33-37 Bethune, a large
commercial building, housed the operations and 39 Bethune, an adjoining
townhouse, housed the offices.
In 1940, New York City took a picture of every building in the city for tax purposes. The photo below is the 1940 tax photo of 33-37 Bethune. The building is on the south side of the street and the angle is to the west. 39 Bethune is just to the west. On the east wall of the sixth floor, an "E" from the Biele logo is visible.
The photo below is 1940 tax photo for 39 Bethune. On the door, the round Biele logo is barely visible. Hanging between the two buildings, just above the two men walking, is a sign with the Biele logo.
The photo below is from 1932 and is also looking southwest down Bethune. It was taken from the corner of Greenwich. The Biele logo on the sixth floor of 33-37 Bethune is clearly visible.
This photo, also from 1932, taken from the corner of Washington, looking southeast up Bethune. A rectangular "Charles F. Biele & Sons Co." is on the west side of the sixth floor and "Biele" is also on the water tower on the roof. I remember my grandmother stating that you could see the sign on the water tower while traveling over from New Jersey.
33-37
Bethune later housed a business known as Pickwick Papers and was finally
converted into residential lofts called Pickwick House. The address is now 35 Bethune Street.
In a recent listing, Pickwick House is described as "Built in 1886, this 6 story, brick, loft building in historic Greenwich Village, once used as a factory, resides on a a lot measuring 66ft x 100ft. Gustavus Isaacs was the original owner, as well as the architect and builder. Converted to a condominium in 1983, the building known as Pickwick House is comprised of 24 units which over time has been reduced to 22 residences due to a couple unit combinations."
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| Recent photo of 25 Bethune |
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| Doorway at 35 Bethune |
In a recent listing, Pickwick House is described as "Built in 1886, this 6 story, brick, loft building in historic Greenwich Village, once used as a factory, resides on a a lot measuring 66ft x 100ft. Gustavus Isaacs was the original owner, as well as the architect and builder. Converted to a condominium in 1983, the building known as Pickwick House is comprised of 24 units which over time has been reduced to 22 residences due to a couple unit combinations."
Another listing says "The historic Pickwick House Condominium at 35 Bethune Street is an intimate six-story converted loft factory building with a stately red brick façade, ideally situated on a quiet, tree-lined block between Washington and Greenwich Streets. Originally constructed in 1886 by Gustavus Isaacs, the address was formerly home to Charles F. Biele & Sons Co. and the Pickwick Paper Company. 35 Bethune is now one of the few residential prewar condominium properties in the Far West Village with only 22 residences and an elevator. The lobby is adorned with vintage black & white photography of New York City, a chandelier, and a beamed ceiling signature to many of the residences. Abingdon Square, Bleecker Playground, the Hudson River Greenway and Whitney Museum of American Art are moments away."
39 Bethune is now a
residential townhouse. On Zillow it is listed as built in 1889 and is 750 square feet in size. It sold in 1995 for $4M and is currently valued at $2.5M.
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| Recent photo of 39 Bethune |
39 Bethune was also the fictional residence of the
villainess in the best selling fictional novel "The Angel of Darkness" by Caleb
Carr.
More information on Charles F. Biele and Sons can be found at:
http://www.biele.org/charles-f-biele-and-sons.html
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