Lawrence Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Lawrence Park Historic District
|
|
Houses on Garden Avenue
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly bounded by Side Hill, Prescott, Kensington, Garden and Chestnut Ave., Maidens Ln, Valley and Pondfield Rds., Bronxville, New York |
|---|---|
| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Bates, William A.; Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Shingle, Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002788 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 1980 |
The Lawrence Park Historic District is a special neighborhood in Bronxville, New York. It's like a time capsule, filled with nearly 100 old buildings that are important for their history or unique designs. This area was created over 100 years ago. It was built on a wooded hillside with winding roads. Many famous artists and writers used to live here. Even today, Lawrence Park still looks much like it did when it was first built. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place in the United States.
Why is Lawrence Park Special?
Lawrence Park is important for its amazing buildings, its history, and its culture. A man named William Van Duzer Lawrence created this neighborhood. He personally helped design the first homes. He also encouraged famous artists and writers to move there.
Some of these creative people included:
- Artists like Otto Henry Bacher, Hobart Nichols, and William Thomas Smedley.
- Writers such as Tudor Jenks, Kate Douglas Wiggin, and Edmund Clarence Stedman.
Many residents were also leaders in Bronxville's community. Even with some changes over the years, Lawrence Park still feels like a unique neighborhood from the early 1900s.
The Story of Lawrence Park
How the Land Became a Community
The land where Lawrence Park now stands has a long history. In 1664, it was given to ten families from Connecticut. They created rules for the area in 1665. This agreement was called the Eastchester Covenant. It even included rules for educating children.
A small community started to grow in the 1700s. This was because of the nearby Bronx River. The river provided power and a way to travel. The area was first called Underhill's Crossing. This name came from the Underhill family. They owned a mill on the river.
In the 1820s, white marble was found nearby. This brought more people to the area. The railroad arrived in 1844, helping the community grow even faster. James Minot Prescott bought 86 acres of land in 1845. He built a large house called the Manor House.
William Lawrence's Vision
In 1890, William Van Duzer Lawrence bought Prescott's 86-acre farm. Lawrence was a millionaire from the pharmaceutical business. He loved the quiet, country feel of Bronxville. It was only fifteen miles from New York City.
Lawrence first thought of the land as an investment. But a year later, he decided to develop it. He wanted to create a special community. He made sure to protect the large trees and natural beauty. He hired an architect named William A. Bates. Bates had designed homes in Tuxedo Park.
Bates designed four houses to start. They were built in popular styles of the time. These included Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Shingle, and Tudor Revival.
Early Days and Growth
The first four houses sold very quickly in 1891. Lawrence then had Bates update the Manor House. It became an inn for visitors. People who wanted to buy land or were building homes could stay there.
Another building, called the Casino, was also designed by Bates. It was used for meetings and social events. Interest in Lawrence Park grew fast. Many artists and authors from New York City wanted to live there. Studios and libraries were added to homes.
Artists like William Henry Howe and William T. Smedley moved in. Soon, Lawrence Park became known as an "exclusive literary and artistic development."
Bronxville Becomes a Village
William Lawrence also helped Bronxville become its own village. At first, Bronxville's taxes were used by a nearby town. Lawrence wanted Bronxville to have its own government. To do this, the village needed at least 300 residents.
The population wasn't quite enough. So, in 1897, Lawrence built seven larger houses. These homes were for big families with many servants. Once these homes were sold, the population count was high enough. Bronxville officially became an incorporated village.
The Charm of the Architecture
The homes in Lawrence Park were very special. They seemed to fit perfectly into the landscape. One writer said they looked "as if they had grown there." These houses show many popular styles from the early 1900s. They were designed for a more relaxed way of life.
Many homes featured high roofs and gables. They often had wide porches and corner towers. These designs made the houses look charming and unique. Most of the homes were designed by William Bates. His designs used wood and stone. They blended beautifully with the hillsides. Bates also designed parts of Bronxville's commercial area.
Notable Homes in Lawrence Park
25 Prescott Avenue
This home was built in 1891. It was designed by William Bates. It's a great example of the Shingle style. It has wavy surfaces and a unique roof. The first owner was Will Hicok Low. He was a famous painter and designer. Low added a studio to the house. He shared it with Charles Lewis Hinton, an illustrator. Artists lived in this house until 1965.
26 Prescott Avenue: "Owl House"
"Oak Ridge Cottage" at 26 Prescott Avenue was built in 1895. It was designed by William Winthrop Kent. This house was home to William T. Smedley. He was a very successful portrait painter. The house is often called "Owl House." This is because of a carved owl on the roof.
The house was built so all windows get sunlight. Large stones in the lower part of the house were specially quarried. It's described as "irregular and rambling" but beautifully put together. Smedley added one of the first garages in Lawrence Park in 1916. After his death, famous writers, like Brendan Gill, lived here.
12 Sunset Avenue: "Gray Arches"
"Gray Arches" was built in 1891. It was also designed by Bates. This house sits on one of the highest spots in Lawrence Park. Its name comes from the stone arches on the porch. The porch rests on a large rock. This home shows how much the natural landscape was respected.
In 1892, it was the summer home of the Lawrence family. In 1894, Kate Douglas Wiggin lived there. She was the author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She called it "...a beautiful house" in her autobiography.
28 Valley Road: "Pacesetter House"
The "Pacesetter House" at 28 Valley Road was built in 1952. Architect Henry Eggers designed it. It replaced an older house from 1895. The new house won an award in 1953. It uses shingles and has a pitched roof. This helps it fit in with the older homes nearby. The original barn was used as a garage. Its designs are now part of the house's interior.
