Gustavus Sidenberg
Encyclopedia
Gustavus Sidenberg was a Jewish-American manufacturer and financier
best known for building New York City
's Hotel Theresa
, which has become a New York City landmark on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, which was then part of the kingdom of Prussia
. He was the first son of Wilhelm Sidenberg (16 April 1782–15 May 1817) and Henriette Bruck Sidenberg (16 September 1815–18 May 1896). On 14 September 1854, he arrived in New York City on the ship Elizabeth with his mother, three younger brothers, a sister, and perhaps other relatives; his father seems to have traveled to the United States separately. The family first went to New Bedford
, Massachusetts, and then moved to Missouri
where Wilhelm worked as a peddler
. With the outbreak of the American Civil War
, the Sidenberg family moved to New York City. By 1863, Sidenberg was in business with his father as G. Sidenberg and Company; his brothers Henry Sidenberg and Richard Sidenberg shared the same business address and their families were frequently associated with Gustavus in this business. The firm was a manufacturer and importer of collar
s and cuffs, specializing in ladies linen
and lace
collars, cuffs, rufflings, veil
s, and sleeve
s.
On 26 June 1866, in New York City, Sidenberg married Theresa Goldsmith (22 April 1848–19 February 1910). For the remainder of the nineteenth century, the firm of G. Sidenberg and Company continued, at various Manhattan addresses, and did an extensive business in both the manufacture and importation of lace goods. They advertised heavily and employed traveling salesmen
throughout the United States. In 1898, Sidenberg left the family firm and purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
. Doing business as Sidenberg and Kraus, brokers, they specialized in purchase and sale of bonds
. In 1892, he built a steam yacht
, which had been designed by the noted marine architect
Henry I Gielow and constructed at the yard of C.R. Poillon in Brooklyn
. He named the yacht Theresa, and became a regular a regular in New York boating circles. Sidenberg was also a patron of the Metropolitan Opera
and of a number of Jewish charities. After the death of his first wife in 1910, he married Therese, or Theresa, Wertheimer Gumbinner (22 March 1858 - ?).
On 22 January 1915, Sidenberg died at his home at 40 W. 56th Street in New York City. He had no children. His estate was divided among several charities and the families of his brothers and sisters.
. In 1912, the Winthrop was demolished and replaced by a new building designed by brothers George and Edward Blum; the thirteen-story building was originally planned as a residential hotel
with most rooms constructed as suites for long-term residents. Stores occupied the ground floor. When built, it was praised as the tallest structure in Harlem. The new hotel was named in honor of his two wives, Hotel Theresa
. The building, which survives as the Theresa Towers, later became a center of the Harlem Renaissance
and is now on the National Register of Historic Places
. It has become a regular stop on commercial tours of Harlem.
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
best known for building New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Hotel Theresa
Hotel Theresa
The Hotel Theresa was a vibrant center of black life in Harlem, New York City, in the mid-20th century. The hotel sits at the intersection of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and West 125th Street . The hotel was built by German-born stockbroker Gustavus Sidenberg , and designed by the firm of...
, which has become a New York City landmark on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Life
Sidenberg was born in Trachenberg, near Breslau, in SilesiaSilesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, which was then part of the kingdom of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. He was the first son of Wilhelm Sidenberg (16 April 1782–15 May 1817) and Henriette Bruck Sidenberg (16 September 1815–18 May 1896). On 14 September 1854, he arrived in New York City on the ship Elizabeth with his mother, three younger brothers, a sister, and perhaps other relatives; his father seems to have traveled to the United States separately. The family first went to New Bedford
New Bedford
-Places:*New Bedford, Illinois*New Bedford, Massachusetts, the most populous New Bedford**New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park*New Bedford, New Jersey *New Bedford, Ohio*New Bedford, Pennsylvania...
, Massachusetts, and then moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
where Wilhelm worked as a peddler
Peddler
A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, or solicitor , is a travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used for travellers hawking goods in the countryside to small towns and villages; they might also be called tinkers or gypsies...
. With the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Sidenberg family moved to New York City. By 1863, Sidenberg was in business with his father as G. Sidenberg and Company; his brothers Henry Sidenberg and Richard Sidenberg shared the same business address and their families were frequently associated with Gustavus in this business. The firm was a manufacturer and importer of collar
Collar (clothing)
In clothing, a collar is the part of a shirt, dress, coat or blouse that fastens around or frames the neck. Among clothing construction professionals, a collar is differentiated from other necklines such as revers and lapels, by being made from a separate piece of fabric, rather than a folded or...
s and cuffs, specializing in ladies linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
and lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
collars, cuffs, rufflings, veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
s, and sleeve
Sleeve
Sleeve is that part of a garment which covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips. The pattern of the sleeve is one of the characteristics of fashion in dress, varying in every country and period...
s.
On 26 June 1866, in New York City, Sidenberg married Theresa Goldsmith (22 April 1848–19 February 1910). For the remainder of the nineteenth century, the firm of G. Sidenberg and Company continued, at various Manhattan addresses, and did an extensive business in both the manufacture and importation of lace goods. They advertised heavily and employed traveling salesmen
Vendor (supply chain)
A vendor, or a supplier, is a supply chain management term meaning anyone who provides goods or services to a company. A vendor often manufactures inventoriable items, and sells those items to a customer.- History :...
throughout the United States. In 1898, Sidenberg left the family firm and purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. Doing business as Sidenberg and Kraus, brokers, they specialized in purchase and sale of bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
. In 1892, he built a steam yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
, which had been designed by the noted marine architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Henry I Gielow and constructed at the yard of C.R. Poillon in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He named the yacht Theresa, and became a regular a regular in New York boating circles. Sidenberg was also a patron of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
and of a number of Jewish charities. After the death of his first wife in 1910, he married Therese, or Theresa, Wertheimer Gumbinner (22 March 1858 - ?).
On 22 January 1915, Sidenberg died at his home at 40 W. 56th Street in New York City. He had no children. His estate was divided among several charities and the families of his brothers and sisters.
Hotel Theresa
In 1892, Sidenberg had purchased the old Hotel Winthrop on 7th Avenue between 124th and 125th streets in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. In 1912, the Winthrop was demolished and replaced by a new building designed by brothers George and Edward Blum; the thirteen-story building was originally planned as a residential hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
with most rooms constructed as suites for long-term residents. Stores occupied the ground floor. When built, it was praised as the tallest structure in Harlem. The new hotel was named in honor of his two wives, Hotel Theresa
Hotel Theresa
The Hotel Theresa was a vibrant center of black life in Harlem, New York City, in the mid-20th century. The hotel sits at the intersection of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and West 125th Street . The hotel was built by German-born stockbroker Gustavus Sidenberg , and designed by the firm of...
. The building, which survives as the Theresa Towers, later became a center of the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
and is now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It has become a regular stop on commercial tours of Harlem.