Trinity Center
115 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Welcome to week 13 everyone!!! As you may know, there is a superstition that some building makers have about the 13th floor. Some go as far as to skip it entirely (they just label the 13th floor as 14, which feels very silly to me). The first nyc apartment I lived in was actually on the 13th floor AND my dentist (which is in this week’s building) is on the 13th floor as well. Maybe that explains a thing or two… more on that later…
Picture taken in 1912. The same picture could not be taken today due to the newer buildings in the way. Also the building to the right was replaced with a park!
By now we all know I love me some Gothic Revival architecture, so this week’s building should be no shock. This week’s building is actually two! (twinems!!) On the left is the Trinity Building and on the right is the United States Realty Building. These two besties were made sometime in the early early 1900s. For some reason Wikipedia was being weirdly vague about it. Whatever, you guys don’t need to know everything do you? Both buildings are 22-story office spaces designed by Francis Hatch Kimball. This guy is described as a “devoted and prolific Gothic Revivalist”. Turns out me & Kimball are also twinems! (good mf vibes only, supa good vibes only)
So this lot used to be home to the Van Cortlandt sugar house. And let me tell ya, what went down there was not sweet. This led me down a rabbit hole of finding out what certain downtown subway stops are named after. Cortlandt station is named after the Van Cortlandt family (rich ass Dutch family, one of whom was the first native born mayor of New York). Turns out that Cortlandt Street is pre-Revolutionary War, which I found pretty nifty. Coincidentally, my favorite Subway (the sandwich station, not the train station) is also on that street. I’d like to think that’s exactly what the founding fathers had in mind for the future of this country.
View of Trinity Church with Trinity Place in the background
Trinity Building faces Trinity Church, which I actually mentioned two weeks ago! I said that the architect for the Limelight church also designed Trinity Church. Turns out that guy’s name is Richard Upjohn (man, it smells like Upjohn in here). Anyhoo, now this building is home to my dentist & doctors offices. I get to look out over the very cool architecture of the church while my dentist scams me for hundreds of dollars. Does anyone else think dentistry is a lot like going to the mechanic? Why are they always trying to get me to buy some silly shit? And why can’t I ever say no? I have a boujee mouthguard and prescription toothpaste now. I can’t keep living like this.
The architecture of these buildings are really exceptional. Walking into the lobby feels straight out of a movie. In 2020 (I think? don’t quote me on that. while you’re at it, don’t quote me on any of this) they added a bunch of stunning lighting to the outside of the building. It even changes colors for different occasions & “sparkles” every now and then.
Now, I know 99% of the buildings I’ve chosen for this newsletter have been downtown and that’s for 2 reasons. 1) I live down here and rarely leave this section of Manhattan & 2) there’s such a wide range of building types in such a small amount of space. The juxtaposition between buildings like this & the building seen below will be always been funny to me. The way that building hovers over everything Toontown Cog Building style…
Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated lookin ass
this week’s guest star: my sister, Amy!!
Fun Facts
In 1912, a lil footbridge was added to connect the roofs. Something about it makes a very primal part of my brain act up & scream “let me walk across that NOW” Amy wouldn’t shut the fuuuuck up about the fact that National Treasure, the movie with Nicholas Cage, ends at Trinity Church. Everyone say “WOW! SO cool.”
I once had to hobble down the alleyway that sits between these two buildings in crutches. 0/10 experience
That alleyway is actually called Thames street, which I will continue to pronounce with the th sound no matter what. I say Greenwich the way you want, I pronounce Houston St. like “how-stin”, just let me have this one thing PLEASE. Enough of your silly games, New York!! 🤓☝🏼 “Um, actually, it’s named after the river in london” DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CARE?? Thames you very much.
My cat had bladder surgery this week so please enjoy these picture of him in his adorable onesie.
Anyway, see you next week!! Toodeloo!
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