aka The Evelyn (Thursday Doors)

Who was the first to embellish their shelter?  I imagine a bird, gathering material –sturdy and warm, but what’s this?—also eye-catching–to build a secure place to raise their family.  Practical, useful, yet at the same time pleasing in a way that lies beyond rational thought.

Humans often stray too far beyond logic in their abodes, valuing ornament over comfort.  But there is delight in beauty. 

As I walk the city streets, examining and photographing the buildings I pass, I not only think about the exterior décor, but what exists behind the façade, inside.  Who lives there?  What stories can these walls tell?

late summer light is
harsh, sharp with lingered shadows–
autumn ghosts await

101 West 78 Street, “aka 380-384 Columbus Avenue aka The Eveylyn” (as Landmarks put it in their Historic District designation), was planned as a luxury building by developer James O’Friel in the late 1800s, and has undergone a recent renovation to make it (supposedly) even more luxurious for the 2000s. The original architect, responsible for the terracotta embellishments, was Emil Gruwe, although after O’Friel went bankrupt and sold the building additional stories were added by architects Douglas and John Jardine.

The actual entrance to the building, on 78th Street, doesn’t have the cachet of the Columbus Avenue storefront, which may have originally been a restaurant, as one article I read said it had one when it was built. Now it’s an empty storefront, vacant since the building-wide renovation began.

Here’s some close ups of the terracotta above the doorway. An angel, cherubs, possibly griffins.

The corner windows on Columbus Avenue also have similar figures. The door to the right of them, made by extending a window, evidently caused a lot of controversy when it was constructed. At least they were not allowed to remove the terracotta embellishments, which they wanted to do at the same time. And now the building is in the Historic District, so it will hopefully be protected from further exterior changes.

Some of the 78 Street corner windows have guardians.

and more angels. If you’re interested in a detailed history of this building and its residents, which included deaths and suicides, marital scandals, at least one pyramid scheme, and a ransom attempt, the Daytonian has a great article that you can find here.

My haibun is in answer to Mish’s dverse prompt on the subject of shelter. I’m probably too late for Mr. Linky, but couldn’t resist using it for Thursday Doors. Which you can find, as always, with host Dan Antion, here.

Oh, and there’s still one newly renovated apartment available, if you have an extra 10 million…