Bruckner Boulevard – Harlem River Crossways

Bruckner Boulevard (133rd Street) between Third Avenue Bridge and Lincoln Avenue with its row of houses on the NE-side is often included in photos of the CNJ Bronx Terminal. Most buildings have been around for nearly 100 years or more. As such have witnessed the peak of the industrialization in the Bronx and more specifically, the birth and growth of the CNJ Bronx Terminal and its heyday. They also have seen – and even survived – the Bronx Terminal’s death in the 1960ies and ultimately the South Bronx’ deindustrialization and its post-industrial decline.

It was only logical that I would include the row of buildings on Bruckner Boulevard in my model. They transition smoothly into the backdrop on the north-eastern side. The original size of my layout only allowed for a corner of 1 Bruckner Boulevard, so I first had to add an extension along that side of the layout. This way, not only had I the entire street on the layout but also a 5″ (or about 65′) deep piece of real estate. This would provide enough space for the buildings.

Over time, I have added structures for number 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. I just recently complemented the row with number 11. The two buildings at each corner, number 1 and 11 clearly stand out as the largest structures. They are also architecturally the most distinct houses within the block.

Buildings 1 to 9 Bruckner Boulevard

1 Bruckner Boulevard, most likely a store or a restaurant for a long time, and a restaurant/bar today (Mott Haven Bar). This was my first structure in this group. I used the Woodland Scenics Bank & Trust Co as a base to kit-bash this acute-angled brick building with a wide overhanging cornice on both sides. A large billboard visible to all passers-by on Third Avenue Bridge sits on the roof, just like today.
I could not locate more detailed photos or sources of number 3 and 5. For 3 Bruckner Boulevard I used the Monster ModelWorks N Scale Three Story Starter Kit.
Similarly, I took liberties of replacing the structure on 5 Bruckner Boulevard by a scratch-built garage for Gerosa Hauling Co. (which actually existed in the Bronx but not at this location).
Both number 7 and 9 Bruckner Boulevard have changed their appearance over time. I tried to stick to an approximate footprint of the buildings. I scratch-built both using Monster ModelWorks brick walls and Tichy Train Group windows and doors. For number 7, I chipped off white paint over brick. I left the raw brick walls for 9 Bruckner Boulevard in place. The recently added 1940 tax photos show a white painted building for number 9 whereas an older photo shows an unpainted brick building.

A.B. Cameron Piano & Co Building at 11 Bruckner Boulevard

The building at 11 Bruckner Boulevard (and 123-127 Lincoln Avenue) is still a distinctive brick building today. It was originally a piano factory or warehouse for A.B. Cameron Piano & Co. until beginning of WWII (A.B. Cameron was originally located at 88-94 Lincoln Avenue across the street and according to another source at 213 East 135th Street).

Again, I scratch-built this structure using MMW brick walls over a Styrene body. Having gained a bit more experience over time with scratch-building, I tried to stick to the original appearance as shown in the 1940 tax photos. Specifically, I mimicked the connected window lintels made of bright sandstone that result in a meandering ornament along the facade on top of every story. To fit it on the extension, I slightly compressed the length of the building along Lincoln Avenue.

Like the prototype, my building has a storefront with large windows at the corner of Bruckner Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue and a distinctive cornice. For these elements I used styrene which I painted and weathered. The building also had a (most likely freight) elevator at its northwestern end and fire escape at the Lincoln Avenue side. I modeled both. For the fire escape I used a Gold Medal Models fire escape set.