Columbia Building, Broadway and Morris Street

Original title: Columbia Building, Broadway, Morris Street and Trinity Place. Photo published in the King’s Handbook of New York City... 1892 by Moses King. Below, the text that accompanies this image:

«The Columbia Building is another prominent office-structure, near by Aldrich Court [on the right at 41-45 Broadway]. It is one of the few high buildings in New York on a narrow front lot. It runs to a height of thirteen stories, and the architects have admirably overcome the structural difficulties which were presented, and have produced a building which is prolific in architectural features, as will be seen by the illustration which is presented on this page. The Columbia Building has the advantage of being practically all front ; it fronts on Broadway, Morris Street and Trinity Place, to east, south and west ; while to the north it has unobstructed light above the fifth story. The building has, of course, magnificent light and ventilation on all its floors. Like Aldrich Court, it is connected for electric lighting with the street-mains of the Edison Company, in addition to having its own dynamos, and having also an underground. connection to the Aldrich Court dynamos. It is one of the most attractive, unique and beautiful office-buildings in the metropolis, and is owned by Spencer Aldrich, by whom it was built in 1890 [completed in 1891].»

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The Aldrich Court building was erected in 1886 by the estate of Herman D. Aldrich, father of Spencer Aldrich.

The Providence Savings Life-Assurance Society was organized in 1875 and was one of the first tenants of Columbia Building. The building was sold at auction in 1905, expanded to 15 floors in 1909 and demolished by 1930.

Photo published in the same King’s Handbook of New York City... 1892, as image above, book with title: The Providence Savings Life-Assurance Society, Columbia Building, Broadway and Morris Street.

Stevens House is to the left.