GALLERY
Before that, in 1942, the Ansonia served is patriotic duty and aided World War II. The Ansonia was stripped of its outside metal trimmings and decorations in order to supply material for bullets and tanks. Many of the details that gave the Ansonia its bohemian feel were lacking— the skylights were blacked out because of regulations and its decoration was stripped.
​
Once Stokes died and passed the Ansonia to his son, Weddie, more major changes began to occur. Stokes son sold the Andino to a man named, Samuel Broxmeyer— a man known for his poor reputation. Broxmeyer lost the building due to the scams he was pulling on the residents of the Ansonia and he lost the building. A new owner was declared, a man by the name of Jake Starr. Starr realized that the Ansonia was
he man’s inability to pay his gambling debt. The hotel became a center for drama, sex, and partying. From 1977 to 1980, the Ansonia Hotel’s basement became home to Plato’s Retreat— a swinger sex club open to anyone. However it was eventually shut down by the Mayor, Ed Koch, for sanitary reasons.
The Ansonia is a place where the World Series was claimed to be rigged, a place with declared as self- sufficient in order to justify the keeping of chickens, ducks, and bears, a place that became a hub for illegal activity, a place that served its role in World War II, a home to psychics, mediums, a sex shop, and, today, some of New York’s elite. The Ansonia has undergone quite a transformation since the beginning of its time and declared its worthy of its place in the city.
​
Designed by Paul E. Duboy and officially opened on April 19, 1904, William Earl Dodge Stokes originally built the Ansonia as a hotel. With its breath taking views of Broadway, eighteen floors filled with libraries, high ceilings, air- conditioning (a first), parlors, multiple bedrooms, tearooms, a grand ballroom, and the largest indoor pool in the world the Ansonia quickly became populated by many famous residents— some include Babe Ruth, Koos van den Akker, and Theodore Dreiser. The New York World described the Ansonia as the “monster” of all residential buildings in this time period and it would come to live up to this name not only because of its size, but because of its reputation.
​
The Ansonia led a very racy reputation. Two years after opening the Ansonia became the main hub for gambling activity. A very notorious New York character officially moved into the Ansonia, as suggested by Stokes, and was found dead in room Suite1579. A self inflicted gun wound, consequence of t
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |
THE ANSONIA
operating illegally as a hotel since it didn't have certificate of occupancy from the city. Getting this certificate would behold to be too expensive, so Starr let the hotel decay in quality, reputation, and guests. The Ansonia was eventually abandoned.
​
Even in its abandoned state, the Ansonia did not lack drama. Starr rented the abandoned pool and baths to a man named Steve Ostrow, a firm believer and spokesman for the era of gay liberation. He opened up the baths under the name The Continental Baths, a place where one could find a club, drug dealers, candy machines dispensing odd jelly, an orgy room, a specialized warning system that alerted when police were near, and, most notably, a cabaret. The Ansonia had people lining up around the block to see the show. This was a situation that did not leave Starr, the owner of the Ansonia at the time, pleased in the slightest bit. The Continental Baths closed in 1977.
Larry Levenson established his business in the Ansonia afterwards known as Plato’s Retreat. Plato’s Retreat was much more explicit than The Continental Bathsbecause it was a swing club. Starr died shortly after Plato’s Retreat opened and the Ansonia fell into the hands Jesse Krasnow. Krasnow worked to restore the Ansonia and began by immediately getting rid of Plato’s Retreat. He transformed it into the building it is today, a luxurious residential building in the Upper West Side of New York. The building is covered in beaux-art detail and is one of the most eye-catching buildings in New York because of the class it brings into the neighborhood. The Ansonia manages to bring the 1900’s to the twentieth century with all it’s drama, architecture, and splendor.
TEXT-SOURCES:
Wikipedia - The Ansonia
New York Real State - The Building of the Upper West Side
Untapped Cities - 12 Crazy Facts About NYC’s Iconic Ansonia Hotel on the Upper West Side
IMAGES-SOURCES (Article):
Image 1: Jack Ballenger on Flickr
Image 2: © John W. Cahill
Image 3: CityRealty – The Ansonia
IMAGES-SOURCES (Gallery):
Image 1, 2, 5: © Val Black
Image 3: © Noel Y.C.
Image 4: New York Pixels
Image 6, 11, 12: John Taraunac – For a Good Cause
Image 7, 8, 13, 14: © John W. Cahill
Image 9: CityRealty – The Ansonia
Image 10: Jack Ballenger on Flickr