how even when the church moved to its new location,
the original church was dismantled and repurposed into a sunday school at another location. Read about how the original location
owned by Colgate was then leased to The Womens Christian Temperance Union, a Baptist organization. The story is complex, but
a wonderful testament to the foresight of these wealthy, generous and brilliant
men.
CLICK HERE
North Broadway below Ashburton Avenue circa 1869
Below is a photo of North Broadway in Yonkers looking south. The photo was taken in the late 1860's just south of
Ashburton Avenue. On the right is the First Presbyterian Church dedicated in May of 1854. (later destroyed by fire in 1968).
On the left are stairs to various residences. Note the group of people on the left and an image of what appears to be a small
girl on the right by the fence. Exposure times for these photos were relatively long so in most cases images of people are
blurred by movement.
June 1894......
The
photo below was the home of Norton P. Otis on Hudson Terrace overlooking the Hudson River in Yonkers, NY photographed on a
sunny June day in 1894...One Hundred and Sixteen Years ago! His residence was aptly named "Buena Vista". He was
one of two sons of Elisha Graves Otis, the founder of the Otis Elevator Company.
The quality of this "Cabinet Card" Photo is so good that a high resolution scan allows us to
look at the family on the rear porch. Mr Otis was married in 1877 and had eight children.
Welcome to VictorianSource.com™.
This site has been built for anyone who loves Victorian architecture and design. When complete, this site will contain thousands
of original photographs of Victorian homes taken during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th century. In addition pictures
of street scenes, waterfront activity, rail stations and life in general will be showcased.
All images are scanned from my personal collection. Over the years, I have amassed a historically
significant collection of vintage postcards, long out-of-print books and pamphlets, advertisements, maps, and original early
photographs. Most images source from the Yonkers, New York area, a virtual treasure trove of Victorian architecture.
Today, many fine Victorian homes still remain in the area, although sadly
a significant number have been altered or demolished over the years. It is encouraging,
however, to see much preservation and restoration work in progress all over this beautiful city. In many cases, these architectural
gems simply await an owner with the resources, vision,
and commitment
to preservation to peel off the layers of aluminum or vinyl siding that suffocate the hidden beauty underneath.
It is hoped that this website will be an invaluable tool for the restorer, historian, or lover of
Victorian architectural detail and splendor. Or maybe if you live in the Yonkers area, you might be surprised to see an early
photograph of your own home on this site!
In restoring my own Victorian era residence, a number of outstanding suppliers and true craftsmen
were found. Their information and links eventually will be included in the link section of this website. Now come sit back
and enjoy an excursion into an era where craftsmanship, attention to detail and beauty reigned.
Please let us know if you have enjoyed our site. We have included a guest book on this home page
in addition to another guest book designed for comments on the "Then and Now" page. Also, let us know if you would
like to become part of our email list.
We have recently
expanded the scope of the site to include reference to the Colonial era as represented by Philips Manor Hall in Yonkers, as
well as some post Victorian events of importance such as the incredible Hudson Fulton Celebration of 1909.
Now step back to a simpler time with us here.
You might want to first read about what one man recalled in 1922 about coming to Yonkers in 1876. You might also
be interested in reading what one man said about preservation in an 1895 speech in Yonkers. You might also be fascinated by
the events of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 where more than 200,000 people were in Yonkers (at that time a city of
less than 100,000) to witness the festivities. Just click on the following links:
CLICK HERE for recollections of Yonkers in 1876
CLICK HERE for Thoughts About Preservation spoken in Yonkers in 1895
CLICK HERE for photos and details of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 in Yonkers.
A particulary insightful passage from the preface
to The History of Yonkers by Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, 1896:
And another from the New York Times:
"We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build, but by those we have destroyed."
- New York Times Editorial, Oct. 30, 1963
A Guestbook for our Visitors.
We'd be honored if you leave us a comment and sign our Book:
UPDATES - May 2010
Read an
article published in 1899 about the builders and fine homes of the Harriman section of Yonkers (now known as Greystone). Several
of these suberb Victorians still exist today in pristine condition. Harriman and Hawley were the builders and they used plans
purchased from noted “pattern book” architect, George F. Barber (1858-1915). Special thanks to Chris DiMattei,
Massachusetts Architect and Barber researcher for this information.
UPDATES - March 2010
Read an article about how the Yonkers school system made a Prayer, spoken by George Washington in
Yonkers before traveling to the battle of White Plains, the central part of their celebration of Washingtons Birthday in 1895!
CLICK Here to Read the Article
UPDATES - March 2010
A New section has been added describing the history and architectural details of the St. John's Ice
Fountain built in 1891. Imagine an "ice fountain" before the age of refrigeration. The story of how this fountain
functions and its magnificent embellishments is simply amazing. A Tiffany treasure still exists in Yonkers today (although
sadly it simply needs restoration). Read its story and look at the photos of then and now.
ALSO There will be a Tour and lecture about St. Johns Episcopal Church "The Most Interesting
19th Century Church in America" to benefit its preservation. St Johns was founded in 1693! The tour will take place Saturday,
May 1 at 4:30 with noted architect and preservationist Stephen F. Byrnes as guest lecturer and tour guide. Attendence is limited
so click below now to view details.
CLICK HERE to read the story of the St. John's Ice fountain
CLICK HERE to view information about the Upcoming St. Johns Tour and Lecture
UPDATES - February 2010
A New Photo has been added to the "Railroads" section of this site. Take a look at the
photo of the Yonkers Park Railroad station taken in 1897. Yonkers Park was later renamed "Crestwood".
CLICK HERE to see the Yonkers Park Railroad station in 1897.
Click HERE to Read about Music Hall
For More VictorianSource.com updates:
CLICK HERE
We
hope you had the opportunity to visit our Victorian Photo Exhibition which was held at Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers. The exhibition started Saturday March 21, 2009
and ran through May 10, 2009. We had approximately 40 Victorian Era Photos on display in the Gallery. Hopefully we will be
invited to conduct another showing this year with different Victorian Era Photos of Yonkers, NY.
CLICK HERE for Philipse Manor Hall's website
CLICK HERE for Information about Philipse Manor Hall on this website
NOTE: ALL PHOTOS ON THIS SITE ARE ©2008 VictorianSource.com™.
No unauthorized use is permitted.
Construction circa 1900, Yonkers NY - From the personal photo album of Frank Burhans
Construction circa 1900, Yonkers NY - From the personal photo album of Frank Burhans
Construction circa 1900. Yonkers New York.
From the personal photo album of Frank Burhans
The photo above is from Frank Burhans' personal photo album circa 1903. The house depicted is located in Yonkers,
New York.
The photo above is from the photo album of Edith Armstrong, the sister of Edwin Armstrong, the inventor
of FM radio.
Photo is of 1040 and 1032 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers near the intersection of
Odell Avenue and Warburton Avenue.
This photo was taken shortly after 1902, the year the
Armstrong's purchased the house.
Family relations occupied both houses. Notice the huge
45 star flag.
This was the official US flag from 1896 through 1908.
Warburton Avenue, Yonkers looking north from the intersection of Odell avenue circa 1902.
Photo from the album
of Edith Armstrong, sister of Edwin Armstrong, the inventor of FM radio.
This photo was likely taken from the window
of 1040 Warburton.
Looking up Warburton Avenue past the intersection of Odell Avenue, Yonkers in 1902.
From the photo album of
Edith Armstrong.
Two houses on the right (foreground) still exist today.
Warburton Avenue Yonkers circa 1902. West side of Warburton opposite Odell Avenue.
Today much of this site
is occupied by an apartment building.
The Photo abovei is a home on Shonnard Terrace in Northwest Yonkers. This Photo was taken by Frank Burhans in the year
1903.
Interestingly enough the quality of the photo is so excellent that modern technology allows a peak into the
windows of this home.
The photo below reveals what is in one of the windows.
This house was being sold by H. Woodhouse... see the sign in the window
And H. Woodhouse was a developer who lived in this residence at 753 Warburton Avenue. This house still stands
and
is very much unchanged. Photo taken approx 1901.
Now ......Please take a look at the
wealth of images on this site.
We hope you enjoy the trip back in time!
Click HERE to see the next page of photos
