Henriette Melchiors Stiftelse is a historic building situated at the corner of Snaregade and Naboløs, overlooking the Gammel Strand canalfront, in central Copenhagen, Denmark. The building was constructed for the Jewish businessman Lion Israel after the previous building on the site had been destroyed in the Copenhagen Fire of 1795. It was, from 1861, owned by his grandson Moses Melchior, who in his will converted it into a charity with affordable accommodation for widows of scientists and artists, named for his sister Henriette Melchior. The building was listed in the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1918.
History
Early history
The property was in 1689 as No. 17 in Strand Quarter owned by Gert Mejer, Jr. It was later owned by wine merchant () Andreas Klarup. On 20 December 1756, it was as No. 15 acquired by tailor Friedrich Uhl. On 18 January 1762, he sold it to merchant () Jens Krøjer. On 7 July 1765, it changed hands again when it was acquired by wigmaker Johannes Baltzer. The property was then the site of a half-timbered building fronting Snaregade, but pulled back from the street, as well as a gatehouse situated to the left of the main building. Christoffer Valkendorff's ejerbod from 1581 blocked the view of the canal.
The property was on 17 June 1776 acquired by porcelain merchant Cay Friderich Hammerich (1749-1816). Hammerich was at the time of the 1787 census residing in the building with his wife Cay Friderich Hammerich (1749-1816), their five children (aged 2–10), the nephew Johann Leonhart Stuhr (1774-) and a staff of four servants. The property was at this point also home to three more households. Christian Gottlieb Sneider (1743-), a secretary in the Politikammeret (Police Authority), resided in another apartment with his wife Bolette née Gram (1737-), their son Christian Friederich (1772-1825), the wife's niece Anne Hansdatter (1758-) and a maid. The two last households were each made up of a single person: the widow Anne Listnik? (1723-) and the widower Per Thommesen (1713-).
In 1795, upon selling his old property, Hammerich purchased another property at Vigantsgade No. 210 (now Ny Vestergade 8, now replaced by an extension of the National Museum).). His eldest son Johannes Hammerich would a few years later buy the property at what is now Nybrogade 10.
Lion Israel, 17931834
On 14 October 1793, Hammerich sold the property to the Jewish merchant () Lion Israel (1750-1834). He had in 1790 married (Gitte) Cantor (1759-1804?), daughter of Levin Jacob Cantor (-1764) and Gitle (Jitche) Levy (1721-1792), with whom he had the daughter Birgitte Jette (1792-1855) and the son Israel Lion Israel (1793-1848). The building was destroyed in the Copenhagen Fire of 1795. The buildings on the other side of Snaregade, including the Royal Pawn, opposite Israel's house, just escaped the flames.The family had to seek refuge in a wooden shed on Slotsholmen while a new building was constructed. Construction started in 1796 and the building was completed the following year. The new building contained a tea shop in the basement at the corner. The backyard contained a half-timbered lavatory,a hen house and a water pump. The value of the completed building was assessed by Philip Lange from the Royal Fire Insurance Company at 6,800 rigsdaler.
The building was at the time of the 1801 census home to three households. Lion Israel and his wife lived there with their two children and a couple of other family members. Arsenal manager Jørgen Lund (1744-1823) and his wife Birgitte Sophie von Bergen (1760-1838) resided in another apartment with their four children (aged 9–19) and a maid. The last of the three households consisted of butcher Løser Lazarus Speir (1772-) and his wife Bella Rottenburg (1779-) with their two children (aged 1–3), the widow Regina Speir (1735-) and her two sisters (1769-1845), and a maid.
The property was in the new cadastre of 1806 listed as No. 14. Galathea Israel had died in 1804. Lion Israel was on 18 December 1809 second time married to Lea Elisabeth Hermann (1790 - c. 1870), daughter of Elias Hermann and Lea Leiner. Their marriage did not result in any children.
Birgitte Jette was on 29 December 1807 married to the wealthy merchant () Gerson Moses Melchior (1771-1845). Melchior's father Moses Marcus Melchior (1736–1817) was the owner of the trading company Moses & Søn G. Melchior. Gerson Melchior was already the father of four children from his first marriage and they also had four children together. In 1810, Melchior bought a property on Amagertorv (No. 45. now Amagertorv 11)) where they lived from then on.