Buildings at 1200–1206 Washington Street facts for kids
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Buildings at 1200–1206 Washington Street
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Buildings at 1200–1206 Washington, Hoboken
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 Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1200–1206 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.9 acres (0.36 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Built by | Hoboken Land and Improvement Company |
| Architect | Charles Fall |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000350 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1987 |
The Buildings at 1200–1206 Washington Street are a special group of buildings in Hoboken, New Jersey. They are also known by cool names like the El Dorado Apartments and the Yellow Flats. These buildings are so important that they are listed as a historic district. This means they are protected because of their history and unique design. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 9, 1987.
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What's the Story Behind These Buildings?
These interesting buildings were constructed in the 1890s. A company called the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company built them. A talented architect named Charles Fall designed them.
The buildings are located on Washington Street in Hoboken. This street is a busy area with many shops and restaurants. The complex is quite large, stretching a whole block between 12th and 13th Streets. It has many apartments, with 174 living units in total! The specific addresses listed as historic are 1200, 1202, 1204, and 1206 Washington Street.
Who Lived in the Yellow Flats?
Some very interesting people once called the Yellow Flats home.
Hetty Green: The "Witch of Wall Street"
One of the most famous residents was Hetty Green. She was known as the "Witch of Wall Street" because she was incredibly good at making money. In fact, she was one of the richest women of her time! Even though she could have bought a huge mansion, Hetty chose to live in a small, simple apartment at the Yellow Flats. She paid only about $19 to $23 a month for her three-room home.
Hetty was very careful about taxes. To avoid paying too much, she moved between different places, including Hoboken and Brooklyn Heights. She even listed her apartment buzzer as "C. Dewey," which was the name of her pet Skye terrier dog! It was also said that she sometimes stayed as a guest with the building's janitor, Jacob Van Twisk.
Blind Tom Wiggins: A Musical Genius
Another remarkable person who lived here was Blind Tom Wiggins. He was a famous musician who played the piano beautifully. He even performed at the White House for President James Buchanan! Many people, including the famous writer Mark Twain, admired his musical talent.
In 1905, near the end of his career, Blind Tom Wiggins moved into an apartment in the Yellow Flats. He lived there for several years. He later passed away at the home of a neighbor, Mrs. Eliza Bethune Lerche.
