VERNON Boulevard’s most venerable structure may be the former Sohmer Piano factory, 11-31 Vernon at 31st Avenue. I first encountered the building several years ago when it was still occupied by the Adirondack Chair Company and spoke with John Pupa, Vice President of Operations for Adirondack. He said that Adirondack no longer heated the building with coal but it still maintained its old Hewes and Phillips coal-burning oven, which he showed me and GAHS Director Bob Singleton, and took coal deliveries. From one of the upstairs rooms, now converted to a condo apartment, we had a good view of the river, Roosevelt Island and its lighthouse.
It’s not the only piano factory converted to luxury in NYC of late — I was taken by surprise to discover that the fortress-like, hulking Steinway factory on Ditmars Boulevard and 45th Street in Astoria became the Pistilli Grand Manor, and the clock-towered Estey Piano building and its distinctive clock tower in the Bronx’ Mott Haven became residential in the early 2000s. Sohmer pianos? They are now manufactured in Korea.
A pair of chiseled signs at Vernon Boulevard and 31st Avenue proclaim the former names “Boulevard” and “Jamaica (Avenue).” However I do not have maps with these former names. In 1886, when the factory was constructed, those were no doubt briefly the names; Jamaica Avenue later became Patterson Avenue and then 31st.
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10/1/24
7 comments
I wonder how many employees they stole from Steinway down the road. Probably a great place to be a wood bender.
Piano sales have dropped off quite a bit in recent years and values of used ones are way down.
There are a number of maps from 1873 through 1917, available publicly online, that show 31st Avenue as Jamaica Avenue. It’s the Patterson Avenue nomenclature that seems to have had the short lifetime.
I looked at the address and thought that can’t be right, knowing how Queens address patterns work. The supplied link to Wikipedia confirms the address is 31-01 Vernon.
Just thought I’d share….My husband and I live in the tower or “dome” portion of the building. We love it. The views are spectacular and we have lots of outdoor space. Our bedroom (2) kitchen, living room dining room bathrooms, are on the 6th floor of the building. Then we have 2 more floors which are inside the dome.
Can I visit?
As to the Sohmer/Steinway rivalry having spoken to both families I can tell you that there was no rivalry as one made grands and the other uprights. There was a
steady flow of craftspeople between the two businesses but there was harmony between the two.
Kev and I was given a tour of the place – took photos of everything from the last coal furnace in operation within the area (if memory serves me) and a walk to the roof – that was an experience!
Love to go back up there – the view wou ld make a great album or book cover!