Patchin Place Doors

Sherry Felix

I had a request from a fellow blogger to show the home of E. E. Cummings (1894-1962). The charming alley he lived in is called Patchin Place next to Jefferson Market Library.

The property that became Patchin Place and Milligan Place was once part of a farm belonging to Sir Peter Warren. In 1799 it was sold to Samuel Milligan, who later conveyed it to his son-in-law, Aaron Patchin. The buildings that now occupy the site were put up in 1848-1852 as boarding houses for Basque waiters and other workers at the nearby Brevoort House hotel on 5th Avenue.

A story: The then modernist writer Djuna Barnes (1982-1982) moved into a room-and-a-half apartment at 5 Patchin Place in 1941. She became so reclusive that Cummings would occasionally check on her by shouting out his window “Are you still alive, Djuna?”.

1 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
2 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
4 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
4 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
5 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
7-9 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
4 Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Patchin Place, NYC 6/1/2018

The even more charming private Milligan Place around the corner on 6th Avenue.

Milligan Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Milligan Place, NYC 6/1/2018
Milligan Place, NYC 6/1/2018

30 thoughts on “Patchin Place Doors”

  1. Otto von Münchow 2018-06-19 / 12:53 pm

    What lovely places they both are. Picturesque and charming.

    Reply
  3. Jet Eliot 2018-06-15 / 8:38 am

    I really enjoyed a glimpse into Patchin Place, Sherry. I like the ee cummings story about calling out to Djuna. Really enjoyed the Patchin Place link, too, learning that Theodore Dreiser lived there too, and Djuna’s successful efforts to save the place. Charming and quirky place in the world.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2018-06-15 / 10:17 am

      Hi Jet, So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. that’s what makes Greenwich Village and interesting place.

      Reply
  4. Dippy Dotty Girl 2018-06-13 / 3:44 pm

    Thanks for the beautiful photos of e.e.cumming’s home. Patchin Place is such a fetching name. Also, the story at the end is rather cute.

    Reply
  5. Timelesslady 2018-06-13 / 8:26 am

    Thanks for posting this terrific glimpse into this area. I love the line about, ‘Are you still alive Djuna?’ Sometimes I long to be reclusive, but I’m always drawn back out into life within an hour or two. I don’t know Djuna Barnes…I’m off to Google her.

    Reply
  7. Jean Reinhardt 2018-06-08 / 4:07 pm

    Thanks for sharing the history along with those lovely photos, what a pretty place.

    Reply
  8. Barbara Bryan 2018-06-08 / 7:56 am

    Thanks for the delightful tour of the 2 Places. Love the e.e. story!

    Reply
  9. Jill Hamilton 2018-06-07 / 10:17 pm

    This is all really neat – I enjoyed reading it and will go down to explore when I have a chance. ☺

    Reply
  10. CadyLuck Leedy 2018-06-07 / 4:15 pm

    Sherry, what a great assortment of photos! My favorite is the seventh photo down, with all the fire escapes and the street view!

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2018-06-07 / 5:05 pm

      That one does help set the location. Thanks.

      Reply
  11. Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 2018-06-07 / 3:48 pm

    Wow! Thank you so much, Sherry, for photographing Patchin Place! Very well done! 🙂

    I have a few paintings by Cummings and letters. One letter is a thank you letter for being allowed to stay for a few days at the Werner home in Norwalk. There were kids who lived there and Cummings spent some time with them. He jokingly wrote the letter with all kinds of mistakes and misspellings, just as if written by a young child. At the end of the letter, he writes his address as:

    patching place, Numb. Q cumber, ny sittee

    🙂

    Reply
  12. sustainabilitea 2018-06-07 / 3:48 pm

    completely charming, sherry. i’ve enjoyed e.e. for years and am now responding ala his style. 🙂

    janet

    Reply
  13. Norm 2.0 2018-06-07 / 3:16 pm

    They both seem to be very quiet peaceful places. Excellent shots as usual 🙂

    Reply
  14. jesh stg 2018-06-07 / 3:02 pm

    Pleasant doors and surroundings, Sherry!

    Reply
  15. prior.. 2018-06-07 / 10:10 am

    these are both charming places and I like Cummings’ work –

    Reply

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