Historic Downtown NewRochelle

To
College of
New Rochelle
To I-95
EXIT 15
Interchange
and Pelham
PERMIT
3 HOUR
MAPLE AVE.
LOT
4
BLESSED
SACRAMENT
CHURCH
1 HOUR
One Way
ent
num
Mo
rs'
die
Sol
PERMIT
PROSPEC
T ST. LOT
SIMONE
DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
IN
PLANNING
ACE
LEROY PL
1 HOUR
BIBLE
WAY
CHURCH
s
ome
Bec Way
Two
PAY &
DISPLAY
7
N
5
8
6
3
LOFTS
DAVENPORT
ON
LOFTS
MAIN
ON
MAIN
9
1 HOUR
LOEW’S M2
CONDOMINIUM
PROJECT IN
PLANNING
12
10
11
543
MAIN
CONDOMINIUM
T
ES
W
ER
PL
.
ay
eW
On
Former Palace Shoe Store
11
Lambden Building
10
9
TRINITY
ST. PAUL'S
CHURCH
Pioneer Building
23
Former Trolley Turn-Around
Building
22
Former Bank of New Rochelle
Former Westchester Federal
Savings Bank
21
“K” Building
20
Former Ware’s Department
Store/Bloomingdale’s
19
Blessed Sacrament Church
7
18
Former Proctor’s-RKO
Theater
6
Former Masonic Lodge/
Library Building
17
Union Baptist Church
16
The Presbyterian Church
of New Rochelle and
Pintard Manse
5
Former Arnold Constable
Building
15
Former New Rochelle
Public Library
4
Former Loew’s Theater
3
Trinity-St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church and Burial Grounds
2
New Rochelle Public Library
& Library Green
1
Liebman’s Children’s
Apparel Store
13
Former Fire Headquarters
12
Walking Tour at a Glance
3 HOUR
START
1 HOUR
HU
MONROE
COLLEGE
1 HOUR
RESIDENTIAL
HALL
One Way
CITY
NEW ROC
To
Larchmont,
Mamaroneck and
Five Islands Park
ANDERSON ST.
FOUNTAIN PL.
22
MARRIOTT
RESIDENCE
INN
HSBC
BANK
HSBC
BANK
E
GU
T.
TS
NO
PLA
S.
ZA
To
Sound Shore
Medical Center
UNION
STATE
BANK
LIBRARY
LOT
LIBRARY
GREEN
N
TIO
STA
Former Standard Star Building
14
1
ON
ON UND
AL
AV E SO
TH
New Rochelle Post Office
Former National City Bank
of New Rochelle
ONG
AL
AV RKIN E
PA ARAGte)
G riva
(P
17
1 HOUR
AY 1)
(US HIGHW
POST RD.
MONROE
COLLEGE
(US
1 HOUR
$1.00
A24
SPACE
METER
18
PERMIT
THE
SUMMIT
GE
CITY GARA
NEW ROC
21
1)
AY
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HIG
POST
19 OFFICE
in.
15 M
E
AS
CH NK
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STATION
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20
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RADISSON
HOTEL
One Way
FLEET
FLEET
BANK
BANK
RADISSON PLAZA
0
$1.0
W
NE
NORTH AVE.
8
ay
One W
To
NYC
BOSTON
1 HOUR
LIBRARY
y
Wa
One
2
MAIN ST.
To
Marina and
Hudson Park
14
23
LIBRARY LOT
AVALON
EAST
ON THE
SOUND
16
UNION
BAPTIST
CHURCH
15
1 HOUR
BANK
OF
NY
3 HOUR
Printing sponsored by:
543 Main LLC
Davenport Lofts on Main
GHP/145 Huguenot Street
Kaufman Organization/
K Building
Monroe College
New Roc City
To
Marina and
Hudson Park
466
MAIN
466
STREET
MAIN
STREET
13
One Way
1 HOUR
T
ES
CH
FRENCHSPEAKING
BAPTIST
CHURCH
One Way
PRESBYTERIA
CHURCH
To
Beach Clubs
and
Davenport Park
One Way
$1.00
MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
One Way
To
Marinas and
Glen Island Park
PINTARD AVE.
ZA
L PLA
ORIA
MEM
15 Minute Bank Parking
CEDAR
PLAZA
One Way
TOYOTA
BEL-AQUA
HEADQUARTERS
COMMERCE DR.
One Way
EN
A
GL
ND
TH
CON EDISON
RU
EXIT 16
Interchange
AY
W
EXPO
DESIGN CENTER
To
City Hall
& Iona College
To Connecticut
Historic Downtown New Rochelle
T H E
T H E
B I D
The New Rochelle
Business Improvement
District (BID).
Working to make
things happen
Downtown.
G U I D E
T O
N
ew Rochelle’s sweeping history, from Huguenot settlement to affluent
suburban City,
is evident in its downtown
architecture. In the mid-1800s,
the railroad, providing a critical
link with New York City,
enabled New Rochelle’s
business district to flourish.
Growth centered around
New Rochelle Train Station
the train station. In 1901,
Depot Plaza Circa 1873
when George M. Cohan’s hit
On December 25, 1848, the first
musical, “45 Minutes From
train steamed through New
Broadway,” poked fun at the
Rochelle, part of the New York,
“rubes” in New Rochelle, this
New Haven, Hartford Railroad built
city of 10,000 was on its way
in the early 1840s, largely by
to becoming one of the
recent immigrants. The track from
region’s most fashionable
New Rochelle to New York City
communities.
was completed in 1873 and this
Over the next three
station replaced the original, smalldecades, New Rochelle’s
er one. Now part of the City’s New
population quadrupled and
Rochelle Intermodal Transportaby the 1930s it was one of the tion Center, it incorporates
wealthiest communities in
commuter rail, Amtrak, a parking
America, evident by its
garage and consolidated bus, taxi &
distinguished downtown Art
airport limousine services.
Deco buildings. Entering the
21st century, downtown New
Rochelle continues to exemplify America’s exciting commercial
history as it develops into a dynamic center epitomizing the
growing “Return to Downtown” movement. Main Street
maintains the link between the community’s past and future.
Enjoy your walk around downtown New Rochelle with
this BID Guide. As you reflect on the physical past preserved
along Main Street, also experience its dynamic vibrancy, the
unique spirit that, through the ages, has always made downtowns the heart of their communities, from ancient Roman
forums to contemporary American central business districts.
Get the best view of downtown’s outstanding architecture by
looking up. Downtown certainly is!
CENTRE AVE.
SOUTH
DIVISION ST.
CHURCH ST.
LAWTON ST.
NORTH AVE.
LE COUNT PL.
HARRISON ST.
CEDAR ST.
PALMER AVE.
It’s Downtown, where New
Rochelle’s past, present and
future come together!
MAPLE AVE.
NORTH AVE.
LOCUST AVE.
FRANKLIN AVE.
ECHO AVE.
Have you been
Downtown lately?
Businesses
The BID works to
recruit new businesses to downtown,
from stores such as
Metro Bicycles to
new espresso bars
such as Gallery Café.
B I D
Services The BID
helps maintain the
quality of life downtown with such
initiatives as the BID
Code Enforcement
Project and the
Clean Streets
Program.
For more information please contact:
New Rochelle BID
WWW.newrochelledowntown.com
TELEPHONE: (914) 576-5332
Marc Jerome, Chairman
Ralph DiBart, Executive Director
eMAIL: [email protected]
RESEARCH & TEXT BY BARBARA DAVIS
DESIGN & PRODUCTION BY HARQUIN CREATIVE GROUP
06/04
T O
Historic
Downtown
NewRochelle
Marketing The BID organizes special
events and successful public relations
campaigns to promote downtown.
Development The BID initiates private
new development such as Monroe
College’s Main Street expansion with
Milavec Hall and a new dormitory.
G U I D E
Experience a
cross section
of American
architecture
and history.
Take a stroll
in Downtown
New Rochelle.
To
College of
New Rochelle
PAY &
DISPLAY
PERMIT
PROSPEC
T ST. LOT
12
FRENCHSPEAKING
BAPTIST
CHURCH
To
Beach Clubs
and
Davenport Park
15466
1 HOUR
16
To
Marina and
Hudson Park
AY 1)
(US HIGHW
POST RD.
BOSTON
MONROE
COLLEGE
UNION
BAPTIST
CHURCH
1 HOUR
Printing sponsored by:
543 Main LLC
Davenport Lofts on Main
GHP/145 Huguenot Street
Kaufman Organization/
K Building
Monroe College
New Roc City
To
Marina and
Hudson Park
MONROE
COLLEGE
RESIDENTIAL
HALL
One Way
ECHO AVE.
UNION
STATE
BANK
To
Larchmont,
Mamaroneck and
Five Islands Park
HARRISON ST.
CITY
NEW ROC
ANDERSON ST.
FOUNTAIN PL.
22
HSBC
BANK
HSBC
BANK
MARRIOTT
RESIDENCE
INN
1 HOUR
$1.00
A24
PERMIT
SPACE
METER
THE
SUMMIT
FIRE
STATION
On
e
BANCO
POPULAR
One Way
20
OT
145 H
UGUEN
W
ay
RADISSON
HOTEL
TRUMP PLAZA
PALMER AVE.
POST
19 OFFICE
56
HARRISON
rking
ffice Pa
Post O
K
ING
BUILD
CEDAR ST.
S.
18
GE
CITY GARA
NEW ROC
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NOTIOTA
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TR
MREAIN
T
15 Minute Bank Parking
ZA
LE COUNT PL.
LA
NP
17
1 HOUR
14
1 HOUR
3 HOUR
NORTH AVE.
1
LIBRARY
LOT
START
LIBRARY
GREEN
1 HOUR
(US
ST.
OT
EN
U
G
HU
ON
ON UND
AL
AV E SO
TH
TIO
STA
FRANKLIN AVE.
MAIN
466
STREET
MAIN
STREET
13
One Way
MAIN ST.
BANK
OF
NY
23
LIBRARY
LAWTON ST.
ay
One W
ONG
AL
AV RKIN E
PA ARAGte)
G riva
(P
MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
One Way
FLEET
FLEET
BANK
BANK
RADISSON PLAZA
$1.0
0
D
AN
GL
EN
One Way
NORTH AVE.
Former National City Bank
of New Rochelle
LOCUST AVE.
9
CHURCH ST.
Former Masonic Lodge/
Library Building
11
ZA
L PLA
ORIA
MEM
Former Westchester Federal
Savings Bank
17
14
NORTH AVE.
ACE
LEROY PL
SOUTH
DIVISION ST.
CENTRE AVE.
21
Union Baptist Church
13
Liebman’s Children’s
Apparel Store
CEDAR
PLAZA
TOYOTA
BEL-AQUA
HEADQUARTERS
COMMERCE DR.
One Way
CON EDISON
AY
W
RU
H
T
EXIT 16
Interchange
EXPO
DESIGN CENTER
To
City Hall
& Iona College
To Connecticut
G U I D E
T O
Have you been
Downtown lately?
T H E
The New Rochelle
Business Improvement
District (BID).
N
B I D
G U I D E
T O
Historic
Downtown
NewRochelle
Working to make
things happen
Downtown.
It’s Downtown, where New
Rochelle’s past, present and
future come together!
MAPLE AVE.
“K” Building
16
Former Fire Headquarters
B I D
ew Rochelle’s sweeping history, from Huguenot settlement to affluent
suburban City,
is evident in its downtown
architecture. In the mid-1800s,
the railroad, providing a critical
link with New York City,
enabled New Rochelle’s
business district to flourish.
Growth centered around
New Rochelle Train Station
the train station. In 1901,
Depot Plaza Circa 1873
when George M. Cohan’s hit
On December 25, 1848, the first
musical, “45 Minutes From
train steamed through New
Broadway,” poked fun at the
Rochelle, part of the New York,
“rubes” in New Rochelle, this
New Haven, Hartford Railroad built
city of 10,000 was on its way
in
the early 1840s, largely by
to becoming one of the
recent immigrants. The track from
region’s most fashionable
New Rochelle to New York City
communities.
was completed in 1873 and this
Over the next three
station replaced the original, smalldecades, New Rochelle’s
er one. Now part of the City’s New
population quadrupled and
Rochelle Intermodal Transportaby the 1930s it was one of the tion Center, it incorporates
wealthiest communities in
commuter rail, Amtrak, a parking
America, evident by its
garage and consolidated bus, taxi &
distinguished downtown Art
airport limousine services.
Deco buildings. Entering the
21st century, downtown New
Rochelle continues to exemplify America’s exciting commercial
history as it develops into a dynamic center epitomizing the
growing “Return to Downtown” movement. Main Street
maintains the link between the community’s past and future.
Enjoy your walk around downtown New Rochelle with
this BID Guide. As you reflect on the physical past preserved
along Main Street, also experience its dynamic vibrancy, the
unique spirit that, through the ages, has always made downtowns the heart of their communities, from ancient Roman
forums to contemporary American central business districts.
Get the best view of downtown’s outstanding architecture by
looking up. Downtown certainly is!
PINTARD AVE.
1 HOUR
20
The Presbyterian Church
of New Rochelle and
Pintard Manse
W
NE
Former Arnold Constable
Building
12
One Way
To
Marinas and
Glen Island Park
$1.00
7
PERMIT
BLESSED
SACRAMENT
CHURCH
SIMONE
DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
IN
PLANNING
8
6
LOFTS
DAVENPORT
ON
LOFTS
MAIN
ON
MAIN
1 HOUR
10
543
MAIN
CONDOMINIUM
Former Ware’s Department
Store/Bloomingdale’s
15
3 HOUR
LIBRARY LOT
1 HOUR
.
PL
TRINITY
ST. PAUL'S
CHURCH
Pioneer Building
Former Trolley Turn-Around
Building
New Rochelle Post Office
To
Sound Shore
Medical Center
Former Standard Star Building
Former New Rochelle
Public Library
One Way
N
5
22
19
18
4
5
One Way
PRESBYTERIA
CHURCH
3 HOUR
MAPLE AVE.
LOT
One Way
3
23
Former Palace Shoe Store
Lambden Building
Former Bank of New Rochelle
Blessed Sacrament Church
Former Proctor’s-RKO
Theater
Former Loew’s Theater
Trinity-St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church and Burial Grounds
New Rochelle Public Library
& Library Green
y
Wa
One
To I-95
EXIT 15
Interchange
and Pelham
4
BIBLE
WAY
CHURCH
s
ome
Bec Way
Two
1 HOUR
rs'
die
Sol
ent
num
Mo
LOEW’S M2
CONDOMINIUM
PROJECT IN
PLANNING
ER
ST
HE
TC
ES
W
AVALON
EAST
ON THE
SOUND
ay
eW
On
2
To
NYC
11
10
9
8
7
6
3
2
1
Walking Tour at a Glance
Historic Downtown New Rochelle
T H E
Businesses
The BID works to
recruit new businesses to downtown,
from stores such as
Metro Bicycles to
new espresso bars
such as Gallery Café.
Marketing The BID organizes special
events and successful public relations
campaigns to promote downtown.
Development The BID initiates private
new development such as Monroe
College’s Main Street expansion with
Milavec Hall and a new dormitory.
Experience a
cross section
of American
architecture
and history.
Take a stroll
in Downtown
New Rochelle.
Services The BID
helps maintain the
quality of life downtown with such
initiatives as the BID
Code Enforcement
Project and the
Clean Streets
Program.
For more information please contact:
New Rochelle BID
WWW.newrochelledowntown.com
TELEPHONE: (914) 576-5332
Marc Jerome, Chairman
Ralph DiBart, Executive Director
eMAIL: [email protected]
RESEARCH & TEXT BY BARBARA DAVIS
DESIGN & PRODUCTION BY HARQUIN CREATIVE GROUP
06/04
T H E
B I D
G U I D E
T O
Historic Downtown New Rochelle
1
New Rochelle Public
Library and Library Green
One Library Plaza
Circa 1979 and 2001
Recipient of the National Award
for Excellence for Library Architecture, the New Rochelle Public
Library, built in 1979, in part
from an existing parking garage, serves as the cultural
center for the City. Norman Rockwell’s original mural,
Land of Enchantment, his gift to New Rochelle, graces a
wall in the children’s reading room. The famed artistillustrator Norman Rockwell worked and lived in New
Rochelle from 1913–1939, often using local residents as
models for his classic American vignettes. He was part of
a budding New Rochelle artist community that included
J.C. Leyendecker (creator of the “Arrow Shirt Man”) and
Frederic Remington (famous depicter of the American
West). Adjoining the Library, the City of New Rochelle
and the County of Westchester created Library Green,
designed by landscape architect Thomas Balsley, as a
tranquil respite for downtown’s growing population.
2
4
“Loew’s Theater” Building
585–599 Main Street Circa 1927
An exquisitely ornate example of 1920s
Main Street movie palace design, this
Loew’s Theater could accommodate
2,500 theatergoers.
It featured vaudeville and live stage
shows with such luminaries as Bob
Hope, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, and Olivia de Haviland, as
well as films that introduced generations of Westchester residents to the greats of Hollywood cinema. Designed by
leading theater architect Herbert J. Krapp, Jr., the Spanish
Colonial Revival-style retail façade extends to either side
of the classic marquee.
Presbyterian Church of
New Rochelle and Pintard Manse
50 Pintard Avenue Circa 1760s and 1929 Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
John Russell Pope, architect of the
national Jefferson Memorial, designed
this Colonial Revival-style church, which
replaced the congregation’s original
structure destroyed by fire. The Presbyterian Church had its origins in the
French Church established by early
Huguenot settlers. The adjoining minister’s home, one of New Rochelle’s oldest
remaining houses, was constructed in part by Huguenot
descendant Pierre Vallade in the late 1760s. Following
Vallade’s death in 1770, his widow married Lewis Pintard,
local businessman and Revolutionary War patriot who
was appointed by George Washington to be the Commissar for American prisoners in the City of New York during
British control.
6
7
“Proctor’s-RKO Theater” Building
574–590 Main Street and 87–101 Centre Avenue
Circa 1927 Proctor’s Keith-Albee Theatre opened its doors on September 26,
1927 during the Golden Age of Movies.
This movie palace and vaudeville house
boasted a luxurious interior and 2,800
plush seats that were packed for performances by George Burns and Gracie
Allen, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, and Georgie Jessel. Herbert J. Krapp, Jr. designed the brick structure using a
Renaissance motif with retail stores housed under two-story
blind arches—a feature he borrowed from Stanford White’s
Madison Square Garden. Across the street, note the spectacular use of one of Art Deco’s most popular materials,
terracotta, on 570-573 Main Street, built
in 1929 with elaborate details of shells,
trees, faces, and fruit.
Blessed Sacrament Church
Centre Avenue and Shea Place 1895
Home of the oldest Roman Catholic
congregation in New Rochelle, this
excellent example of Gothic Revival
“Ware’s Department Store/ Bloomingdale’s” Building
554 Main Street Circa 1914 In 1947
Bloomingdale’s opened in New Rochelle
in this 100,000 square foot building,
replacing locally-owned Ware’s Department Store. Newly modernized it
became the first suburban branch for the
New York-based retailer and joined a
local roster of high quality stores. After
being vacant for 25 years, the building
was renovated in 2003 into “Davenport Lofts on Main”, a
luxury, high-tech, live-work loft condominium, signaling
an economic resurgence along Main Street that continues
with a new condominium being built across the street at
543 Main Street. Note the careful restoration of the 1914
façade with its Art Deco carvings.
9
“Bank of New Rochelle” Building
542 Main Street 1893 This Romanesque Revival building
was designed for the Bank of New
Rochelle, the community’s oldest
financial institution (est. 1888), by
local architect F. Carlos Merry, who
also designed the Parish House of
Trinity Church. The façade of New
Jersey brownstone contains elaborate design details inspired by
architect Louis Sullivan. Two stories were added in 1918,
after the bank became the New Rochelle Trust Company.
10 Lambden Building
530 Main Street Circa 1894
The Lambden family, locally prominent merchants, constructed this
building as a popular department
store. It later housed government
offices on its second floor when City
Hall was on Main Street. Note the
raised Romanesque Revival terra cotta
ornamentation of fan and seashell
shapes.
11 “Palace” Building
518 Main Street Circa 1932
An exquisite example of Art Deco design,
complementing its original function as
the elegant women’s Palace Shoe store,
this building was constructed at a cost of
$45,000 in the height of the Depression.
Across the street, 517-519 Main Street,
another Art Deco building constructed in
1905, features an Egyptian influenced
parapet, and a frieze of glazed-clay tiles.
Opposite it is Memorial Plaza with monuments to New Rochelle men and women
who have served their country in war and
peace dedicated by the United Veterans Memorial and
Patriotic Association of New Rochelle.
Original New Rochelle Public Library
662 Main Street Circa 1914
One of three remaining buildings in
Westchester built by Andrew Carnegie’s
campaign to establish public libraries
throughout America, this was New
Rochelle’s first dedicated library and used
as such until 1979. Leading architect
Albert Randolph Scott designed this
superb Beaux-Arts building. At the junction of Huguenot and Main Streets,
Soldiers Monument, dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1895, honors the 300 New
Rochelle soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War, War of 1816, and the Civil War.
5
8
Trinity-St.Paul’s Episcopal Church and Burial
Grounds 311 Huguenot Street Circa 1873
and the 17th–20th centuries Built in 1863,
Trinity Church, acclaimed by architectural critics as a stunning example of ecclesiastical
design, is a Gothic-Revival masterpiece, one of
the best works by Richard Upjohn, celebrated
architect of Trinity Church in lower Manhattan. The history of the church and its grounds
spans three centuries; the congregation was
founded during the Huguenot settlement. The
grounds contain the Trinity Church graveyard, as well as
the Allaire family cemetery and the Huguenot Burial
Ground, both of which were moved here when the New
England Thruway was built in the 1950s.
3
ecclesiastical architecture was built under the pastorate
of Rev. Thomas “Father Tom” McLoughlin who, from
1853–1902, served the congregation composed primarily of recent immigrants from Ireland. Norman Rockwell
painted his first cover for the Saturday Evening Post nearby in a second floor studio above a garage at 40
Prospect Street owned by George Lischke, whose son
Franklin frequently posed for Rockwell.
12
New Rochelle’s Original Fire
Department Headquarters
12 Church Street Circa 1899
On Church Street is the city’s first Fire
Headquarters originally supported by
volunteers of the Huguenot Engine
Company and Relief Engine Company.
Nearby, 30 Church Street served as an
annex to City Hall when it was located
on Main Street at the intersection of Memorial Highway.
13 Liebman’s Children’s Apparel Store
510 Main Street 1875
In one of the oldest brick buildings on
Main Street, Liebman’s has occupied the
same store since 1927. In the 1940s it
shared the upper floors with a manufacturer of boy’s clothing, Imp Originals.
Renovated in 1997, it is a model of
historic rehabilitation. Across the street
are two wooden Colonial Revival buildings, possibly the oldest remaining
structures on Main Street.
14 “National City Bank of New Rochelle” Building
491 Main Street Circa 1906–1908
Henry Bacon, the architect of the
national Lincoln Memorial, designed this
Neo-Classical Revival style building to
give the National City Bank a monumental presence, soon after he left the
prestigious firm of McKim, Mead, and
White. The building was later extended,
as evidenced in the change in brick
color along Lawton Street.
15 “Arnold Constable” Building
466 North Avenue and Main Street
Circa 1937 Developed as the first
Arnold Constable’s in a suburban
community, the graceful Art Deco
street-level windows that round the
corner promoted the store’s highfashion image. Today an office
building, the entrance lobby displays a large relief map depicting
New Rochelle in the 1930s.
16 Union Baptist Church
438 Main Street Circa 1904 Westchester County
Inventory of National Register of Historic Places, 1993
This church was first home to the
Salem Baptist congregation, which
organized in 1849. The architect
Arthur Bates Jennings configured
the interior using the Akron Plan,
an open spatial arrangement seen
in only a few Westchester churches
today. The current congregation, Union Baptist, is one
of the city’s earliest African-American religious organizations, established in 1913. To the east is
Monroe College whose new Milavec Hall and dormitory further advances Main Street’s revitalization.
17 “Masonic Lodge” Building
451–453 Main Street Circa 1900
The Fraternal Order of Masons hired
nationally-recognized architect George
T. Thompson at the turn of the 20th
century to design this imposing NeoClassical Revival building to celebrate
the organization. From 1901-1910 the
top two floors housed the New
Rochelle Public Library.
18 “Standard Star” Building
251 North Avenue Circa 1924
A year after the Evening Standard (est.
1909) was consolidated with the Daily
Star (est. 1911) to create The Standard
Star, this narrow Neo-Classical Revivalstyle building was constructed as its
headquarters. To the east, is the New
Roc City Entertainment Complex, part
of New Rochelle’s economic resurgence. With its fanciful urban façade, New Roc continues downtown’s
splendid history as a movie and entertainment center.
19 New Rochelle Post Office
Corner of Main Street and Huguenot
Street Circa 1938 Listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, 1989
Constructed with federal Works Project
Administration (WPA) funds intended to
provide work for the Depression unemployed, New Rochelle’s downtown post
office was dedicated on June 18, 1938 as
part of New Rochelle’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Designed by New Rochelle resident architect Frederick G.
Frost, it was one of the few Art Moderne-style post offices
erected in the state. The interior contains WPA murals by
David Hutchison illustrating early New Rochelle.
To the east is New Rochelle’s largest office building,
145 Huguenot Street.
20 The “K” Building 271 North Avenue Circa 1931
Herman Schiff and Sons spent a million
dollars during the Depression to construct New Rochelle’s first 12-story
skyscraper. Designed with Art Deco
detailing on the top level, it is today
known as the “K” (Kaufman) Building
after a later landlord, the owner of
Kaufman Studios in Queens. Paul Terry
established Terrytoons here in 1934. His
ingenious animators created characters
such as Mighty Mouse, Heckle & Jeckle, and Tom & Jerry,
in the building until 1949 when the firm relocated nearby
to the former Knights of Columbus Hall at 38 Centre
Avenue. To the west is New Rochelle’s newest skyscraper,
the 24-story Avalon on the Sound, a luxury apartment
complex, part of downtown’s economic renaissance and
housing some of its rapidly growing population.
21 “Westchester Federal Savings Bank” Building
250 North Avenue Circa 1963
Dedicated the year the New York
World’s Fair opened, the building
was designed with the futuristic
look that dominated the Fair. The
cylindrical sections, colored glazed
brick, display of cantilever stairs
and the starship-like fins were
intended to give the New Rochelle Federal Savings and
Loan, which was changing to the Westchester Federal
Savings Bank, a significant new presence at the busy
intersection of Pershing Square.
22 “Trolley Turn-Around” Building
41–45 Lawton Street Circa 1923
At the turn of the 20th century, one
could hop on a streetcar in New Rochelle
and days later arrive in Boston. E.L. Doctorow, a former New Rochelle resident,
describes the trip in the novel, Ragtime,
which is set in early 1900s New Rochelle.
Beginning in the 1930s, as automobile
and train travel evolved, the trolleys that began operation
in New Rochelle in the late 1800s were gradually phased
out. On December 16, 1950, the last trolley, symbolically
bannered “Street Car Named Expire”, used a turn-around
located here.
23 “Pioneer” Building
14 Lawton Street Circa 1897
Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1983
The Italianate-style, which
flourished in hundreds of buildings
along Main Streets across America for
half a century, is well represented by this brick building.
It first housed the New Rochelle Pioneer (1860–1920),
a weekly newspaper established by William and John
Dyott.