935–939 Broadway

935–939 Broadway is a six-story Italianate brownstone structure designed by the architect Griffith Thomas in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City.

935–939 Broadway
935–939 Broadway (also known as 159–161 Fifth Avenue), as seen from Broadway and 22nd Street
General information
Architectural style	Italianate style
Location	935–939 Broadway Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates	40.7404719°N 73.9897151°W / 40.7404719; -73.9897151
Completed	1862
Client	Richard Mortimer
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Griffith Thomas

History

The six-story Italianate building, commissioned by Richard Mortimer, was built between 1861–1862 and was designed by architect Griffith Thomas.^[1] Throughout its lifetime, the structure has been referred to as the Mortimer Building, the Albert Building, and the Glenham Hotel.^[2] Early tenants include Bryant, Stratton & Packard's New York City Business College^[3] and the J.&C. Johnston Dry Goods company^[1] that opened in 1881.^[4] The building originally had five stories and a sixth story was added in 1919 by the architects Rouse & Goldstone.^[3]

Glenham Hotel

Conflicting information exists^[2] that refers to this building as the former Glenham Hotel. The Glenham Hotel however has been listed as 153 and 155 Fifth Avenue,^[5][6] now the address of the adjacent Scribner Building.^[1]

On April 2, 1882, 51-year-old Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt committed suicide in his fifth floor room, number 80, by firing his Smith & Wesson revolver into his left temple.

In 2021, the building began hosting the site of the first official Wizarding World and Harry Potter flagship store in New York City, now simply referred to as "Harry Potter New York".^[7]

Gallery

• 
  As seen from 5th Avenue and 22nd Street
• 
  Exterior view facing 5th Avenue
• 
  View of the fire escape
• 
  View of the clock mounted on the facade at the northeast corner
• 
  Capital detail at the ground floor
• 
  Capital detail at the ground floor
• 
  Rounded pediment detail
• 
  Triangular pediment detail
• 
  Center corbel detail above one of the windows
• 
  Corbel detail from the side of one of the windows
• 
  View of one of the sixth floor windows
• 
  View of the northwest corner

References

1. "The 1862 Mortimer Building -- 935-939 Broadway". daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
2. White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
3. "Ladies' Mile Historic District Designation Report" (PDF). Landmarks Preservation Commission. May 2, 1989. p. 144. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
4. "J. & C. Johnston's Opening". The New York Times. March 31, 1881. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
5. "The Glenham Hotel Sale". The New York Times. October 7, 1893. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
6. "Historic List Of Every Hotel In New York In 1882". stuffnobodycaresabout.com. April 22, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
7. "Harry Potter New York". harrypotterstore.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.