National Register of Historic Places

Skinny House

Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York
Listed
May 17, 2015
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
15000235

About this property

The Skinny House in Mamaroneck, New York, was built in 1932 by African-American carpenter and building contractor Nathan Thomas Seely on an extremely narrow lot of donated land after he lost his home to foreclosure and his company to bankruptcy during the early years of the Great Depression. The 10 feet (3.0 m) wide house has 3 stories and was built on a 12.5 feet (3.8 m) wide plot of land sold to him by his neighbor, to whom he had earlier sold a larger plot of land. The house was constructed entirely from salvaged materials. The New York State Board for Historic Preservation noted “its efficient and beautiful design, careful engineering, and effective interior plan. Challenged by a narrow lot and minimal financial means, Seely created a house that demonstrated both his ingenuity and the desire to provide, above all else, housing for his family.” The Westchester County Historical Society said “its professional construction and ingenious design are a testimony to the dedication of a prominent black contractor to build a solid, functional, and delightful home. It represents both black enterprise and good neighborliness, and is architecturally significant as a symbol of American ingenuity and craftsmanship.”

Location

175 Grand St.
Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York
40.94534, -73.74253

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYBLACKEUROPEAN
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Walter's Hot Dog Stand
Industrial
0.2 mi
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church Complex
Industrial
0.4 mi
Child Welfare Association of Mamaroneck
Industrial
0.5 mi
Mamaroneck Methodist Church
Listed
0.8 mi
Wilson, Albert E. and Emily, House
Industrial
0.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Mamaroneck
1776Revolutionary War
0.4 mi
Raid on Mamaroneck (1776)
1776Revolutionary War
0.4 mi
Battle of Pell's Point
1776Revolutionary War
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Skinny House listed on the National Register?

Skinny House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 2015.

What type of historic resource is Skinny House?

Skinny House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Skinny House?

The period of significance for Skinny House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Skinny House?

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