SEEN at 5th Avenue and 23rd Street at Madison Square are a trio of gems I snapped in May 2026. At left is perhaps, by the magnificent Flatiron (Fuller) Building across the street, which has been occasionally fully or partially shadowed by construction netting the past couple of decades, is the Sohmer Piano Building on the SW corner of 5th Avenue and West 22nd Street. The former piano showroom with its gilded cupola was built in 1897 and housed showrooms of the Sohmer Piano company. The Sohmer piano factory, now residences, is on Vernon Boulevard in Ravenswood opposite Roosevelt Island.
The piano manufacturer was founded in 1872 by German immigrant Hugo Sohmer. He, too, is somewhat overshadowed by Steinway Piano, also founded by a German immigrant. The showroom building wasn’t originally constructed as piano showrooms and offices: it was designed by architect Robert Maynicke as a store-and-loft building for real-estate developer Henry Corn. Other tenants included architects, publishers, and merchants of leather, hats, perfume and upholstery.
The Sohmer Building is famed for its gilded dome atop a two-story octagonal cupola. Ironically that dome can’t be easily photographed when close to the building, as it’s set back from the street. A better look can be obtained further north on 5th Avenue at Madison Square Park. I’d be prepared to pay a fee to gain access to that cupola and gain an enviable view of the Madison Square area!
In the center, of course, is a Type 24A Twinlamp, one of a handful of remaining Twins placed on 5th Avenue in the early 20th century. This is the second twinlamp design, and the one used for reproductions around town such as the ones surrounding Bryant Park.
Behind the lamp, is 5th Avenue’s Western Union Building, built 1883 in the eclectic Queen Anne style (Henry Hardenbergh, arch., who later conceived the Plaza Hotel). The handsome red brick, dormered building sent messages via pneumatic tube two and a half miles to a downtown office. “W.U. 1883” is displayed at the peak on the 5th Avenue side.
It’s my opinion that the “Western Union” entablature on the 23rd Street side seems to be depicting the four winds of legend, known in Greek myths collectively as the Anemoi: Boreas (north), Notus (south), Eurus (east) and Zephyrus (west). Zephyrus’ name has passed down through the years…zephyr means a light breeze, while Boreas survives in “aurora borealis,”, the ‘northern lights’ caused by reactions of electric particles to the Earth’s magnetic field. Depicting the four winds, which came from everywhere, with a company that connected farflung areas of the USA via the telegraph would be appropriate.
Check out the ForgottenBook (HarperCollins, 2006), as well as Forgotten Queens (Arcadia, 2013). I also have a chapter in the anthology “New York Calling: From Blackout to Bloomberg” (Reaktion, 2007). As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
10/2/26