1951-1962
458 west broadway-5th floor
i was kid by profession but my stepdad was the painter Harlan Jackson
was not there -but i have many tales to tell before it was officially soho — when it was an unlabeled edge of little italy or the rag and paper district–so many stories about the life then and the artists who were moving into the lofts-once it was soho tourist spot thsat sort of ended
again left in the 60s but i do not miss the 5 long flights of stairs or heating the loft with a space heater and a fireplace so it was cold as hell in the morning or not being able to answer the door incase it was the building inspectors
the long and happy friendship i had with sol lewitt who lived on the 2nd floor of our buildingalso the huge fire across the street where 4 firement died and sol saved me from being burned up
my parents split up and sold the loft
when i grew up i choose to live in a house with rooms and doors–there is no privacy or silence in a loft- below is a photo of my stepfather Harlan Jackson in our loft– it cost 75 bucks a month and i think my parents were the only inter-racial couple in the area then