General Winfield Scott House

Description and history

The General Winfield Scott House is located in Greenwich Village, on the south side of West 12th Street, roughly midway between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It is one of a pair of virtually identical brownstones, four stories in height. The ground floor functions visually as a basement level, with a rusticated ashlar exterior topped by a projecting cornice and metal balustrade. The entrances and window bays on this level have keystoned rounded arches, with the entrances further articulated by paneled pilasters and scrolled brackets. Upper-level windows are set in segmental-arch openings, with eyebrow cornices.

The pair of houses was built in 1851–52 by Charles Partridge, a local businessman who lived next door. Number 24 was sold to Winfield Scott in 1853 and served as his home until 1855. Although Scott is best known as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in the 1852 election, and as a successful military leader in the 1846–48 Mexican–American War, he had a long and influential military career before these events. He was a successful drillmaster and leader in the War of 1812 and published a handbook on infantry tactics that was the first of its kind for the United States Army. He was also a successful negotiator, helping to defuse several crises in which military action was threatened, including the Nullification Crisis of 1832–33, and the Aroostook War of 1838–39.

References

References

1. (September 14, 2007). "Gen. Winfield Scott House". National Park Service.
2. {{NRISref
3. Ben Levy. (June 19, 1973). ["National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: General Winfield Scott House"]({{NHLS url). National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url.