Henry Fernbach

Henry Fernbach (1829–1883)^[1] was an architect in New York City. Born in Breslau, which then belonged to Germany, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1848^[2] or in 1855.^[3]

Central Synagogue

Interior of Central Synagogue

New York Mutual Life Insurance Company Building, top three floors added later designed by Philip Roos

Life

Fernbach was a Prussian Jew,^[3] and trained at the Bauakademie in Berlin.^[4] He is noted for his synagogue designs, mainly in the Moorish Revival architecture style,^[3] and for his cast iron facades. Between 1867 and 1883 Fernbach designed more than two dozen of the properties now contributing to the SoHo - Cast Iron Historic District.^[5]

He served as Treasurer of the United Association of American Architect.^[2] Alfred Zucker and Theodore de Lemos partnered with him. Paul J. Pelz worked as a chief draftsman for him. He designed the German Savings Bank with Edward H. Kendall.

Work

• First Jewish Orphan Asylum,^[2] East 77th Street near Third Avenue,^[6] NYC (1863)
• original permanent location, Harmonie Club, 45 West Forty-Second Street, NYC (1867)
• entrance gate, Salem Fields Cemetery, 775 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn (1867)^[4]
• Temple Emanu-El, 43rd Street and 5th Avenue, with architect Leopold Eidlitz (1868; razed 1927)^[7][8]
• Central Synagogue, 652 Lexington Avenue, NYC (1870–72)
• 67, 69, 71, 75, 77, 81 Greene Street (1873)^[9]
• Victory Building, 1001-05 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1873–75)^[10]
• Stern Brothers Department Store, 32-36 West 23rd Street, NYC, expanded in stages (1878, 1878, 1880)
• Eden Musée, 55 West 23rd Street, NYC (Fernbach died mid-project; completed by Theodore de Lemos) (1884)
• 113, 115 Spring Streets, lofts with Tuscan columns and cast iron fronts^[9]
• SoHo Hotel at 101-111 Greene Street (not the new buildings 101 and 107-11 by Joseph Pell Lombardi)^[9]