Provident Loan Society
Streets (Photo: D.Wye)
Completed in 1912, this building has a long history for residents of the neighborhood. For over 50 years, it was a branch of The Provident Loan Society of New York serving the Lower East Side, a target population for the Society. It acted as a pawnshop but without the unscrupulous dealings of many such businesses. The Society aimed to treat its clientele with a respectfulness that is reflected in the dignified Neo-Renaissance style architecture of this branch office. Later, for 20 years, this building was the studio and residence of Jasper Johns, considered by many the most important living American artist. In its most recent incarnations, it has played a role in the social life of new generations of Lower East Siders as the venue of various nightclubs. Its current use is unknown.