photo by Alice Lum |
This was about to come to an end.
The Chamber of Commerce initiated a building fund early that
year and by June 3 it had reached just under half a million dollars. During the Chamber’s meeting that day, George
Bliss added another $2,500 and both John W. Mackay and George A. Hearn donated
$5,000. The group had lofty
aspirations-- the goal was at least $1 million (nearly $25 million today).
As word spread of a proposed Chamber of Commerce building, The New York Times added its two cents in an editorial three days later. The newspaper, too, was adamant that a new
headquarters was necessary.
“There is indeed a lack of dignity in the fact that an
institution with so proud a history occupies hired quarters in a building not
even called by its own name,” said the paper.
But The Times cautioned the Chamber on several issues: the building should not be a skyscraper or be
larger than necessary for its sole use (there should be no income-earning
space); it should be monumental and, most of all, it should not be “shut away
on a side street.”
The newspaper would get two of its three wishes.
On April 5, 1900 the $1 million goal was met and plans were
put in motion for the new structure. A
year later, on May 2, The New York Tribune announced that the Chamber of
Commerce building would be built on the site of the old Real Estate Exchange building,
on the corner Liberty Street and Liberty Place.
As The Times had hoped, it was to be a low and majestic structure.
“Instead of a skyscraper, to take all the light possible
from neighbors to increase the rent roll,” said The Tribune, “there will be a
building which shows that the chamber recognizes there is something beyond
revenue only.”
The New York Tribune published a drawing of the proposed building on May 2, 1901 (ciopyright expired) |
The newspaper published a sketch of the plans by architect
James B. Baker. Designed during the City Beautiful Movement
that encouraged monumental buildings intended to foster civic pride and
civilized behavior among citizens, it would be a grand white Vermont marble
structure. Baker worked in the French
Renaissance Eclectic style, creating a powerful and majestic design.
The heavily rusticated first floor served as a massive
platform. The second floor was
reminiscent of the Paris Opera House with enormous half-engaged fluted
columns. Above it all a gently-curved
mansard roof was punctured by ornately-framed dormers.
A year after construction was completed, the sculptures had not been installed between the columns -- photo Architectural Record 1903 (copyright expired) |
The "marble" columns of the uppermost floor were actually meticulously hand-veined plaster -- Architectural Record 1903 (copyright expired) |
The extensive collection of prestigious New York businessmen was, unfortunately, diminished by the selling of many during the 20th century -- Architectural Record 1903 (copyright expired) |
The cornerstone was laid on November 8, 1901. Over 100 distinguished members of the Chamber
marched from the Mutual Life Insurance Building to the construction site. Morris K. Jesup used a sterling silver
trowel to plop a glob of mortar in the place where the stone would go. “I now declare the stone laid,” he said. The Times reported that “After Mr. Jesup had
declared the stone laid workmen were busy really getting it into place.”
The amount of items placed into the cornerstone was
astounding, including dozens of magazines, books and newspapers, coins of all
denominations, medals, and lists of members and others.
As the building rose, The New York Times praised the
architecture. On September 28, 1902 it
reported “Compared with the giant sky-scraping steel towers crowded together in
that congested district of New York known as ‘Wall Street’ the Chamber of
Commerce Building will be in size very small.
But the architecture of the new structure is upon such a scale, the
proportions are so thoroughly observed, that in spite of the low height of the
building it will be pointed out as one of the few artistic buildings of the neighborhood.”
photo Architectural Record 1903 (copyright expired) |
The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine chimed in as
well. “About two millions of dollars
will be expended on this building, and every modern invention will be utilized
in it by which time can be saved to men engaged in a business wherein,
preeminently, this is money.”
The building was opened and dedicated on November 11,
1902. The impressive ceremonies included
President Theodore Roosevelt and former President Grover Cleveland. Among the guests of honor were the French
Ambassador, the British Ambassadors, the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary
of War, and Mayor Low. The Consul
Generals of Russia, Germany and Britain were in attendance as were several
European royals.
photo Architectural Record 1903 (copyright expired) |
Nevertheless, the critical verdict was that Baker’s building
was a success—although it was not quite completed.
The white Vermont marble building is exuberantly decorated including frothy copper embellishment of the cornice -- photo by Alice Lum |
As the Chamber Building was under construction, newspapers
repeatedly mentioned that the marble floor of the assembly room would be
covered by a carpet. A few days after
the dedication the carpet arrived—the largest one-piece rug ever imported into
the country.
Designed by W. & J. Sloane, the carpet was hand-tufted
in Berlin. It measured 59 feet, 8 inches
by 37 feet 8 inches and weighed a hefty 2,750 pounds. Fifty men were required to carry the carpet
into the Chamber of Commerce Building.
It was so large that it could not fit into the hold of the steamer so it was
placed on deck, packed in a specially made zinc-lined case. The total weight of the crate and rug was
over three tons.
The weaving mill in Germany might have regretted taking the
commission. The New York Tribune noted
that “When the work of weaving this rug was in progress it was necessary to
strengthen the looms several times, as the heavy beams nearly broke under the
weight and tension of the rug. But the
main difficulty arose when the workmen had to take the rug from the loom to
finish and shear it, and it was finally necessary to take a portion of the
outside wall of the building away in order to remove the rug.”
Finally on November 17, 1903 the south façade statuary was
unveiled. The Chamber of Commerce was draped
with American flags and music from orchestra playing in the gallery wafted onto
the street. The Evening World said that “Flags
hung from the building and bunting decorations made Cedar street look as if it
were dressed for a holiday.” The
Governor, Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr., was among the speakers who presented the
figures of Alexander Hamilton, DeWitt Clinton and John Jay.
photo by Alice Lum |
The New York Tribune published photographs of the newly-installed sculptures on November 18, 1903 (copyright expired) |
The changes were completed the first week of January
1922. The New York Times commented on
the grand staircase. “This stairway,
inspired by the famous stair of the Ducal Palace at Venice, offers one of the
unusual instances where the decorated vault above follows the line of the
stair.
“The treatment consists of travertine steps, exceedingly
simple walls of texture Rosato marble and a contrasting design on the vault
above.”
The ceiling of the fourth floor contained three octagonal
panels with allegorical reliefs of Transportation, Industry and Commerce. The former library was now the main banquet
room, and a smaller dining room was installed on the third floor for less
extensive banquets.
“Here a new note of delicacy has been introduced fitting this small scale of the space, and the treatment in the Adam style with its delicate handling and fine proportion is most pleasing,” said The Times.
“Here a new note of delicacy has been introduced fitting this small scale of the space, and the treatment in the Adam style with its delicate handling and fine proportion is most pleasing,” said The Times.
Following the 1922 renovations, the mansard roof was noticably but harmoniously changed -- photo Library of Congress |
Helmle & Corbett praised its own work. The dignity and importance of the
association, they told the press, “is well expressed by a fine quality of
restraint, simplicity and good taste, as well in the use of materials as in the
proportions and forms throughout.”
The Chamber of Commerce remained in the impressive white
marble building until 1980. Now the home
of the International Commercial Bank of China, it was restored by Haines
Lundberg Waehler in 1990 through 1991.
Decades of acid rain and pollution had attacked the façade and over
25,000 tons of white marble were required to replace the damaged stone. Tragically, Martiny’s and French’s grand splendid
statues, as well as Bitter’s Mercury, were so heavily devastated that they
could not be salvaged.
The statues, heavily eroded, could not be saved -- photo Library of Congress |
A stunning jewel box of a structure. Like a grand but tiny Beaux Arts palace. Reminds me of equally breathtaking buildings like the NY Yacht Club on 44th Street and the Custom House on Bowling Green.
ReplyDeletewhat ecer becane of that buildin'gs art collection
ReplyDeleteThe paintings moved with the Chamber of Commerce to the new site.
DeleteIn enjoying the view on Liberty St. I noticed a mysterious optical effect created by the block modillions of the main cornice. They seem to present a pattern reminiscent of M.C. Escher's drawings of forms convoluting on themselves. I am a long-time observer of the neo-classical, and have never experienced this in hundreds of other cornices. Has anyone else noticed this optical illusion? I plan to attempt to view J.B. Baker's original construction drawings at the Avery Library to see the construction details set out for the modillions. It is a mesmerizing thing.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Hall can be seen in all its 1983 glory in the movie Trading Places.
ReplyDelete