Willard D. Straight House

File:1130 Fifth Avenue 003.JPG

The house was designed by the firm of Delano & Aldrich in the neo-Georgian style and was completed in 1915. The ground floor of the house is organized around a circular hallway in the 18th-century style topped by a dome, with a patterned black and white marble floor. The Straight family also owned a complementary building at 162 East 92nd Street, also designed by Delano & Aldrich, that was used as a garage. The second and third floors of this building contained apartments for staff.{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Christopher |title=A Mansion for Me, Another for My Cars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/realestate/14scapes.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=11 June 2009}} Straight died during the influenza epidemic of 1918 and his widow Dorothy Whitney Straight continued to live in the house for several years with her children. She remarried and moved to England but continued to own the house until 1927.{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Christopher |title=Streetscapes/1915 Straight Residence, Until Recently the International Center of Photography; The Northernmost Mansion Built on Fifth Avenue |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/14/realestate/streetscapes-1915-straight-residence-until-recently-international-center.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=14 October 2001}}

The house was sold to Judge Elbert H. Gary, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United States Steel Corporation (who had recently sold his home at 956 Fifth Avenue which was demolished to make way for a new apartment building),{{cite news |title=E. H. GARY HOME ON VIEW.; Public Is Being Admitted for the Benefit of a Charity. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/07/12/archives/e-h-gary-home-on-view-public-is-being-admitted-for-the-benefit-of-a.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=12 July 1927}} who died in the house the same year.{{cite news |title=VICTIM OF HEART DISEASE; End Comes in New Home on Fifth Avenue After Long Illness. CONSCIOUS TO THE LAST Burial Will Be at Wheaton, III. -Nation's Business Leaders Pay Him Tribute. BUILT UP HUGE INDUSTRY. Served as an Executive 25 Years -- One Estimate Puts His Wealth at $25,000,000. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/08/16/archives/victim-of-heart-disease-end-comes-in-new-home-on-fifth-avenue-after.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=16 August 1927}} The next owner was Harrison Williams, a utilities investor, and his wife Mona.

In 1952, the house was sold to the Audubon Society for use as their headquarters, which they called the Audubon House.{{cite news |title=Audubon Group Buys House on 5th Avenue |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/07/20/archives/audubon-group-buys-house-on-5th-avenue.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=20 July 1952}} The Society left in 1971, In 1974, the building was sold to the International Center of Photography for use as a new museum devoted exclusively to photography with photo‐journalist Cornell Capa as executive director.{{cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Grace |title=New Museum for Photography To Be Headed by Cornell Capa |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/22/archives/new-museum-for-photography-to-be-headed-by-cornell-capa.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=22 May 1974}} The mansion is a New York City designated landmark.{{cite web |date=June 21, 2018 |title=Willard and Dorothy Whitney Straight House |url=https://hdc.org/buildings/willard-and-dorothy-whitney-straight-house/ |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=HDC}}

In 2000, ICP sold the building for $17.5 million to hedge fund founder Bruce Kovner for use as a personal residence.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Tom |title=The 1915 Willard D. Straight House - No. 1130 Fifth Avenue |url=http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2011/04/1915-willard-d-straight-house-no-1130.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=Daytonian in Manhattan |date=8 April 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Dunlap |first1=David W. |title=POSTINGS: International Center of Photography's New Midtown Home; An Underground Minicampus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/19/realestate/postings-international-center-photography-s-new-midtown-home-underground.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=19 August 2001}} The noise and debris associated with Kovner's years-long conversion of the building back to a residence reportedly caused his neighbors dismay.{{cite news |last1=Kurutz |first1=Steve |title=NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: UPPER EAST SIDE; A Famous Mansion's Face-Lift Gnaws at Neighbors' Raw Nerves |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-east-side-famous-mansion-s-face-lift-gnaws-neighbors.html |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=5 October 2003}}

• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |title= Great Houses of New York, 1880-1930|last= Kathrens|first= Michael C.|year=2005 |publisher=Acanthus Press |location=New York |isbn= 978-0-926494-34-3|page=277 }}

{{Commons category|Willard D. Straight House}}

• [http://www.beyondthegildedage.com/2011/12/straight-residence.html The Straight Residence] at Beyond the Gilded Age
• [http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2011/04/1915-willard-d-straight-house-no-1130.html The 1915 Willard D. Straight House - No. 1130 Fifth Avenue] - an architectural essay

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Category:1915 establishments in New York (state)

Category:Delano & Aldrich buildings

Category:Fifth Avenue

Category:Houses completed in 1915

Category:Houses in Manhattan

Category:New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan

Category:Upper East Side

Category:Gilded Age mansions