686 Park Avenue: The William and Frances Crocker Sloane House
Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, 686 Park Avenue stands as a testament to early 20th-century elegance and architectural excellence. Designed by the renowned firm Delano & Aldrich in the Neo Federal / Colonial Revival style, the five-story mansion was constructed between 1916 and 1919 for William Sloane, president of the prestigious furniture firm W. & J. Sloane, and his wife, Frances Church Crocker Sloane.
Part of a Historic Architectural Ensemble
686 Park Avenue is one of four historically significant mansions on the block between East 68th and 69th Streets, collectively known as Pyne-Davison Row. This unified stretch includes:
680 Park Avenue – The Percy Rivington Pyne House, now home to the Americas Society
684 Park Avenue – The Oliver D. Filley House, now the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (closed)
686 Park Avenue – The William and Frances Crocker Sloane House, now the Italian Cultural Institute
690 Park Avenue – The Henry P. Davison House, currently the Italian Consulate General
Together, these buildings form a rare surviving example of Neo Federal and Neo Georgian townhouse architecture in New York. The row was designated a New York City Landmark in 1970 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Architectural Details and English Influence
The Sloane House reflects both American craftsmanship and British domestic sensibilities of the era. Like many grand townhouses in England, the home was structured with a kitchen in the sub-basement, allowing service functions to remain out of sight. A dumbwaiter system was installed to discreetly deliver meals from the kitchen to the formal dining room above, preserving the elegance and quietude expected in upper-floor entertaining spaces.
The house also features five floors, an interior garden, and a terrace, all contributing to its graceful proportions and livable luxury. Its refined symmetry, brickwork, and classical detailing embody the ideals of the Colonial Revival style.
The Sloane Family Legacy
William Sloane (1873–1922) was a Yale graduate, businessman, and civic leader. As president of W. & J. Sloane, he guided the company through its most influential years. Beyond his commercial pursuits, he was deeply involved in philanthropy—serving as president of Presbyterian and Northern Westchester Hospitals, and holding leadership positions at institutions such as the YMCA, New York Public Library, and the Archaeological Institute of America.
His wife, Frances Church Crocker Sloane (1877–1962), came from a prominent iron merchant family and was well known in New York’s social circles. The couple married in 1904 in a high-profile ceremony at St. Bartholomew’s Church and raised their family in the house that now bears their name.
Later Stewardship and Cultural Legacy
Following the Sloanes’ tenure, the mansion came into the hands of Thomas E. Murray, a pioneering engineer who helped build New York City’s electrical grid and was a close collaborator of Thomas Edison. Murray’s ownership added another layer to the home’s notable history.
Today, 686 Park Avenue is home to the Italian Cultural Institute, continuing the tradition of intellectual and cultural exchange within its historic walls.
