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A must see heritage building. Will Mayor Mamdani act to save it for posterity?
商人之家博物馆的点评
点评：This is a must see in New York City if for no other reason than just because it is unique in being the only building from the nineteenth century, with classic features to have survived the ravages of time and progress. Almost all of its contents including furniture, furnishings, personal belongings and artefacts are perfectly preserved, and intact. This therefore represents an amazing time capsule of the period. It is what makes this the most unusual museum of lived history.
When we visited it was covered in netting and scaffolding. Major restoration of the outside was in progress. The scaffolding was expected to be removed by December 2026
This place was built in 1832 by the abolitionist Joseph Brewster, a builder by trade, to showcase wealth, grandeur and pomp at the time. The inside of the building retains its structure and character like its expensive black marble fireplace. The hallway at the entrance has hand painted walls (with a feather to give them a faux marble appearance). The house has ornamental ceilings and purely decorative doors placed for symmetry, not serving any useful function. The chandeliers suspended from the ceiling could be moved down and up on a system of pulleys and counterweights to light or extinguish the candles, and later perhaps gas lamps at a time when electricity had not arrived in homes. There was some peeling in the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, attributed to casein (milk protein) used in the paint.
The kitchen boasts of an impressive cooker with twin stacks which would be the envy of the modern housewife. A beehive oven was used to bake bread and pies. The discoloured lower few inches of the wooden legs of the pie-safe are witness to being immersed in bowls containing poison. This was to prevent rats from clambering up those kegs accessing the pies. There was an arrangement of calling bells with differential rings/tones from the various rooms in the house to summon the Irish maids who worked here. The maids themselves had the use of the penthouse on the fifth floor to be their living quarters.
Three years later it was bought by the merchant Seaway Tredwell accounting for the moniker it acquired as Merchant’s House. It remained with the Tredwells for the better part of a century.
When their seventh child Sarah Tredwell injured her ankle, the family brought home a hand cranked chair lift for her use. This chair lift can be seen on the fifth floor.
Gertrude who was eighth child of the family was born here in 1840 She remained single and never moved out. Gertrude Tredwell having outlived her siblings died here in 1933 at the age of 93. Merchant’s House then opened as a museum in 1936.
This is town house constructed over five floors. It opens for pre-booked conducted tours, Wednesday through Sunday (tickets $20.50) at 12 noon,. These guided tours are informative and well worth the extra money that one pays for it. Our guide showed us pictures, on an iPad, of the house and its environs, as it was then and now, and also NYC itself as it has grown from being a small seaport to becoming a bustling metropolis.
Walk-ins for self-guided tours is possible from 1 pm (tickets $15.50, Seniors and Students with ID $10.50) Docents may be on hand. The museum closes at 5 pm; last entry 4.30 pm.
A secret, narrow passageway was a late discovery, hidden behind a cupboard and drawers in the first floor bedroom. It consisted of a square opening 2x2 feet that went 15 feet down the west wall, ending at the ground floor. There is a ladder leading down the opening to what has mysteriously been called the New York Underground Railroad. (Of course it has nothing to do with the NY Subway system which came into existence only in 1904). Interestingly, when the opening was first uncovered it was hailed as “not serving any known domestic purpose …an architectural anomaly: no other 1830s house has similar passageways.”
The passageway was obviously the brainchild of the abolitionist Brewster. It was actually connected to a network of safe houses that sheltered freedom seekers as they journeyed north. The railroad terminology was a useful code where safe houses were “stations” and were helped along by so called “conductors”. It was said that the discovery of the secret passageway allowed the Merchant’s House Museum to retell the story of “New York City’s early abolitionist movement and the beginnings of the Underground Railroad “.
The building itself is currently owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum is operated independently by a non-profit organisation - The Old Merchant's House of New York, Inc. which maintains the museum.
The imminent challenge threatening the very existence of this beautiful ancient building is an unwelcome proposal for a new multi-storey building to be raised immediately next door at 27 East 4th Street. The vibrations from construction work, once it begins along with the din of jackhammers and clanging heavy machinery and cranes etc. would literally shake the very foundations of this heritage building on 29 East 4th Street. One can imagine it getting reduced to a pile of rubble beside the shiny new edifice, burying history for all time. It will be a sad outcome for us all and for the generations to come.
Therefore, Merchant’s House Museum needs protection and preservation at all cost. Appeals are being made to Mayor Zohran Mamdani to block/veto forever the proposed new build. We pray he hears the cries of his people and that he will take steps, before it is too late, to stop the new building - after all it is the City that owns the building. Will the Mayor act? The answer, as they say, is blowing in the wind…
When we visited it was covered in netting and scaffolding. Major restoration of the outside was in progress. The scaffolding was expected to be removed by December 2026
This place was built in 1832 by the abolitionist Joseph Brewster, a builder by trade, to showcase wealth, grandeur and pomp at the time. The inside of the building retains its structure and character like its expensive black marble fireplace. The hallway at the entrance has hand painted walls (with a feather to give them a faux marble appearance). The house has ornamental ceilings and purely decorative doors placed for symmetry, not serving any useful function. The chandeliers suspended from the ceiling could be moved down and up on a system of pulleys and counterweights to light or extinguish the candles, and later perhaps gas lamps at a time when electricity had not arrived in homes. There was some peeling in the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, attributed to casein (milk protein) used in the paint.
The kitchen boasts of an impressive cooker with twin stacks which would be the envy of the modern housewife. A beehive oven was used to bake bread and pies. The discoloured lower few inches of the wooden legs of the pie-safe are witness to being immersed in bowls containing poison. This was to prevent rats from clambering up those kegs accessing the pies. There was an arrangement of calling bells with differential rings/tones from the various rooms in the house to summon the Irish maids who worked here. The maids themselves had the use of the penthouse on the fifth floor to be their living quarters.
Three years later it was bought by the merchant Seaway Tredwell accounting for the moniker it acquired as Merchant’s House. It remained with the Tredwells for the better part of a century.
When their seventh child Sarah Tredwell injured her ankle, the family brought home a hand cranked chair lift for her use. This chair lift can be seen on the fifth floor.
Gertrude who was eighth child of the family was born here in 1840 She remained single and never moved out. Gertrude Tredwell having outlived her siblings died here in 1933 at the age of 93. Merchant’s House then opened as a museum in 1936.
This is town house constructed over five floors. It opens for pre-booked conducted tours, Wednesday through Sunday (tickets $20.50) at 12 noon,. These guided tours are informative and well worth the extra money that one pays for it. Our guide showed us pictures, on an iPad, of the house and its environs, as it was then and now, and also NYC itself as it has grown from being a small seaport to becoming a bustling metropolis.
Walk-ins for self-guided tours is possible from 1 pm (tickets $15.50, Seniors and Students with ID $10.50) Docents may be on hand. The museum closes at 5 pm; last entry 4.30 pm.
A secret, narrow passageway was a late discovery, hidden behind a cupboard and drawers in the first floor bedroom. It consisted of a square opening 2x2 feet that went 15 feet down the west wall, ending at the ground floor. There is a ladder leading down the opening to what has mysteriously been called the New York Underground Railroad. (Of course it has nothing to do with the NY Subway system which came into existence only in 1904). Interestingly, when the opening was first uncovered it was hailed as “not serving any known domestic purpose …an architectural anomaly: no other 1830s house has similar passageways.”
The passageway was obviously the brainchild of the abolitionist Brewster. It was actually connected to a network of safe houses that sheltered freedom seekers as they journeyed north. The railroad terminology was a useful code where safe houses were “stations” and were helped along by so called “conductors”. It was said that the discovery of the secret passageway allowed the Merchant’s House Museum to retell the story of “New York City’s early abolitionist movement and the beginnings of the Underground Railroad “.
The building itself is currently owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum is operated independently by a non-profit organisation - The Old Merchant's House of New York, Inc. which maintains the museum.
The imminent challenge threatening the very existence of this beautiful ancient building is an unwelcome proposal for a new multi-storey building to be raised immediately next door at 27 East 4th Street. The vibrations from construction work, once it begins along with the din of jackhammers and clanging heavy machinery and cranes etc. would literally shake the very foundations of this heritage building on 29 East 4th Street. One can imagine it getting reduced to a pile of rubble beside the shiny new edifice, burying history for all time. It will be a sad outcome for us all and for the generations to come.
Therefore, Merchant’s House Museum needs protection and preservation at all cost. Appeals are being made to Mayor Zohran Mamdani to block/veto forever the proposed new build. We pray he hears the cries of his people and that he will take steps, before it is too late, to stop the new building - after all it is the City that owns the building. Will the Mayor act? The answer, as they say, is blowing in the wind…
翻译：即便抛开其他理由不谈，这里也绝对是纽约市值得一游的景点——因为它堪称独一无二：它是19世纪建造的唯一一座保留了经典建筑特征的建筑物，历经岁月与时代变迁却依然完好无损。馆内几乎所有的物品，包括家具、装饰品、个人用品以及各类工艺品，都保存得极为完好。因此，这里堪称那个时代的绝佳“时光胶囊”。也正因如此，它才成为最别具一格的活历史博物馆。我们参观时，建筑外部被网罩和脚手架完全覆盖。外部的大规模修复工作正在进行中，预计脚手架将于2026年12月拆除。
这座建筑建于1832年，由职业建筑师兼废奴主义者约瑟夫·布鲁斯特所建，旨在彰显当时的财富、气派与奢华。建筑内部的结构与特色得以完好保留，比如那面用昂贵的黑色大理石制成的壁炉。入口处的走廊墙壁上有人工手绘的图案（还用羽毛处理过，以营造出仿大理石的效果）。房屋内设有装饰性天花板，还有纯粹为了对称美观而设置的门，这些门并无任何实用功能。天花板上悬挂的枝形吊灯可通过滑轮和配重系统上下移动，用以点燃或熄灭蜡烛；在电力尚未普及的年代，这些吊灯或许还能用来点亮煤气灯。其中一个卧室的天花板出现剥落现象，经查明是由于油漆中使用了酪蛋白（牛奶蛋白）所致。
厨房里有一台非常出色的炉灶，配有双层炉架，足以让现代主妇羡慕不已。烤面包和馅饼则使用的是蜂巢式烤箱。那个用来存放馅饼的木制容器，其底部几英寸处颜色明显变深，这说明它曾被浸泡在装有毒药的碗里。这么做是为了防止老鼠顺着容器爬上去偷吃馅饼。屋内各房间都装有呼叫铃，这些铃铛会发出不同的铃声/音调，用以召唤在此工作的爱尔兰女佣。这些女佣则可以住在五楼的顶层公寓里作为住所。
三年后，这座房子被商人西韦·特雷德韦尔买下，也因此获得了“商人之屋”的别称。此后近一个世纪的时间里，它都归特雷德韦尔家族所有。第七个孩子莎拉·特雷德韦尔的脚踝受伤后，家人便为她买回了一台手摇式轮椅升降机供其使用。这台升降机如今仍可在五楼看到。
这家的第八个孩子格特鲁德于1840年在此出生。她终身未婚，也从未搬离此屋。格特鲁德·特雷德韦尔比所有兄弟姐妹都长寿，最终于1933年以93岁高龄在此去世。此后，这座房屋于1936年作为博物馆向公众开放。
这是一座共有五层楼的联排住宅。该地仅在周三至周日中午12点面向预先预约的游客开放导览服务（门票价格为20.50美元）。这些导览活动内容丰富且极具教育意义，花这笔钱绝对物有所值。我们的导游用iPad向我们展示了这座房子及其周边环境的过去与现在，还介绍了纽约市是如何从一个小港口逐步发展成为一座繁华大都市的。
下午1点起也可进行自行游览，无需预约（门票价格为15.50美元；凭有效证件的老年人及学生可享10美元的优惠票价）。50) 可能会有讲解员在场。博物馆于下午5点闭馆，最后入场时间为下午4点半。
后来人们发现了一条隐蔽且狭窄的通道，它隐藏在一楼卧室里的橱柜和抽屉后面。这条通道是一个2英尺×2英尺的正方形开口，沿着西墙向下延伸15英尺，最终通向一楼。有一架梯子可以从这个开口处通往下方，那里被神秘地称为“纽约地下铁路”。（当然，这与1904年才问世的纽约地铁系统毫无关系。）有趣的是，当初这一通道被发现时，人们称其“并无任何已知的实用用途……堪称建筑上的异例：19世纪30年代建造的房屋中没有任何一栋拥有类似的通道。”
这条通道显然是废奴主义者布鲁斯特的杰作。它实际上与一个安全屋网络相连，这些安全屋专门用来庇护那些向北逃亡的奴隶。这种铁路术语其实是一种实用的暗语：藏身之处被称作“车站”，而所谓的“列车长”则负责提供帮助。据说，这条秘密通道的发现使商人住宅博物馆能够重新讲述“纽约市早期的废奴运动以及地下铁路的起源”。
这座建筑目前由纽约市公园与娱乐局拥有。这座博物馆由一个非营利组织——纽约老商人之家协会独立运营并负责维护。
眼下，一个危及这座古老而美丽的建筑存续的威胁悄然浮现：有人提议在紧邻其旁的东4街27号建造一座新的多层大楼。一旦施工开始，产生的震动，再加上风镐的轰鸣声以及重型机械与起重机等发出的嘈杂声响，都将对建筑造成损害。这样的行为简直会动摇位于东4街29号的这座历史建筑的基石。可以想象，它会变成一堆瓦砾，被崭新的大楼所取代，历史也将就此永远埋没。这对我们所有人以及子孙后代而言都将是一个可悲的结局。
因此，商人住宅博物馆必须不惜一切代价得到保护与留存。我们正呼吁祖赫兰·马姆达尼市长永久阻止或否决这项新建计划。我们祈愿他能听到民众的呼声，并在为时未晚之际采取措施制止新大楼的建造——毕竟这座大楼的所有权属于市政府。市长会采取行动吗？正如俗话所说，答案只能听天由命了……
这座建筑建于1832年，由职业建筑师兼废奴主义者约瑟夫·布鲁斯特所建，旨在彰显当时的财富、气派与奢华。建筑内部的结构与特色得以完好保留，比如那面用昂贵的黑色大理石制成的壁炉。入口处的走廊墙壁上有人工手绘的图案（还用羽毛处理过，以营造出仿大理石的效果）。房屋内设有装饰性天花板，还有纯粹为了对称美观而设置的门，这些门并无任何实用功能。天花板上悬挂的枝形吊灯可通过滑轮和配重系统上下移动，用以点燃或熄灭蜡烛；在电力尚未普及的年代，这些吊灯或许还能用来点亮煤气灯。其中一个卧室的天花板出现剥落现象，经查明是由于油漆中使用了酪蛋白（牛奶蛋白）所致。
厨房里有一台非常出色的炉灶，配有双层炉架，足以让现代主妇羡慕不已。烤面包和馅饼则使用的是蜂巢式烤箱。那个用来存放馅饼的木制容器，其底部几英寸处颜色明显变深，这说明它曾被浸泡在装有毒药的碗里。这么做是为了防止老鼠顺着容器爬上去偷吃馅饼。屋内各房间都装有呼叫铃，这些铃铛会发出不同的铃声/音调，用以召唤在此工作的爱尔兰女佣。这些女佣则可以住在五楼的顶层公寓里作为住所。
三年后，这座房子被商人西韦·特雷德韦尔买下，也因此获得了“商人之屋”的别称。此后近一个世纪的时间里，它都归特雷德韦尔家族所有。第七个孩子莎拉·特雷德韦尔的脚踝受伤后，家人便为她买回了一台手摇式轮椅升降机供其使用。这台升降机如今仍可在五楼看到。
这家的第八个孩子格特鲁德于1840年在此出生。她终身未婚，也从未搬离此屋。格特鲁德·特雷德韦尔比所有兄弟姐妹都长寿，最终于1933年以93岁高龄在此去世。此后，这座房屋于1936年作为博物馆向公众开放。
这是一座共有五层楼的联排住宅。该地仅在周三至周日中午12点面向预先预约的游客开放导览服务（门票价格为20.50美元）。这些导览活动内容丰富且极具教育意义，花这笔钱绝对物有所值。我们的导游用iPad向我们展示了这座房子及其周边环境的过去与现在，还介绍了纽约市是如何从一个小港口逐步发展成为一座繁华大都市的。
下午1点起也可进行自行游览，无需预约（门票价格为15.50美元；凭有效证件的老年人及学生可享10美元的优惠票价）。50) 可能会有讲解员在场。博物馆于下午5点闭馆，最后入场时间为下午4点半。
后来人们发现了一条隐蔽且狭窄的通道，它隐藏在一楼卧室里的橱柜和抽屉后面。这条通道是一个2英尺×2英尺的正方形开口，沿着西墙向下延伸15英尺，最终通向一楼。有一架梯子可以从这个开口处通往下方，那里被神秘地称为“纽约地下铁路”。（当然，这与1904年才问世的纽约地铁系统毫无关系。）有趣的是，当初这一通道被发现时，人们称其“并无任何已知的实用用途……堪称建筑上的异例：19世纪30年代建造的房屋中没有任何一栋拥有类似的通道。”
这条通道显然是废奴主义者布鲁斯特的杰作。它实际上与一个安全屋网络相连，这些安全屋专门用来庇护那些向北逃亡的奴隶。这种铁路术语其实是一种实用的暗语：藏身之处被称作“车站”，而所谓的“列车长”则负责提供帮助。据说，这条秘密通道的发现使商人住宅博物馆能够重新讲述“纽约市早期的废奴运动以及地下铁路的起源”。
这座建筑目前由纽约市公园与娱乐局拥有。这座博物馆由一个非营利组织——纽约老商人之家协会独立运营并负责维护。
眼下，一个危及这座古老而美丽的建筑存续的威胁悄然浮现：有人提议在紧邻其旁的东4街27号建造一座新的多层大楼。一旦施工开始，产生的震动，再加上风镐的轰鸣声以及重型机械与起重机等发出的嘈杂声响，都将对建筑造成损害。这样的行为简直会动摇位于东4街29号的这座历史建筑的基石。可以想象，它会变成一堆瓦砾，被崭新的大楼所取代，历史也将就此永远埋没。这对我们所有人以及子孙后代而言都将是一个可悲的结局。
因此，商人住宅博物馆必须不惜一切代价得到保护与留存。我们正呼吁祖赫兰·马姆达尼市长永久阻止或否决这项新建计划。我们祈愿他能听到民众的呼声，并在为时未晚之际采取措施制止新大楼的建造——毕竟这座大楼的所有权属于市政府。市长会采取行动吗？正如俗话所说，答案只能听天由命了……
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