113th Street Gatehouse

Street Address/Location: SW corner 113th Street and Amsterdam Avenue Town/City: New York

County: New York City Owner: Amsterdam Nursing Home

STRUCTURE/PROPERTY

Architect/Engineer/Other Responsible Parties: Unknown

Historic Use: Gatehouse

Present Use: Nursing Home

Typology: Gatehouse

Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival

Period(s) of Construction: 1876

Date of Decommissioning: 1990 Date(s) of Demolition: N/A

Structural System/Materials: Load-bearing masonry wall construction; granite, slate, stained glass

Significant Alterations: Interior renovated for nursing home use (1993)

Brief Architectural Description: The one-story gatehouse has a square plan (unknown dimensions) and is sited on a 50 ft x 150 ft plot. The walls are constructed of rock-faced granite and contain details such as arched door and window openings, which are framed by granite voussoirs. This overall form conveys a sense of solidity and durability and seems to have been inspired by Romanesque Revival architectural design. A hipped roof (originally slate- current material unknown) completes the structure. Inside, the stone-slab floor originally surrounded a curved, funnel-shaped open chamber where water from the single incoming line was channeled into six 48-inch cast-iron mains. The structure is currently connected to a 13-story building by an at-grade glass walkway.

Brief Statement of Historic Significance: Designed in 1876 by the chief and assistant engineers of the Croton Aqueduct, the gatehouse was associated with the Old Croton system (originally established in 1842), but was built as a result of above-grade aqueduct infrastructure at this location being moved below-grade in 1865-76.

INTERPRETATION

Accessibility to Public: During office hours

Landmark Status: None

Threats: None Current Interpretation: None

MISCELLANEOUS

Publicly auctioned by the City of New York in 1993.

SOURCES “POSTINGS: City Auction; Gatehouse Sale, With Conditions,” The New York Times, February 7, 1993. “Streetscapes: The Croton Gatehouse; Worthy Interests Clash on 113th Street,” The New York Times, November 25, 1990.

FICHE PREPARED BY Julie Rosen