After a lengthy investigation, I conclude that this stone, from 541-543 West 22d St. NYC originated from George Chase’s factory on 1st Ave and 107th St NYC. I guesstimate its birthdate to be in the 1850s.
The address on the stone was in Chelsea, on the west side. Previously, the property was owned by Clement Moore, the author of “The Night before Christmas”. In the early 1800s, throughout until the mid 1900s, the streets just west of Chelsea were home to ship, lumber and stone yards.
George Chase began selling Arkansas/Washita stone in 1842, until the late 1800s when Pike bought him out, he was the only Arkansas/Washita stone game in town. During those years, any Washita sold in NY is probably 99.9% definitely from George Chase.
The 541-543 W. 22d sSt address was leased in 1885 to a stone dealer and following that, the property became home to a cement maker, a diary organization, and office buildings. That progression lasts until the 1960s. I feel it is safe to say the stone is definitely pre-1885.
In 1854, George Chase opened an an office at East 22nd street NYC. I want to assume he was trying to take advantage of the business related to the west-side ship and lumber yards. Those areas would be ripe with hordes of carpenters and woodworkers needing whetstones to keep their chisels and planes in tip-top condition. But In the 1860s, George moved those offices uptown to 84th St.
After studying the historical maps and reviewing business directories, trade publications, phone books, and legal records, conjecture leads me to believe it was cut and boxed by George Chase sometime between 1854 – 1860.
The stone is 7.0 x 2.0 x 0.9”, it behaves much like a top-end Lily White. The box is oak and in startlingly clean condition. The label is fantastic.
