Collyer brothers
Homer Lusk Collyer (November 6, 1881 – March 21, 1947) and Langley Wakeman Collyer (October 3, 1885 – c. March 9, 1947), known as the Collyer brothers, were two American brothers who became infamous for their bizarre natures and compulsive hoarding. The two lived in seclusion in their Harlem brownstone at 2078 Fifth Avenue (at the corner of 128th Street) in New York City where they obsessively collected books, furniture, musical instruments, and myriad other items, with booby traps set up in corridors and doorways to crush intruders. Both died in their home in March 1947 and were found dead (Homer on March 21, Langley not until April 8) surrounded by more than 140 tons (127,000 kg) of collected items that they had amassed over several decades.
Homer Collyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1881 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 21, 1947 (aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn |
| Alma mater | College of the City of New York Columbia University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Langley Collyer | |
|---|---|
Langley Collyer (right) with attorney, 1946 | |
| Born | October 3, 1885 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Died | c. March 9, 1947 (aged 61) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
Since the 1960s, the site of the former Collyer house has been a pocket park, named for the brothers.