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Vintage postcard of Herald Square, NYC Baths. Image shows swimming pool, patrons, plants.
The Browning, King & Co. Building, 1265 Broadway, NYC
At the turn of the last century William R. H. Martin headed one of the most recognized men’s clothing shops in Manhattan:Rogers, Peet & Co.With his substantial fortune he invested heavily in real estate development.In 1900 he opened a massive high-end residential hotel on the northeast corner of 32ndStreet and Broadway which he called home.
In 1908 he began the process of transforming nearly the entire block front between 31stand 32ndStreet on the opposite side of Broadway.In August he broke ground for an 11-story store and loft building at the 31stStreet corner; and within months began construction on an eight-story structure in the middle of the block where the former New York Times uptown branch office had been.
This building, at No. 1265 Broadway and stretching through to Sixth Avenue, was designed by Townsend, Steiner & Haskel.Completed in 1910, the beige brick, stone and terra cotta façade featured wide expanses of glass.The five-story piers of the central section incorporated terra cotta sections that alternated with undecorated brick, creating an interesting texture and visual effect.Above the arched openings of the eighth floor the architects let loose with heavy festoons and ribbons, two gape-mouthed lions heads and a full relief eagle with spread wings
Looks very similar to the basement swimming pool at the Everard Baths, which was a gay meeting place for many years until it was destroyed by fire in the 1980s. The addresses are not the same, but the Everard was in the same area.
Typewritten message on front. Stamped and cancelled.
