By Christine Lorraine Morgan, May 10, 2026

When the magnificent George Colt Mansion was built in 1872 it was the only home situated on a lower East Side city block. It spanned the block from Ash to Reed between East 5th and East 6th streets. 

Between Colt’s passing in 1908 and 1917, the house became enveloped by other houses that were built around it on four sides of the block, making it nearly landlocked, as shown by these maps from 1900 and 1917.

1900 map of Geo. P. Colt block

1917 map of Geo. P. Colt block

Looking over these images that I took in 1986, it becomes apparent that this home had once been a grand palace. Its address was 628 1/2 E. 6th St.

“The George Colt Mansion was the home of a prominent Erie banker from its completion in 1872 until his death in 1908. The owner was a member of a pioneering Erie family which settled in the region in 1795. The house was designed as a country residence and was so situated to afford a commanding view of the surrounding farmland, and lake and harbor to the north. It represents an early yet imposing example of Second Empire architecture in Erie County,” according to the Library of Congress.

Although this may not have technically been “landlocked,” it was enveloped by properties that were built around it on four sides of the block.

~ No Longer Standing ~

This is the only known video footage of Colt Mansion. It was gathered from 1986 to 1989