Columbia Building
The Columbia Building was located at 29 Broadway in Manhattan. The office building, completed in 1891, occupied the entire block front on north side of Morris Street, between Broadway and Trinity Place, fronting 29 feet on Broadway, 184 feet on Morris Street and 83 feet on Trinity Pl.
The site was previously occupied by buildings of three and five stories, with a five-story building facing Broadway. In 1890, the Aldrich estate, led by Spencer Aldrich (1854-1936), born in New York City, began the construction of the Columbia Building. Aldrich was a lawyer and a real estate investor. He also built the Aldrich Court Building (41-45 Broadway, ten stories high) in 1886-1887.
Columbia Building was designed by Youngs & Cable, the same firm that designed the Aldrich Court Building. It was 12 stories high on the Broadway front and 13 stories high on the Trinity Place front. Its total height above the curb line on the Broadway front was 161.2 feet and 172.8 feet at the corner of Morris St. and Trinity Pl. It had a three-story mansard roof and was one of New York's early skeleton-framed office buildings. Its interior was finished in a style to compare well with the exterior. It had four elevators and the 300 offices had direct light and electric light.
On April 19, 1891, the Sun announced that Columbia Building (drawing on the right) was to be opened for tenants early in May. E.A. Cruikshank & Co. advertised offices to let in the building in February. It housed the Provident Savings Life-Assurance Society.
On October 25, 1905, the state of Elizabeth W. Aldrich (1821-1904), widow of Herman Dagett Aldrich (1801-1880) and mother of Spencer Aldrich, went up for auction. It included the Columbia Building, which was bought by Evan Shelby.
In 1909, Columbia Building was expanded to 15 floors.
In May 1929, Frederick Brown bought the property from Spencer Aldrich and resold it in October to Abe N. Adelson, an active builder in Manhattan. Adelson announced plans to replace the Columbia with a skyscraper. The 30-story office building at 29 Broadway was completed about March 1931.
Morris Street seen from Broadway in 1910. Columbia Building is to the right.
Columbia Building in 1919, after the demolition of the Stevens House on the southwest corner of Morris Street. The building was expanded in 1909 to 15 floors. Photo by Irving Underhill. Source: Museum of the City of New York.
The Columbia Building was expanding, adding more floors.
Columbia Building is on the right.
Columbia Building, drawing published in the Sun, April 19, 1891.
Aldrich Court and Columbia Building in 1899.
Showing an empty site where the Columbia Building was erected in 1890.
From Bowling Green.
Columbia Building in its original architecture at 29 Broadway, corner of Morris Street, in the late 19th century. Source: Museum of the City of New York.
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Columbia Building
