See the two little figures looking out the second-floor window facing south in the building on the corner? Supposedly it’s a young Teddy Roosevelt and his brother Elliot (future father of Eleanor); they’re viewing President Lincoln’s funeral procession. The future president would have been seven years old when this picture was taken on April 25, 1865.
That’s his grandfather Cornelius Roosevelt’s property on Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets; the procession is heading to Union Square.
Cornelius Roosevelt’s house was torn down and an eight-story terra cotta and brick structure put in its place in 1894. Called the Roosevelt Building, it stands at 13th and Broadway today.
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Broadway and 14th Street, Lincoln funeral procession, Lincoln in New York City, Teddy Roosevelt, Union Square
Ephemeral New York 
March 27, 2009 at 2:27 pm |
Wow, very nice picture! I always wondered what the site would have looked like without that huge building that messed up the area on 14th Street. Thanks.
October 20, 2009 at 10:40 pm |
Sorry to burst your bubbles, but this TR find isnt new. Stefan Lorant made the discvy in the 1960’s or thereabouts,for his photo biog of Lincoln.
October 20, 2009 at 10:45 pm |
No one is claiming it’s new. Fascinating, even freaky, but not new.
October 21, 2009 at 4:41 pm |
Little Abe Relis here again. I don’t unnerstand. What are your bubbles and why does this guy wanna burst em.
October 24, 2009 at 8:50 am |
An amazing site! So much fun. It is the New York that is in all ogf our collective memories and you capture the mystique that has drawn millions of us to the city of the years. Keep up this blog, it is my new favorite!
October 24, 2009 at 5:32 pm |
Thanks so much!
November 6, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
I love NYC and it’s history……I will seek out the Roosevelt Building next time in NYC……Cool, and the future First Lady’s Father…..
March 16, 2014 at 12:50 am |
This is the perfect website for anybody who wants to find out
about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with
you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
You certainly put a brand new spin on a subject that has been discussed
for many years. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
March 25, 2014 at 7:19 pm |
Regarding that photo. It is true that is Theodore Roosevelt in the window as a 6-year old boy. There are varying accounts as to whether that is Elliot Roosevelt or perhaps Theodore is standing with his then childhood playmate and future 2nd wife, Edith Carrow. He makes reference to watching the Lincoln funeral with Edith as children in his autobiography. Which makes this that much more of a remarkable photo in my opinion.
T.R. was the distant (5th) cousin of FDR. Eleanor Roosevelt was indeed Teddy’s niece. The daughter of his brother Elliot Roosevelt. Franklin’s father James Roosevelt was introduced to his mother Sara Delano at a party given by Theodore Roosevelt.
There are more interesting presidential facts about all the U.S. Presidents, including the 26th and 32nd at 10presidentialfacts.com as well as some good presidential biography recommendations.
April 21, 2014 at 4:13 am |
[…] second procession of 50,000, with thousands more watching from the sidewalks and building windows (including a young Teddy Roosevelt, seen here), accompanied the funeral hearse up Broadway to Union […]
April 13, 2015 at 5:27 am |
[…] building on the corner was the mansion of Cornelius van Schaack Roosevelt. Peering out the second-floor window are his seven- and five-year-old grandsons, Theodore and Elliott […]