Hamilton Grange National Memorial
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| Hamilton Grange National Memorial | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Upper Manhattan, New York City, NY |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1802 |
| Architect: | John McComb Jr. |
| Architectural style(s): | Federal style |
| Designated as NHL: | December 19, 1960 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966 [2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000097 |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
Hamilton Grange National Memorial, in St. Nicholas Park, New York City, is where the National Park Service preserves the home of Alexander Hamilton: military officer, lawyer, member of the United States Constitutional Convention, American statesman, first United States Secretary of the Treasury, and Founding Father. Born and raised in the West Indies, Hamilton came to New York in 1772 at age 17 to study at King's College (now Columbia University).
"The Grange" was named after Hamilton's grandfather's estate in Scotland. (A grange was originally a place where food was grown for a monastery.) Hamilton's mother, Rachel Faucett Lavien, also lived for a time and is buried at an estate named Grange on the island of St. Croix.[3] The Grange was the only home ever owned by Hamilton. It is a two-story frame Federal style house that has been moved twice from its original location. Hamilton commissioned architect John McComb Jr.[4] to design the country home on a 32 acre (0.13 km²) estate in upper Manhattan. It was completed in 1802, just two years before Hamilton's death.
The house was moved from 237 West 141 Street about four blocks west to a congested site at 287 Convent Avenue in 1889. The original entrance, porches, and other features were removed at that time, and a makeshift entrance inserted in one side. Its front façade was set so close to the adjoining St. Luke’s Episcopal Church that it was invisible.[5]
The property was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960.[1][6] Congress authorized the National Memorial on April 27, 1962. At the time it was determined that the current setting is inappropriate — a country house should be viewed as freestanding, but because of today's adjacent buildings only the façade is properly displayed. However, the house was not relocated in 1962 due to overwhelming local opposition to moving it out of the neighborhood. The Grange was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
[edit] Current Move
Starting May 9, 2006, Hamilton Grange was closed to the public to allow for extensive architectural and structural investigations. These are part of a long term plan to move the house to nearby St. Nicholas Park, which is in the current neighborhood as well as being within the boundary of land once owned by Hamilton. The new location will allow for features lost in the 1889 move to be reconstructed, as well as provide a more appropriate open setting for the Grange.
The National Park Service has announced that it is proceeding with the relocation of Hamilton Grange National Memorial to its new site in St. Nicholas Park.
A final move route has been selected for the relocation of the Grange via Convent Avenue and 141st Street. The Grange will be moved in one piece by lifting the building from its current location and moving the structure onto Convent Avenue to begin its short but historic journey to its new St. Nicholas Park location.
Work in St. Nicholas Park, such as construction fencing, selected tree removal and foundation excavation, began in February 2008. The actual move of the Grange is taking place currently (May 2008). The Grange is currently situated on specially built stilts- holding the entire house approximately ten feet off the ground- in the middle of Convent Avenue, between W. 145th and 142nd St. Traffic is being routed around the house.
Once the house is moved and secured, a renovation will take place where contractors will rebuild the original porches which had to be removed in order to fit the house in its current space (between St. Luke's Church and an apartment building) and the restoration of the original main entrance doorway and main staircase within the entry foyer (staircase removed and retrofitted to accommodate the temporary entry on the side of the house and the boarding up of the original grand federal style entrance).
Landscaping around the Grange's new home will include tree plantings, a stone wall and paths. The Grange will have security detail during the day and possible video monitoring during the evening hours.
The Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Harlem derives its name from Hamilton and the Grange.
Update: The house was moved June 7, 2008 to the St. Nicholas Park location. The move was featured in the morning press on June 8, 2008.[7][8]
[edit] References
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b Hamilton Grange (Alexander Hamilton House). National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-14).
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Exhibit on Rachel Faucett Lavien in Fort Christiansvaern, Christiansted National Historic Site. Observed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Howard, Hugh and Straus III, Roger, Houses of the Founding Fathers (2007)
- ^ David W. Dunlap, "Witnessing a House, and History, on the Move" New York Times, 8 June 2008 Accessed 8 June 2008.
- ^ Ricardo Torres-Reyes (April 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Hamilton Grange National MemorialPDF (334 KB), National Park Service and Accompanying photo, exterior, from 1975.PDF (32 KB)
- ^ Gothamist: Moving This Old House
- ^ Miami Herald AP story: Hamilton's home moved to new spot in Harlem
[edit] External links
- Official NPS website: Hamilton Grange National Memorial
- Hamilton Grange (Alexander Hamilton House) NHL information
- Alexander Hamilton Historical Society (AHHS)
- Friends of St. Nicholas Park
- Support the Move to St. Nicholas Park
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