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Cooper-Hewitt Mansion
9 Lexington Avenue

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Cooper-Hewitt Mansion image

Cooper-Hewitt Mansion
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Cooper-Hewitt House, Gramercy Park, June 1925. In 1848, Peter Cooper left his longtime residence at Fourth Avenue and 28th Street (then a busy industrial area and slaughterhouse district), for a new mansion in the Gramercy Park neighborhood. Cooper shared his 35-room residence with his extended family, including son-in-law and future Mayor of New York City Abram Hewitt. Hewitt had befriended Cooper’s son Edward Cooper — himself the city’s 83rd Mayor — while traveling abroad in Europe. The Cooper-Hewitt bond was cemented when both me survived the capsizing of their return ship off of Cape May. Hewitt would go on to marry Edward’s sister, Sarah Cooper. Hewitt’s family continued to reside at 9 Lexington Avenue after Peter Cooper’s 1883 death, and even enlisted Gramercy Park neighbor Stanford White to design updates to the structure. The building was eventually replaced by a 13-story apartment building, completed in 1951.

Photos(2)

Cooper-Hewitt Mansion image

Cooper-Hewitt Mansion

Cooper-Hewitt Mansion image

Cooper-Hewitt Mansion

Manhattan: Lexington Avenue - 22nd Street (East) 9 Lexington Avenue, at the S.E. corner of East 22nd Street, (left), showing the home of the former Mayor Abram S. Hewitt, who was the son-in-law of the beneficent Peter Cooper. His son, Erskine Hewitt, succeeded to same in turn. The photographer silhouettes same against a background of apartment dwellings that face on Gramercy Park. Note the lanterns extending from the balcony over the portico. These are reminiscent of the old New York custom indicating the residence of the chief executive. A similar feature is to be found around the corner at No. 4 Gramercy Park West, the home of the former Mayor Harpef of the publishing firm of that name. February 4, 1938. P. L. Sperr
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