Selling the Dry Dock Savings Bank in 1954
In this business, we champ at the bit when it comes to real estate brochures and schematics of buildings for sale or lease. The endless supply of bullshit broker babble and doctored scenes of happy building dwellers provides great entertainment value. So you can imagine our satisfaction after stumbling upon the archive of antique New York real estate brochures.
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The vast collection is the handiwork of Columbia University, and features hundreds of digitally restored images. Let’s have a look at one in particular – 341-343 Bowery. Today it’s the site of the Bowery Hotel; back in the day, it was the Dry Dock Savings Bank.
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This brochure is likely dated sometime in 1954, and carries the following listing: “The Dry Dock Savings Bank which has occupied the property for many years is moving this branch to another location in the fall of 1954 and is therefore offering this substantially constructed building for sale.” No price was quoted for the 23,550 square-feet of space, so you had to call PLaza 3-0600.
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The palatial structure was designed by Leopold Eidlitz in 1875, and built in the Ruskinian Gothic style.
Here is the same spot today:
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And in 2003:
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[Photo Credit: Rollingrck]
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