I’ve been spending some time lately on each trip to New York getting to know the city’s historical treasures a little better. So the last time I was stateside, I set out to find Patchin Place, a curious little alley I’d seen pictures of and heard a lot about. If you happen to find yourself in Greenwich Village any time soon and in the mood for a time-travelling adventure, you must stop in at this urban gem. You’ll find it tucked in a corner on West 10th Street, between 6th and Greenwich avenues…
Push open the iron gate, wander inside and suddenly the traffic noise seems to disappear as you find yourself standing in a peaceful tree-lined enclave made up of 10 three-story brick row houses. It’s the kind of street you might see in The Gangs of New York or a nostalgic old black and white movie.
Patchin Place was built in 1849 by a man called Samuel Milligan for his son-in-law, Aaron Patchin, some say to house Basque waiters at the nearby Brevoort House Hotel on Fifth Avenue.
What’s remarkable about Patchin Place is that it remains pretty much unchanged, from the wall lamp above the gate by the street sign to the wrought iron fire escapes and sash windows. Pictured, Patchin Place, 1925.
By the early 20th century, the waiters had moved out of this little unassuming street, and the writers, actors and artists had moved in, all of them after a bit of privacy in the middle of Bohemian Greenwich Village. A plaque on the wall of number 4 Patchin Place celebrates the famous poet, EE Cummings, who once lived here in the early 1900s.
Although a wander to the end of the mews reveals perhaps its most charming feature, an original gas lamp – one of two left in the city – whose flames would flicker each night to light up this darkened little street and keep its residents safe, once upon a time…
Traveller tip: Don’t be put off by the big gate. Visitors are more than welcome to step inside and have a walk around.
9 Comments
Thank you so much for these photos! I am reading a book series (Molly Murphy Mysteries) whose main characters live on Patchin Place and now I know it really exists! The series starts in the late 1800s into the early 1900s thus far and the description of this little enclave is so similar to the photos that I can just imagine how it was in an earlier era in NYC. Again, thank you for making the books come alive – the photos are excellent.
Nice to hear from you! I’m so happy you found my post useful. I loved taking the photos and made a special trip to discover Patchin Place – it really does exist and is a gem of history. I like the sound of the books you’re reading, too. Must look out for them.
Just FYI – Edward R. Murrow, the great journalist and broadcaster, lived on Patchin Place. When I lived downtown I walked by it every day.
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Really, nice pics from a very nice place in NY……..romantic
I lived at #5 Patchin Place on the first floor in the mid-late 1970s. It was a very charming little enclave as you described. The apartments were very small and not designed for such luxuries as indoor plumbing. The kitchens and baths were squeezed into the already small living space. The only boiler for the odd-numbered side of the street was located under my living room and it stank of a poorly vented exhaust. Every weekend morning I learned to draw my curtains shut tight because walking tours would march up the street and try to peek inside at tenants eating breakfast. It was like living in Disneyland.
But I loved living there.
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I lived in #10 Patchen Place from 1967-1969 . It was a basement and ground floor duplex . Out kitchen on the ground floor opened into the back yard which was a concrete covered 5,000 sq. foot area with a giant Elm tree in the middle. The tree was the favorite place for birds and every morning at sunset, the birds world sing us awake for about a half hour and then all was quiet. I began on day one to break up the concete and haul chunks of it away to uncover the earth that lie beneith and haul it away. By the end of 1967 I had a green lawn and a small Marijuana garden with tomatoes and summer squash growing. It was a most romantic time . I was in love, I owned a firewood company and the music scene was dynamic. Patchin Place will be a fond memory always. I was certainly magical for me .
I lived in the dorm @ Saint Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing on 12th Street 1967 – 1970 and we often shopped at Patchin Place Emporium and Sutter’s Bakery. They are gone as is Jon Vie Bakery on 6th between 12th and 13th. I continued to visit and shop in the area. Very good memories.