Around 1842, Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt (1794-1871), grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt purchased at foreclosure the land along Broadway between East 14th and East 13th Streets.

Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt At the southwest corner of 14th and Broadway, he built his mansion with gardens extending behind. Following Cornelius’ death in 1871, the family mansion was razed, but his heirs retained ownership of the property and formed the Broadway Improvement Company for the purposes of real estate investment and development.

Robert B. Roosevelt, 1860-1875 In January of 1893, The New York Times announced that the Roosevelt Company would be constructing an eight-story office building at 841 Broadway, at the northwest corner of Broadway and East 13th Street. With Stephen D. Hatch as the architect, the design of this loft building included modern amenities such as three elevators and electric lighting.

James A. Roosevelt, 1896-1899 Completed in the spring of 1894, the cost of the was $500,000, with James A. Roosevelt and Robert Barnwell Roosevelt (Cornelius’ sons) as principal owners, and W. Emlen Roosevelt, John Roosevelt, and Frank Roosevelt as investors. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

57 Fifth Avenue was built c. 1852 by James Lenox, the noted philanthropist and bibliophile whose mansion was located directly south of this building. In the late 19th century, 57 Fifth Avenue was the home of Robert B. Roosevelt (1829-1906). Roosevelt was the brother of Theodore Roosevelt Sr., uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt, and great uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt. An early and influential conservationist, he is credited with imbuing in his nephew Teddy his dedication to the conservation cause. A Democrat, he nevertheless was a fiercely loyal Unionist during the Civil War, co-founding and helping to lead the Loyal National League, which was established to support the war effort and the maintenance of the Union, and particularly to channel support for Northern and Border State Democrats to the Union (the League was located at 813 Broadway, an extant building also within the proposed historic district).

Robert B. Roosevelt, 1860-1875 After the Civil War, Roosevelt was elected to Congress and eventually appointed Ambassador to the Netherlands (the Roosevelts were of Dutch lineage). Unlike many New York Democrats at the time, he was a staunch opponent of the corrupt Tammany Hall machine, and successfully worked towards its demise. Roosevelt was a trustee representing New York City in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, and was instrumental in the establishment of paid Fire and Health Departments in New York City. He founded and led for twenty years the New York State Fishery Commission, an early conservation group, and introduced the bill in Congress which established the United States Fish Commission. Shortly after its incorporation in 1884 he also became President of the New York Association for the Protection of Game, whose establishment in 1844 has been described as “the first active steps looking towards game protection in the United States.” Roosevelt was also a noted author and close to writer Oscar Wilde, who visited Roosevelt’s family when he came to the United States. Roosevelt is also credited with being the first to write down and publish the “Br’er Rabbit” stories, in Harper’s Magazine, which had been passed down orally by African slaves based upon traditional African folklore. The stories were later popularized by Joel Chandler Harris and Walt Disney. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

In 1927, a new building permit was filed for this 21-story office building designed by Emory Roth. The owner was the Broadway Improvement Corporation with William Emlen Roosevelt as president. The Roosevelt family had a long history with this particular piece of real estate. The Roosevelts were descendants of a Dutch immigrant named Claes van Roosevelt (1626-1659) who arrived in New Amsterdam between 1638 and 1649. Around 1652 he bought a 50-acre farm in what is now Midtown Manhattan, setting up his descendants for real estate profits and political power.

Abraham Lincoln funeral procession. Theodore Roosevelt is said to be looking out a second story window with his brother Elliott. Around 1842, Claes’ great great great grandson, Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt (1794-1871) purchased land at foreclosure along Broadway between East 14th and East 13th Streets. Here he built his mansion at the southwest corner of Broadway and East 14th Street with gardens extending behind. Cornelius’ grandson, President Theodore Roosevelt, is said to be seen in an image of President’s Lincoln’s funeral procession moving past the family home in 1865, when he was a young boy, looking out the window with his brother Elliott.

Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt, undated Following Cornelius’ death in 1871, the family mansion was razed, but his heirs retained ownership of the property and formed the Broadway Improvement Company for the purposes of real estate investment and development. Following the trend of the area of transitioning from a residential to a commercial district, the corporation built the Domestic Sewing Machine Co. Building on the site. That building was demolished in the 1920s to make way for the structure presently on the site. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

815 Broadway is a 2-story neo-Renaissance style galvanized iron faced commercial building constructed in 1897 by John C. Westervelt for the Roosevelt family (owner listed as Roosevelt and Son) at a cost of $15,000. In 1953, The New York Times reported that the heirs of Cornelius V.S. Roosevelt (1794-1871) would sell 815 Broadway to the 815 Broadway Corporation. According to the Times, the property had been in the family for 110 years, and by the time of the announcement of the sale, title to the property was divided into 3600th interests as the result of various deaths while owned by the Roosevelt family. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

813 Broadway is a four-story residential and commercial building constructed ca. 1850 for Peter Goelet, a very prominent merchant and real estate entrepreneur of mid-19th century New York. During the Civil War, 813 Broadway was the home of the Hall of the Loyal National League, an organization established to support the Union and bring about the end of slavery throughout the country, not just in the slave states in revolt (as the Emancipation Proclamation did). The Loyal National League was composed of some of New York City’s most prominent citizens including the League’s secretary, James A. Roosevelt. The League had locations all throughout the country during the Civil War with the 813 Broadway location being one of the largest and most prominent.

James A. Roosevelt, 1896-1899 James A. Roosevelt, uncle of future president Theodore Roosevelt, first started at his father’s mercantile firm, Roosevelt & Son, at the age of twenty, eventually taking over the businesses. He was connected with many prominent New York and American institutions, including the Chemical Bank of New York, of which he was Vice-President; the Broadway Improvement Company, which he led; the Bank of Savings, of which he was Vice President; and the New York Life Insurance Trust, of which he was Director. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

The house which served as the residence of Judge James J. and Cornelia Roosevelt was located here prior to construction of the existing cast iron building in 1876. James was a Justice of the Supreme Court beginning in 1851, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and a member of Congress. He was the great-uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt and the first president of Roosevelt Hospital, founded by his cousin, James H. Roosevelt.

Judge James Roosevelt, 1855-1865 By the time of Judge Roosevelt’s death in 1875, his was one of the last residences on this stretch of Broadway, which had rapidly transformed from a residential to a commercial district. His heirs razed the 1840s home and commissioned architect Stephen D. Hatch to construct a six-story cast iron commercial structure at this location. The estate held the property until 1921. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Built in 1936-37 and designed by MIT-trained William Dewey Foster, the Cooper Station Post Office was constructed as one of the projects overseen by the Works Progress Administration.

Franklin D. Roosevelt plaque at the Cooper Station Post Office, 2020 The formation of this agency was a result of the Depression-era Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1935 The building is an example of the Art Moderne – Classical Revival style popular during the Great Depression. Foster was hired in 1934 by Louis A. Simon, the Supervising Architect of the Treasury, during the execution of the depression’s public works projects. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .