Blake & Duffy Iron Works

Blake & Duffy, 53-55 Little West 12th St., New York, 2007

Blake & Duffy
Iron Works
517 West 25 St. N. Y.

First there was Blake & Mahoney, then there was Blake and McMahon, and then there was Blake & Duffy. An Irish theme indeed: the center piece of which was John Blake. In 1870 John Mahon lived at 82 Laight St., New York City, and John Blake lived next door at 84 Laight St. Ten year earlier (1860), John Blake and John Mahoney were partners in the "junk" business at 90 Laight St. This John Mahoney was doubtless the John Mahon of 82 Laight St. in the 1870 Census. The business, Blake & Mahoney, remained "junk" from 1860 to 1872, but created a branch office at 137 Barrow St. in 1871. This is described in Trow's New York City Directory of 1873 as "iron, 137 Barrow, & paper, 90 Laight." Blake & Mahoney stayed together as either "iron" or "metals" at 137 Barrow St. until 1883.

Meanwhile, Blake & McMahon & Co. "iron" sprang up at 519 W. 25th St. in 1878. McMahon was Thomas McMahon, who was recorded in the U. S. Census of 1880, age 50, living at 156 E. 28th St., Manhattan. John Blake continued in business with both Mahoney and McMahon until 1884, when 137 Barrow St. became Blake & Co., and 517 W. 25th St. became Blake & Duffy. Duffy appears to be Francis Duffy, (1859-?), who practiced law initially (early 1880s), and who came to describe his profession as "iron" in 1885.

The Blake and Duffy partnership seems to have lasted from approximately 1884 to 1892. During this period, however, two more Blakes joined the mix. These were Matthew Blake (1840-1903) and Thomas C. Blake (1859-1950). Matthew Blake was possibly a younger brother of John Blake. He appears in the 1870 U. S. Census living next door to John Blake on Laight St., in 1880 at 88 Laight St., and in 1900 at 89 Barrow St. His occupation was that of a "truckman," but he was probably involved in the iron foundry as well. Thomas C. Blake was John Blake's son. He appears, age 17, in the 1880 U. S. Census living with the Blake family at 444 W. 51st St., Manhattan. He became a lawyer, and in 1902 was appointed an assistant in the office of the New York City Corporation Counsel (New York Times, 4 May 1902, p. 3). Mathew Blake seems to have taken over Blake & Co. around 1888. (Did John Blake die around this time?)

Blake & Co. became M. J. & M. Blake (Mary J. & Michael Blake) in 1895, then closed in 1898. Michael Blake's entry in the U. S. Census of 1900 states that he was an immigrant from Ireland in 1885. Living with him at the time was a cousin, Mary Blake, born New York, 1854, who might have been the Mary J. of M. J. & M. Blake. Mary Blake might also be the daughter of John Blake. Her age corresponds to the Mary Blake, age 5, who was John Blake's daughter in the 1860 U. S. Census.

Other Blake & Duffy foundry marks are found at:

The cast-iron at 430 W. 14th St. is extensive, and there are at least half a dozen foundry marks. The building stretches the entire block from 13th St. to 14th St. along the east side of Washington St. The Gansevoort Market Historic District Designation Report (New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (2003), pg. 221) gives the following information on 428-432 W. 14th St. (aka 859-877 Washington St. & 427-429 W. 13th St.): "Date: 1887; Architect: James W. Cole; Builder: John Jordan; Original Owner: William Astor; Type: Market building; Style: Queen Anne; Stories: 5; Facade Materials: brick, stone, cast-iron storefronts, metal canopies."

The building at 19 Jay St., like 53-55 Little W. 12th and 430 W. 14th St. appears to have been erected in 1887/88. All of these Blake & Duffy cast-iron facades consist of one-story shop fronts on masonry buildings.

Blake, McMahon & Co. and Blake & Duffy also created iron with the mark Fulton Iron Foundry. For these marks see the Fulton Iron Works page.

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