Submitted by Dirk vandenheuvel, Dec 29, 2007 11:15

Really enjoyed your article - what's more, I'm old enough to have shopped at Constable's last store at 5th & 41st. Next to Altman's (also gone) it was one of my favorites. You mention that their earlier store was on lower B'way currently occupied by ABC Carpet. I was always under the impression (I don't recall who told me) that ABC is where W&J Sloane (it, too, being history) had their store before moving uptown next to Lord & Taylor @ 5th & 38th. I doubt you've made a mistake - do you happen to know where Sloane's store was before the move uptown??

Another puzzle for you - when I first arrived in NYCity I lived in a brownstone rooming house at 40 W 12th Street. My colorful landlady (a former head decorator at French & Company Antiques in the 1930's and '40's) often mentioned that her townhouse/roominghouse, which she leased, was originally built, along with No. 38 next door, by Rowland Macy for his daughter and son. I haven't been able to find any backup to her story - do you have any idea if this was true? My landlady, Irma Howard, was eventually evicted (along with all her rooming house guests) when one of the Upham's, of Harris-Upham Co., bought both houses; renovating both and installing himself in no. 40 and his wife in no. 38 - they were both artists.

I hope you will continue to write similar articles for The Sun - I'm an avid reader of the Times' Christopher Gray's "Streetscapes" column and would welcome another gifted writer's point of view about NYCity's many landmarks.

vty, Dirk vdHeuvel

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