Ottendorfer Public Library and Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital

The Ottendorfer Public Library and Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital are a pair of historic buildings located at 135 and 137 Second Avenue in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The buildings are home to the Ottendorfer Branch of the New York Public Library and The Wing, a women's workspace, within the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic hospital.

Designed by architect William Schickel in the neo-Italian Renaissance style, both buildings are three stories tall with facades made of Philadelphia pressed brick ornamented in terracotta. The hospital building features terracotta busts of notable medical professionals.

The buildings were constructed in 1883-84 following a donation by philanthropists Oswald and Anna Ottendorfer. The library was the second branch of the New York Free Circulating Library, while the hospital was affiliated with the German Hospital uptown, now known as Lenox Hill Hospital. Both buildings served the Little Germany enclave of Lower Manhattan. The hospital was later sold and renamed Stuyvesant Polyclinic in the 1910s.

Throughout their history, the buildings underwent several restoration projects. They received three separate New York City landmark designations in 1976, 1977, and 1981, and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

In the late 19th century, the East Village and Lower East Side neighborhoods were known as Little Germany due to the large concentration of German immigrants. The Ottendorfer Public Library and Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital played a significant role in serving this community.

History

The Ottendorfer Public Library and Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital are located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The buildings were constructed in the late 19th century and served the Little Germany enclave of Lower Manhattan, which had a large population of German immigrants.

The Ottendorfer Public Library was established as the second branch of the New York Free Circulating Library. It provided access to books and educational resources for the German-speaking community in the area. The library building was designated as a New York City landmark in 1977, recognizing its architectural and historical significance.

The Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital was originally affiliated with the German Hospital uptown, now known as Lenox Hill Hospital. It provided medical care to the residents of Little Germany and surrounding neighborhoods. The hospital building was designated as a New York City landmark in 1976.

Over the years, both buildings underwent restoration projects to preserve their historic features. The Ottendorfer Public Library's interior was designated as a New York City landmark in 1981, highlighting its unique architectural elements.

Today, the Ottendorfer Public Library continues to serve as a branch of the New York Public Library system, providing a wide range of resources and programs to the community. The former Stuyvesant Polyclinic hospital building now houses The Wing, a women's workspace that promotes collaboration and empowerment.

The Ottendorfer Public Library and Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital are important landmarks in the East Village, representing the rich history and cultural heritage of the neighborhood.