Hersch Tower

Hersch Tower
General information
Type Commercial
Location 125 Broad Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Coordinates 40°39′59″N 74°12′52″W / 40.6664915°N 74.2143118°W / 40.6664915; -74.2143118Coordinates: 40°39′59″N 74°12′52″W / 40.6664915°N 74.2143118°W / 40.6664915; -74.2143118
Completed 1931
Cost $1,750,000[1]
Height
Roof 42.67 m (140.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 14
Lifts/elevators 2
Design and construction
Architect Nathan Meyers
References

[2]

Mid-Town Historic District
NRHP Reference # 95001143
NJRHP # 2665[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 5, 1995
Designated NJRHP September 29, 1994

Hersch Tower is a historic Art Deco building in midtown Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Constructed during the Great Depression with a façade of brick, marble and nickel in 1931 by businessman Louis Hersh, the tower is 14 stories and 42.67 m (140.0 ft) tall.[4] The Newark architect, Nathan Myers (who had designed Temple B'Nai Abraham on Clinton Avenue in that city) and Princeton-trained Joseph Shanley designed and planned the building. It originally had self-contained vacuum system, where each unit had a wall receptacle to which one attached a vacuum hose and proceeded without additional machinery.The building also sported a fire escape system – only two of which existed in the US - in which an internal slide would pass tenants from any floor to the street swiftly in case of an emergency.[5]

During the 1970s the building was partially renovated including replacement of the elevators and silver leaf in the lobby.[5] It went into foreclosure and was purchased in 1990 by the Brooklyn-based Wybro brothers.[6]

Hersch Tower is contributing property to the Mid-Town Historic District which also includes the Elizabeth Public Library and the Union County Courthouse.[3][7] and other early high-rises, the Winfield Scott Tower and the Afbender Building.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Elizabeth through the Ages". Elizabeth Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  2. 1 2 "Elizabeth". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  3. 1 2 "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Union County". New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  4. ↑ "Hersch Tower". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  5. 1 2 "THE ELIZABETH FORUM 2014". Elizabeth Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  6. ↑ Goodnough, Abby (August 6, 1995). "In Elizabeth, Dusting Off an Art Deco Treasure". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  7. ↑ "Midtown & More". City of Elizabeth. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
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