New York’s Merchant’s House Museum

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NEW YORK—In New York of the early 1800s it was common for wealthy men to go to the market daily to personally select the family’s consumables. Nightly when the dinner bell rang, the family gathered to formally dine.

It’s not often that busy New Yorkers pause to imagine how life was lived a century ago in their bustling city. At the Merchant’s House Museum you can do just that.
 
Tucked away on East Fourth Street, near Washington Square Park, the Merchant’s House Museum is a perfectly preserved 19th century home once owned by the Tredwells, a family of wealthy merchants.

As you walk in the door, you feel as you’ve entered a different era. You first notice the Tredwells’ original furnishings, most of which were hand-carved. The house has been preserved intact and features the families’ original belongings—a treat for history enthusiasts.

“To me, the fascination of the house is that everything is authentic. You get the atmosphere of the family,” said Roberta, the visitor services coordinator at the museum.

The Merchant’s House was built in 1832 in a Greek Revival architectural style and its authenticity has been preserved to this day.

Francesca Rudin came to visit the house in the afternoon. She said that what attracted her was to see how houses were in the old days.

Visitors can go on a self-guided tour with the help of a booklet of full of fascinating details about the house and the Tredwells' way of life. The booklet is a treasure chest of information allowing the visitor to get a real feel of a New York home in the 19th century.

According to the guide, 1825 was when New York City “entered the golden age of trade” as a result of the opening of the Erie Canal. Manufacturing was booming and the merchant elite were looking for great property away from the busyness of the ports.

The Tredwells, who were importers of metal hardware, bought the house in 1835 for $18,000 and lived in the home for almost 100 years. The home was later bought by a relative and turned into a museum in 1936.

The guide also covers information about the servants' routines which includes an excerpt from 1827 “The House Servants Dictionary” about proper etiquette:

“In order to get through your work in proper time, you should make it your chief study to rise early in the morning; for an hour before the family rises is worth more to you than two after they are up.”

The museum is also known for its ghost encounters with the Tredwells. Around October, the museum dresses the house in mourning authentic to the 19th century style. During this time they provide ghost tours and scary story readings from authors like Edger Allen Poe.

The Merchant’s House Museum is located at 29 East Fourth Street New York and is open 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, $8 (adults), $5 (students/seniors). For more information, visit: www.merchantshouse.org.