520 West End Avenue facts for kids
520 West End Avenue is a famous old house in Manhattan, New York City. It is also known as the John B. and Isabella Leech Residence. This special building is located on West End Avenue in an area called the Upper West Side.
This large house was built in 1892 for a single family. It was the home of Isabella and John B. Leech. Mr. Leech was a very successful cotton broker. The architect who designed the house was Clarence F. True. Back when the Leech family lived here, West End Avenue was full of big homes owned by wealthy families.
The building at 520 West End Avenue is designed in a style called Romanesque Revival. The first two floors are made of rough, strong limestone blocks. Above that, the building uses tan-colored Roman brick. The details on the house also mix in ideas from Gothic Revival and Elizabethan Revival styles. Because it sits on a corner, it was one of the biggest homes on a street known for its large townhouses. For a while, it was a school called the Gordon-Winston School. Today, it has been changed into an apartment building where people live.
Why is 520 West End Avenue Special?
This historic house was officially named a New York City landmark in 1987. This means it is a very important building that needs to be protected.
