Happy 150th and 110th, Sanborn Map

A Sanborn Map. Co. insurance map of Brooklyn, 1887. Courtesy New York Public Library’s digital collection.

It isn’t every day that something – or, heavens, someone – turns the big 110, not to mention the big 150. So when Caspi Development recently celebrated an historic property and company, we had to take note.

The residential and commercial real estate firm marked the 110th anniversary of the Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Ave. in Pelham, with an event honoring the building’s historical significance and role in Westchester’s business community. The celebration included a special proclamation from Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

“For all of us who live and work in Westchester County, we hold a special sense of pride in acknowledging those places of historical significance in our community that add to our cultural diversity and quality of life,” said Deputy County Executive Kevin J. Plunkett, who shared the proclamation on behalf of Astorino. “As the entire Westchester community gathers to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Sanborn Map Building and the 150th anniversary of the Sanborn Map Co., its dedicated staff is truly deserving of our appreciation for their extraordinary service to the community and unwavering commitment to the preservation of its history.”

The Sanborn Map Building, which was completed in 1906 by the eponymous company, is one of the oldest and largest map companies in the United States and still occupies a major portion of the building’s first floor. The structure’s traditional façade, adorned with relief sculptures of ancient mapmakers, serves as a reminder of its history. During World War II, the Sanborn Map Building played a large role in America’s efforts and was under constant surveillance by the FBI due to the highly classified Allied invasion maps housed there.

As Steven Caspi, president of Caspi Development, observed, “The Sanborn Map Building is a classic, inside and out, with a great deal of history between its walls. Many businesses have grown up here over the years, and we are proud that the building’s very first occupant, the Sanborn Map Co., remains one of our tenants today. We are pleased to mark the building’s anniversary milestone by recognizing the impact it has made, both in our local community and beyond.”

For more, visit sanbornmapbldg.com. And for more on travel, with or without a map, check out WAG’s June “Global Celebrations” issue. – Georgette Gouveia

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