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1905 River Hall aka Hudson Hall 628 West 114th Street
– between Broadway and Riverside Drive (Metropolis page 178)
Located in the Morningside Heights Historic District designated 21 February 2017
Paterno Brothers: Charles Paterno Secretary and Treasurer; Joseph Paterno President; Victor Cerabone Vice President (Metropolis page 61)
Also known as Hudson Hall per Apartment Houses of the Metropolis (scroll down to see illustration)
The Paterno Brothers first project within the Morningside Heights Historic District were the six-story apartment buildings at 622 and 628 West 114th Street designed in the Georgian Revival style (Schwartz & Gross, 1905). Known as Revere Hall and River Hall, the stone and brick buildings feature classically severe entrance surrounds, upper facades of brick laid in Flemish bond accented by burnt headers, central recessed bays with integral fire escapes, and elaborately decorated terra-cotta intels, moldings, cartouches and spandrel panels, as well as a cornice topped by a parapet with three cartouches. (source)
NB 807-1904
West 114th Street, south side, 135 e Riverside Drive
1-sty brk and stone workshop, 25×50
COST:
$600
OWNER:
Paterno Bros, 557 W 183d [183rd] st
ARCHITECT:
Schwartz & Gross, 35 W 21st st
ADDRESS IN REAL ESTATE RECORD:
114th st, s s, 135 e Riverside Drive
1905
76
$280,000.00
114th st, s s, 135.6 e Riverside Drive two 6-sty brk and stone tenements, 75˙87.11
OWNER / OWNER ADDRESS
(o) Paterno Bros, Inc / (o) 557 W 183d [183rd] st COMMENTS
ARCHITECT / ARCHITECT ADDRESS
(a) Schwartz & Gross / (a) 35 W 21st st (source)
628 West 114th Street (aka 626-628 West 114th Street) ( River Hall )
Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1895, Lot 72
Date(s): 1905 (NB 76-1905)
Architect(s) / Builder(s): Schwartz & Gross
Owner(s) / Developer(s): Paterno Brothers
Type: Apartment building
Style(s): Georgian Revival
Stories: 6 and basement
Material(s): Brick; limestone; terra cotta; decorative metal
Status: Contributing
History, Significance and Notable Characteristics
This is one of two nearly identical buildings (622 and 628 West 114th Street) constructed during the surge of apartment building around the same time the subway was completed. The building exhibits a handsome symmetrical facade with a recessed central bay where integral fire escape with ornamental iron railings are stacked above the entry. The base is a smooth limestone ashlar and the upper stories are clad with Flemish-bond brickwork with dark headers and accented with limestone or terra-cotta surrounds and trim. Prominent features include molded ornamental spandrel panels with swags, wreaths, and anthemion below the fourth- and fifth-story windows; a course of bullseyes ringed with ornament below the cornice; and three free-standing shields at the parapet level. Other notable features, most of which are classically inspired, include belt courses, some with vermiculated ashlar and floral designs; quoins; sills with brackets; key consoles; and an ornate cornice with modillions. Additional features include geometric shapes in the window heads and bands with circles that wrap around floral motifs. The entry surround consists of classically inspired features such as polished marble columns and squared piers (with
an incised “628”) supporting an entablature with triglyphs, metopes, guttae, shallow modillions, and a balustrade with an incised central stone panel reading “River Hall.” Most of the windows are either inset three-window angled bays, tripartite assemblies, or single windows that occur at the first story and within the recessed central area. There is a pair of ornamental iron-and-glass outer entry doors with a transom.
Alterations
West 114th Street Facade: One-over-one wood double-hung windows with decorative curved muntins in upper sash removed; aluminum windows with square panning installed; decorative grilles at ground-story windows; security camera at first story mounted with exposed conduit; large stainless metal exhaust fan unit within basement window opening
Site
Pipe railing at areaway; iron lampposts at both sides of steps mounted on masonry base
Sidewalk / Curb Materials
Concrete sidewalk and bluestone curb
References
Office for Metropolitan History, “Manhattan NB Database 1900-1986” (February 1, 2016),
http://www.MetroHistory.com. (source)
1904
807
$600.00
114th st, s s, 135 e Riverside Drive 1-sty brk and stone workshop, 25˙50
OWNER / OWNER ADDRESS
(o) Paterno Bros / (o) 557 W 183d [183rd] st COMMENTS
ARCHITECT / ARCHITECT ADDRESS
(a) Schwartz & Gross / (a) 35 W 21st st (source)
Living It Up (published 1984) page 281: HUDSON HALL; 628 West 114th Street, A 6-story redbrick building with a recessed fire escape. Built about 1905 by the Paterno Construction Company; architects, Schwartz & Gross. A twin to Revere Hall at 622.