Reply To: Old Marble Hill Business – Schumacher Bros. on 225th Street

[Alan Lasky]

Great pic! I’d guess the building was brand new at that point.

I see some references to a 1914 property transfer from  Anna A. Schumacher to  Graycie M. Schumacher, and they seemed to service and sell automobiles as Schumacher Garage until at least 1925, when it changed ownership. “Active Holding Company, Inc” purchased it in Dec 1925, but it seems to have still been a garage in 1940.

In this Oct 1914 photo, you can see 168 W225th in the distance with no buildings nearby. Clearly that did not last very long.
Some other things to note in this 1914 photo, Puddler’s Row at the far left, the column of the Hudson Monument with no statue on top, 2640 Arlington Ave straight up from 168, (built in 1899, still there, and due to the shape, mansard roof, and angle, easy to spot in old photos), The Edgehill Inn faintly visible through the trees, and likely the Ewen house, near where Riverdale Ave can be seen climbing the hill to the right.

Close up showing where 168 W 225th is in 1914 photo

Sept. 1916 view from Spuyten Duyvil Hill, with what looks like “W.J. Schumacher” painted on the back of the building. Note the brand new Kingsbridge Armory in the center distance, and the north wing of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum at the right. I’d be curious as to the history of the Schumacher family. Who were the brothers? Where were they in 1875? Who are Anna & Graycie, and who is W. J.?

In this Jul. 1939 view, the lettering from the 1916 view appears to still be visible. (I’m not sure what the stone milestone indicates, it does not appear to be one of the Albany Post Rd mile markers.)