Steinway Neighborhood Surprise

Our children wonder where we are. We are honestly still trying to figure that out sometimes! After living in the Steinway area of Astoria for the past 14 months, we are well acquainted with our Greek/Italian, neighborhood. We are close to LaGuardia Airport, Rieker's Island, just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan and of course, the Steinway and Sons Piano Factory.

The Steinway Family not only are famous for being master piano builders, but were transit magnets, and resort developers, who left their mark on their neighborhood in which they resided. Henry Steinweg, a German piano manufacturer, emigrated to New York City from Seesen, Germany, in 1853. His sons, Henry Jr. and Theodore set about making pianos renowned the world over as the finest pianos ever made. Henry Jr.'s and Theodore's younger brother, William, continued the family tradition (advertising their instruments as "the standard pianos of the world") and moved the operations of Steinway Pianos to Astoria, Queens. Between 1870 and 1873, Steinway purchased 400 acres of land in northern Astoria and not only built the spacious Steinway Piano Factory, which dominates the area, but a small town with a library, a church, a kindergarten, housing for factory workers, and a public trolley line. Between 1877 and 1879, Steinway constructed a group of handsome row

houses on Winthrop Avenue, which is today's 20th Avenue, and on Albert and Theodore, 41st and 42nd Streets. Even the street names bore witness to the Steinway family, since Albert and Theodore were sons of Henry Steinway. These homes were rented by the Steinways to their workers.

My parents remember stumbling on the Steinway Mansion while they were serving their mission in 1992-93. They were given a tour by the owner and told us it was a fascinating place. The Spring weather was so inviting on Monday and we had time for a lengthy walk in the neighborhood and needed some things from Best Market. We wandered into Astoria's industrial section, among factories and busy streets. We walked up a hill on 41st Street into a forested spot. We saw a gate, old cars, and heard dogs barking. There it was, with a "For Sale" sign, we found The Steinway Mansion.

We were so excited and after coming home, we did some research about the house. We learned that it was built in 1858. We loved this wonderful (above, then photo) with the Steinways posing on the porch. What a grand home it was. The Steinways occupied it for many years and then in the 30's, presumably when they lost some of their fortune, they sold it to Jack Halberian. He raised his family in the house and his son inherited it after him. The yard used to front the water until the land was filled in for industrial uses.

Today the historic mansion is for sale. The asking price is $4,000,000 for this landmarked building, yes that means it can't be raised. It's listed as having 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, with 25 rooms total. I read several articles written by those who have had a private tour and describe it as "gorgeous, with a lavish interior." It has huge ceilings, up to 30 feet high, fireplaces in every room, lots of sculptured plaster, antique wallpaper, hardwood floors, etched glass, and a wonderful staircase. The basement is quite different from the rest of the house, with a Jacuzzi, watched over by gold lions, two pool tables, a screening room, and amazingly no pianos anywhere!