Sunday, February 10, 2013

NYC Walking Tour - Merchant's House Museum

Merchant's House Museum 29 East 14th Street, Manhattan, NYC

 
              I recently lead a tour to the Merchant’s House Museum which was built in 1832. Purchased by Seabury Tredwell, a prosperous New York City hardware merchant, in 1835. The Tredwell family continued to live in the house for nearly 100 years. The period rooms on four floors are furnished with the family’s original furnishings dating from 1835-1865.

            The museum certainly is up to its reputation of being considered one of the finest surviving examples of architecture from the period, the Merchant’s House it has also been recognized for its 1832 late-Federal brick exterior but also for its Greek revival interior rooms. Of note, the House was among the first 20 buildings designated in 1965 under the City’s new landmarks law.

           Are the Tredwell's still living in their home? In particular Gertrude Tredwell is thought to be watching over her family home. Born in home in 1840, Gertrude never married and lived her entire life here until she died, at the age of 93, in 1933. Since the 1930's, tales of strange and unexplainable happenings have surrounded the Merchant’s House. Many visitors and staff  have reported seeing, hearing, and smelling things that weren’t there.

            The Museum’s collection contains of over 3,000 items comprises the possessions of the Tredwells, the wealthy merchant-class family who lived in the House from 1835 to 1933. The collection includes furniture, decorative arts, clothing, photographs and books, household items, and personal items. Highlights include a suite of 12 mahogany side chairs attributed to renowned furniture maker Duncan Phyfe, a pair of matching six-globe gas chandeliers, and 40 dresses and numerous fashion accessories that belonged to the Tredwell women.

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