EAST SIDE WEST SIDE
ALL AROUND THE TOWN

 

A few days later I was back in New York. A lot of Knapp stuff happened there and some of it was recorded for history. One of my main stops this day would be the library of the American Kennel Club. But first I just had to see a few more places the Knapps lived and worked in.

 

Looking Northeast at the remains of 247 5th Ave as it appears from the southwest

corner of 5th Ave and East 28th Street

The apartment of Joseph Palmer & Elizabeth McIlwaine Knapp was located here from about 1907 - 1920's

In 1913 when Dodi turned 21 his step mom threw quite a little shindig for him here.

The E. R. Tolfrees also lived here

 

JAN 3, 1913

Dodi Is Turning 21 in 30 Days

A little early but you got to round up those youngsters while you can. Over Christmas Break Seemed To Be A Good Time. BTW I have researched the guest list and found it very interesting . 50 for dinner and 100 more for dancing.... Wonder if it felt cramped ?

GUESS WHAT? 9 MONTHS LATER I FOUND OUT

I WAS POINTING THE CAMERA AT THE WRONG BUILDING ! CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR...THE REAL 247 WAS ACROSS THE STREET
YOU CAN SEE IT IN ITS GLORY HERE

 

Moving Right Along ........

Just a few blocks south is Madison Square Park between 24th & 23rd Streets And there at Madison Ave across from the east side of the park is the source of much of the moolah that allowed the Knapps to live in places where you could have 150 over for dinner & dancing.

 

It started here when Joseph F. Knapp was still alive in the late 1880's and plans were drawn up for the worlds largest office building to be located on the other side of the Met tower. It started in 1892 on the corner of Madison & 23rd. By 1910 John Hegeman who succeeded J. F. Knapp had erected the NYC landmark Met Life Tower which was the tallest building in New York at that time and the skyscraper wars were on. Then in the 1930's J. P. who was on the Finance Committee authorised the building in the foreground It too runs the entire distance east to Park Avenue.

BLESSED INSURANCE!!

 

1900 Before The Tower #1 Madison Ave At 23rd St, That's 4th Ave at the rear. In the mid 1950's

it was replaced by a non descript box

See What I Mean

 

It looks much better hidden by the trees

 

 

 

Three Flags Over New York

NY State, USA, & Met Life

The North Side Rear Entrance On West Corner Of Park & 24th St

 

330 Park was also the address of J. P.'s 1930 Apartment Park Ave Apartment

 

FOR MORE ON MET LIFE INCLUDING A LOOK INSIDE THEIR BOARDROOM
CLICK HERE

 

I then headed down Park Ave South formerly 4th Ave to 19th St to visit what I thought would be the just the site of the

Former Knapp Landmark

Was I Surprised