Print

André, Elizabeth Mary

Historic Preservation Program

2006

M.S.

For roughly seventy years, iron balcony fire escapes played a major role in shaping urban areas in the United States. However, we continually take these features for granted. In their presence, we fail to care for them, they deteriorate, and become unsafe. When they disappear, we hardly miss them. Too often, building owners, developers, architects, and historic preservationists consider the fire escape a rusty iron eyesore obstructing beautiful building faqades. Although the number is growing, not enough people have interest in saving these white elephants of urban America. Back in 1860, however, when the Department of Buildings first ordered the erection of fire escapes on tenement houses in New York City, these nowforgotten contrivances captivated public attention and fueled a debate that would rage well into the 20th century. By the end of their seventy-year heyday, rarely a building in New York City, and many other major American cities, could be found that did not have at least one small fire escape. Arguably, no other form of emergency egress has impacted the architectural, social, and political context in metropolitan America more than the balcony fire escape. Lining building faqades in urban streetscapes, the fire escape is still a predominant feature in major American cities, and one has difficulty strolling through historic city streets without spotting an entire neighborhood hidden behind these iron contraptions. This thesis intends to demonstrate the significance of the balcony fire escape, as introduced in the 19th century in New York City, and advocates for their preservation and conservation thereof. The history of the fire escape is traced through New York Times articles, detailing landmark fires, public outcry, and the ensuing legislation, and through historical photos and 19th and 20th century art and literature, illustrating the social and cultural impact of fire escapes on the daily lives of the tenement dwellers in New York City. Design and construction of the fire escape is looked at through patents and manufacturers' trade journals, emphasizing the fire escape as a significant architectural feature. The thesis concludes with basic information of the care and maintenance of fire escapes and a discussion of actual preservation work being done to save these important pieces of the built environment.