By HWM
In the heart of Harlem, a remarkable piece of New York City history once stood, bridging the gap between rural farmland and urban development.
The Watt-Pinckney estate, a sprawling property that spanned several blocks, was home to one of the most influential and wealthy families in 19th-century Harlem.
This article delves into the fascinating story of the estate, its owners, and its ultimate fate.
The story begins with Archibald Watt, a Scottish immigrant who arrived in New York City in the early 1800s with nothing but his wits.
Watt’s business acumen led him to success in the import trade, dealing in luxury items like Spanish cigars and fine cognac. Recognizing the potential of Harlem, Watt purchased a vast estate from John de Lancy in 1826 for $62,500 – equivalent to about $1.64 million today.
The centerpiece of this estate was a dignified Georgian-style mansion known as Spring Hill. The house boasted elegant details typical of wealthy summer homes of the era, including a columned porch, wide entrance with sidelights and fanlight, and wooden quoins at the corners.
It was in this grand setting that Watt married Mary Pinckney, widow of Colonel Ninian Pinckney, on April 3, 1827.
Mary brought to the marriage her two daughters: 17-year-old Mary Goodwin Pinckney and 2-year-old Antoinette H. Pinckney.
The family settled into their Harlem estate, which also included a stone house with a hip roof and cupola, home to Watt’s stepson, Thomas Watt.
The Watt-Pinckney estate witnessed both triumphs and tragedies. Young Antoinette passed away in 1841 at the age of 16, and Archibald Watt faced financial difficulties following the Panic of 1837.
In a twist of fate, it was his stepdaughter, Mary G. Pinckney, who came to his rescue. She used her inheritance to help Watt retain his vast holdings, and in return, he transferred the entire estate to her name.
This transaction made Mary G. Pinckney the largest landowner in Harlem. She proved to be a shrewd businesswoman, carefully managing her property and expanding her wealth.
By the 1880s, newspapers reported her as owning “block after block of unimproved property,” including the Polo Grounds.
As Harlem began to develop, Mary G. Pinckney adapted. She moved the Watt house slightly to make way for Seventh Avenue and took the opportunity to remodel it in the fashionable French Second Empire style, adding a mansard roof and a widow’s watch.
The house became a time capsule, preserving the elegance of mid-19th century Harlem amidst the rapidly urbanizing landscape.
Mary’s wealth and business acumen fascinated the press throughout her life. By 1891, her estate was valued at $10 million – over $280 million in today’s currency.
She was known for her generosity to relatives, gifting blocks of real estate to her nieces and nephews.
However, she was also a tough businesswoman, famously winning a lawsuit against the New York Base-Ball Club for unpaid rent of the Polo Grounds.
Mary G. Pinckney passed away in 1908 at the age of 99, leaving behind an estate valued at $50 million.
Her will directed that the family cemetery on the property be moved to Woodlawn, perhaps acknowledging that the estate’s days as a rural oasis were numbered.
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The Watt-Pinckney mansion survived for nearly two decades after Mary’s death, standing as an anachronism amidst the growing number of apartment buildings.
It hosted its last social function in 1914, celebrating the marriage of Anna Pinkney Watt.
In 1925, the New York Times reported the impending demolition of the “ancient landmark.”
The property, which still boasted magnificent trees, flower gardens, barns, and chicken houses, was sold for about $5 million to make way for a six-story apartment building.
The loss of the Watt-Pinckney estate marked the end of an era for Harlem. It represented the final transition from the area’s rural past to its urban future.
Today, as we walk the streets of Harlem, it’s hard to imagine the grand mansion and sprawling gardens that once occupied these blocks.
Yet, the legacy of the Watt-Pinckney family and their estate remains an integral part of Harlem’s rich history, reminding us of the constant evolution of our urban landscape and the fascinating stories that lie beneath the surface of our city streets.
Photo credit: 1) photo from the collection of the New York Public Library. 2) The Spring Hill house around 1841. original source unknown 3) The entrance hall was filled with American Empire style furniture and artworks. Note the unusual shutters in the fanlight. photo by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York . 4) When this photo was taken after the turn of the century, apartment buildings were encroaching around the wooden-fenced enclave. photo by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 5) Mary introduced modern furniture to the parlor–a large suite which looks to have come from the shop of John Henry Belter; and a new marble mantel. Familiar pieces like the center table remained. Note the hefty bronze sculpture under the gilt mirror. photograph by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 6) The dining room was a comfortable hodgepodge. The original lion-footed Empire table and sideboard (at far right) co-exist with a Victorian sideboard from the remodeling and marble mantel of the same period. Above the fireplace an early 19th century Federal mirror hangs. photograph by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 7) The staircase was tucked discretely behind the entrance hall. A row of hooks line up on the wall, their purpose intriguingly obscure. photo by Edwin Levick, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York 8) Unlike her aunt, Julia spurned neither publicity nor the photographer’s lens. New York Herald, May 1, 1902 (copyright expired). 9) Mary Goodwin Pinckney transacted millions of dollars of business from this desk in the library. On the walls are maps to keep track of her vast holdings. photo by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 10) This bedroom was outfitted with the original Empire furnishings. The curtains and bed linens are excruciatingly perfect. 11) This child’s room, evidenced by the small bed and toy chest, boasted wonderful built-in storage. photo by Edwin Levick from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 12) photographer unknown, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 13) photographer unknown, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New Yorkphotographer unknown, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York. 14) The site of the Watt-Pinckney mansion today.
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