NYC townhouse where Abraham Lincoln’s granddaughter once lived is set to list for $10.5M
A ritzy Manhattan townhouse with serious presidential cred is poised to list for $10.5 million.
The 122 E. 38th St. gem, in Murray Hill, once belonged to Mary “Mamie” Lincoln Isham, the granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln, according to Mansion Global. The home is set to hit the market next week and boasts three bedrooms, four powder rooms, one full bath, a cellar — and, of course, a Lincoln legacy.
Back in 1906, Mamie and her husband Charles Isham scooped up the property, which was built in 1904 by architect Ralph S. Townsend.
Mamie, daughter of Robert Todd Lincoln — the president’s only child to make it to adulthood — called it home until 1935, sticking around long after Charles died in 1919.
The 6,300-square-foot pad got a glow-up in 1913 when Charles added an attic for the servants’ quarters.
Fast forward to 2012, and James Jorasch, an inventor with more than 750 patents, snagged it for $5.14 million. The Lincoln link hooked him.
Now, he runs his Science House consulting firm out of the bottom floors and resides in the penthouse upstairs, thanks to the building’s rare commercial-residential split.
“Lincoln is the only [U.S.] president with a patent,” Jorasch told Mansion Global in an interview. “He had a patent on helping to get boats that were stuck on the Mississippi off of the shoals where they got stuck, and for me, and for Science House, part of coming here was to create a space where innovation could flourish, so the fact that Lincoln was the only president with a patent was a bonus.”
But there’s an added perk.
“It’s very difficult to find a legal place to [run a business] to do that because most townhouses are fully residential only,” Loy Carlos of Nest Seekers International, who is co-listing the offering with Andy Kim, told the outlet. “It makes it very valuable.”
Carlos reckons it’s a dream spot for artsy types craving a gallery setup.
“It is rare to find a beautiful, dignified house with such rich history, let alone one that allows live-work use that perfectly suits our post-COVID world,” Carlos told The Post.
The property is skinny — 14 feet wide — but stretches deep, 70 to 90 feet, packing a surprising punch.
“I almost equate it to one of those ‘Alice in Wonderland’ type of homes where you think you’re walking into a smaller house, but the moment you walk through the door it opens up into this very large, voluminous space,” Carlos said.
Inside, it’s a time capsule with moldings, a staircase — “really stunning … and it’s in such great shape considering it was built between 1902-04,” per Carlos — and a vintage elevator that Jorasch souped up, possibly one of Manhattan’s first.
Up top, a rooftop terrace with planters towers over the neighbors, offering privacy, night views and a Juliette balcony.
“It’s a very tall townhouse, so when you stand on the roof, you feel like there’s no building right next to you,” Jorasch said. “At night you can see the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, and it’s a great space for people to come together.”
