General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
National Register of Historic Places

General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen

New York, New York County, New York
Listed
November 12, 2008
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
08001048

About this property

The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York is an educational and cultural association at 20 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was founded on November 17, 1785, by 22 men who gathered in Walter Heyer's public-house at No. 75 King Street (renamed Pine Street), one block from Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan. The aims of the General Society were to provide cultural, educational and social services to families of skilled craftsmen. The General Society during this early period celebrated the mutuality and centrality of the craft community. Besides its charitable activities, the society played a prominent part in the festivities that marked patriotic holidays, carrying banners emblazoned with its slogan 'By hammer and hand all arts do stand', echoing the motto of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. The city of New York and the Society both benefited from the decision to make New York the seat of the Federal Government. In 1789, legislators and their assistants and families began to pour into the city. Business prospects brightened considerably. In 1792, the Society attained a membership of 413, and received a charter of incorporation. Old documents reveal that the Society was quite active in the last years of the 18th century, corresponding with other business related associations, and petitioning the state legislature in the interests of industrial progress.

Location

20 W. 44th St.
New York, New York County, New York
40.75502, -73.98064
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen

This page lists General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Harvard Club of New York City
Industrial
0 mi
Sidewalk Clock at 522 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Listed
0 mi
Century Association Building
Industrial
0 mi
New York Yacht Club
Industrial
0.1 mi
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Kip's Bay
1776Revolutionary War
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen listed on the National Register?

General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 2008.

What type of historic resource is General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen?

General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen?

The period of significance for General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1785.

Can I research the history near General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in New York County

Historic places, battles, and census history across New York County.

Explore New YorkCounty ›

More historic places in New York

Browse all historic places in New York.

View New Yorkhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New York history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Yorkhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report