Collyer

n. a home excessively packed with junk, trash, or belongings. Also Collyer mansion, Collyer house, Collyer apartment. Subjects: New York City, English, United States, Firefighting, Houses & Housing, Slang, Eponym

Editorial Note: It is said that on the American West coast a similar term is Habitrail house. Etymological Note: After the Collyer brothers, who were discovered dead in their junk-packed apartment at 2078 Fifth Avenue and 128th Street, March 21, 1947. The two were hermits for decades. Homer was blind and bed-ridden; Langley took care of him. A booby-trap set for intruders trapped and eventually killed Langley; without care, Homer starved to death in his bed. About 140 tons of debris were removed from their home, including a Model T and at least 10 pianos.

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Citations: 1995 Matthew Fleischer Village Voice (Jan. 31) “Burning Down the Squat” p. 15: A veteran firefighter called the job a “Collyer mansion"—packed and crowded with junk and debris like the old upper Fifth Avenue spread. 2003 Jeff Pearlman Newsday (Nov. 3) “Hoarding hermits? A typist’s true tale” p. B3: Still today, New York City firefighters call junk-jammed apartments “Collyers.” 2004 Zoe Heller Daily Telegraph (U.K.) (Jan. 24) “Hoarding drives my boyfriend mad New York” p. 24: When firemen are called out to jobs at rundown, junk-filled houses, they call it “doing a Collyer.” 2004 Steven Schnaudt @ Washington Township, Mercer Cty, N.J. Firehouse.com (June 2) “New Jersey Firefighters Battle Two Alarm House Fire”: Engine 402 arrived on scene at 1:21 PM and crews entered the home with a 1 3/4 inch attack line. Crews were severely hampered by extreme “Collyers Mansion” conditions throughout the home. 2006 Andy Newman New York Times (July 5) “‘Collyers’ Mansion’ Is Code for Firefighters’ Nightmare”: In New York City, and along much of the East Coast, a dwelling jammed rafter-high with junk is referred to by rescue personnel, with dismay and no small degree of respect, as a “Collyers’ Mansion.” As in, primary searches delayed because of Collyers’ Mansion conditions.

Posted 25 Apr 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

so here’s ow i found out about those collyer boys-a 1957 mad magazine article ‘bitter homes and gardens’-fake article of a man who removed that ‘wasteful second bathroom’-the ‘after’ picture shows him proudly in his new storage closet full of junk-says he was inspired by room in collier(sic)mansion…

by renos jenson 24 Jul 08, 0122 GMT