Bouwerie Lane Theatre facts for kids
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Bouwerie Lane Theatre
(Bond Street Savings Bank) |
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 Bouwerie Lane Theatre
Location in Lower Manhattan
Bouwerie Lane Theatre
Location in New York
Bouwerie Lane Theatre
Location in the United States
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| Location | Manhattan, New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Henry Engelbert |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002671 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1980 |
The Bouwerie Lane Theatre is a special building in Manhattan, New York City. It has had many lives! It started as a bank, then became a famous Off-Broadway theatre, and is now a private home. You can find it at 330 Bowery at Bond Street, in an area called the NoHo Historic District.
This amazing building was constructed between 1873 and 1874. It was designed by an architect named Henry Engelbert. The building has a unique look because it's made of cast-iron, which was a popular building material back then.
Contents
A Building's Journey: From Bank to Home
The Bouwerie Lane Theatre building has a long and interesting history. It has changed its purpose several times over the years.
Early Days as a Bank
When it was first built, the building was meant to be a bank. It was designed for the Atlantic Savings Bank. Even before it was completely finished, the bank changed its name to the Bond Street Savings Bank. However, this bank didn't last very long. It closed down in 1879. After that, another bank, the German Exchange Bank, bought the building. This bank helped the many German immigrant families living in the area. For many years before the 1960s, the building was used to store fabrics.
Life as a Theatre
In 1963, the building got a new life! A person named Honey Waldman turned it into a theatre. This was an "Off-Broadway" theatre, which means it was a smaller, often more experimental theatre than the big Broadway shows. Many plays were performed there.
From 1974 until 2006, the building was home to a theatre group called the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre. They put on many different plays and musicals. Some of the famous shows included The Immoralist (in 1963), Dames at Sea (in 1968), and Night and Day (in 2000). The very last show performed by the Cocteau group in 2006 was The Maids X 2.
Modern Use as a Private Home
After many years as a theatre, the building changed again. In 2007, a person named Adam Gordon bought it. He decided to turn the historic building into a private mansion. Imagine living in a former bank and theatre! The plans for the mansion even included a climbing wall inside. The front part of the building, facing Bowery, was planned to be used for shops.
Protecting a Historic Landmark
The Bouwerie Lane Theatre building is very special, and people wanted to make sure it would be protected for the future.
Recognized as a City Landmark
Because of its unique history and beautiful design, the building was named a New York City landmark in 1967. This means it's an important part of the city's history and architecture.
Added to National Register
Later, in 1980, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the entire United States that are important for their history, architecture, or archaeology. The AIA Guide to New York City, a book about New York's buildings, even called it "One of the most sophisticated cast-iron buildings." This shows how special its design truly is.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Bouwerie Lane para niños
