Hersch Tower
| Hersch Tower | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial |
| Location |
125 Broad Street Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°39′59″N 74°12′52″W / 40.6664915°N 74.2143118°WCoordinates: 40°39′59″N 74°12′52″W / 40.6664915°N 74.2143118°W |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Cost | $1,750,000[1] |
| Height | |
| Roof | 42.67 m (140.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Lifts/elevators | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Nathan Meyers |
| References | |
|
Mid-Town Historic District | |
| NRHP Reference # | 95001143 |
| NJRHP # | 2665[3] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 5, 1995 |
| Designated NJRHP | September 29, 1994 |
Hersch Tower is a historic Art Deco building in midtown Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Constructed during the Great Depression with a façade of brick, marble and nickel in 1931 by businessman Louis Hersh, the tower is 14 stories and 42.67 m (140.0 ft) tall.[4] The Newark architect, Nathan Myers (who had designed Temple B'Nai Abraham on Clinton Avenue in that city) and Princeton-trained Joseph Shanley designed and planned the building. It originally had self-contained vacuum system, where each unit had a wall receptacle to which one attached a vacuum hose and proceeded without additional machinery.The building also sported a fire escape system – only two of which existed in the US - in which an internal slide would pass tenants from any floor to the street swiftly in case of an emergency.[5]
During the 1970s the building was partially renovated including replacement of the elevators and silver leaf in the lobby.[5] It went into foreclosure and was purchased in 1990 by the Brooklyn-based Wybro brothers.[6]
Hersch Tower is contributing property to the Mid-Town Historic District which also includes the Elizabeth Public Library and the Union County Courthouse.[3][7] and other early high-rises, the Winfield Scott Tower and the Afbender Building.[2]
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Elizabeth
- List of tallest buildings in New Jersey
References
- ↑ "Elizabeth through the Ages". Elizabeth Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Elizabeth". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Union County". New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
- ↑ "Hersch Tower". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "THE ELIZABETH FORUM 2014". Elizabeth Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
- ↑ Goodnough, Abby (August 6, 1995). "In Elizabeth, Dusting Off an Art Deco Treasure". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
- ↑ "Midtown & More". City of Elizabeth. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
