The Merchant’s House Museum: A Landmark Worth Fighting For

Photo by Matthew Deming

I recently learned that one of my favorite New York City museums—the city’s oldest landmarked building—is under direct threat of substantial damage now that the Landmarks Preservation Commission granted permission to develop the land next to this incredibly intact home from 1832. I hope that in writing this article it will encourage more people to visit this splendid townhouse at 29 East Fourth Street, and perhaps take a moment to write to City Hall to demand they reconsider the proposed development that will certainly cause damage to this crucial historic property.

Seabury Tredwell had a successful hardware store business in the early 1800s in New York City. He and his wife Eliza Parker had seven children prior to buying the house, now named the Merchant’s House, in 1835. Their eighth  child, Gertrude, was born in that house in 1840. Seabury died as the Civil War neared its end in 1865; his wife Eliza remained at the house until her own death in 1882. However, their three daughters, Phebe, Julia and Gertrude remained at the house for the rest of their lives.

The house was virtually untouched and unchanged at the time of Gertrude’s passing in 1933, thus preserving the original furnishing and decorations from 100 years prior. It is the only existing house in New York City to boast such a unique status, and it is crucial that everything be done to preserve it.

Tours of this house are available Wednesdays to Sundays, either self-guided or via tour guide. I always like to have the insight and expertise of the guide as interesting questions come up. Walking through the home is like being in a time-capsule. The Parlor’s dramatic red drapes on the impossibly tall windows and the original trim and woodwork are fine examples of the craftsmanship that a wealthy family could afford during the early 1800s. In the lower level is the kitchen, simply equipped by today’s standards, but you really get a sense of how the family’s cook might have prepared their daily meals. Upstairs you can see the bedroom where Getrude, the last surviving daughter, died at 93 years old. I have never seen the top floor in person, as it was either not open to the public yet or closed off for egress reasons, but you can see the humble bedroom with two neat little beds.

The Merchant’s House Museum has some really fantastic programming throughout the year. I have visited the house during the winter when its staff have it beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays. Although what we think of Christmas and our traditions today weren’t the same in the early years of the Tredwells, the museum sets the house up in a merry manner with classic decorations appropriate for the grandeur of the house. There is also a great story of the house being haunted by Gertrude, the last living Tredwell who died in the house. If that is of interest, there is a Ghostly Women of Greenwich Village walking tour coming up in September.

While the house at 29 East 4th Street is a historically protected building, there is significant risk to its structure, in addition to the fine details inside, especially the original plaster work, should the development at the plot next door not take every possible measure to ensure the safety of the museum. There is no place in New York City where you can go to see such a pristine example of the interior of a wealthy class home from the early 1800s. I haven’t been back to the house in a number of years, but I plan to this fall, and more importantly, I will make every effort to show support in the museum’s plight against the new development.

For more information: https://merchantshouse.org/