Structure/Property Name (Current and Original, if Different): Keeper’s House
Street Address/Location: 86th Street and Transverse Road, Central Park
Town/City: New York
County: New York
Owner:
STRUCTURE/PROPERTY
Architect/Engineer/Other Responsible Parties: unknown, possible outside architect
Historic Use: Allows for a keeper to watch over the two reservoirs located in Central Park
Present Use:
Typology: Keeper’s House
Architectural Style: Gothic
Period(s) of Construction: 1866/67
Date of Decommissioning:
Date(s) of Demolition: 1935
Structural System/Materials:
Significant Alterations:
Brief Architectural Description: 3-story gothic style stone house, complete with half wrap around porch, two chimneys,
Brief Statement of Historic Significance: Keeper’s houses were an integral part to the Croton System, allowing for a night and day watchman to safeguard various areas of the system.
INTERPRETATION
Accessibility to Public: n/a
Landmark Status: n/a
Threats: n/a
Current Interpretation: n/a
MISCELLANEOUS
Multiple deaths, primarily suicides, have been associated with the aqueduct keepers through the 19th century. They included, Oliver Perry Lewis, Ethel Reiss, and keeper Ralph Ellis’s son
SOURCES
FICHE PREPARED BY
Andrew Maziarski
The Croton Waterworks 