New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-17
,rw UU,LDINGS IN BROOKLYN
vHE PLYMOUTH CHURCH AND THE ACAD-
Envy or MUSIC.


t.I gratitude il would-or a dscu' don Of the rels
i've grandeur, beauty, heathfulnes, and convenience
~ their lovely city, in comparis n with ali the other
great cities Of the earth. If
"AlbSIy hasi,s sesfaes hish in air
Because the sSversoT lives tbere-
=. HalleeE sings, IN lis "Croekers, Brooklyn, may
wen be PsrdOned for lifting it's Pianaeles with lofty
rride Sc the City Of Churches, par er'iaeree.
II h about TO vndiesee its rgh; TO the title by the
srrosion Of she Iarges Protestant house o. worshP n
Christendom. No: the largest church building, mind,
but the largest house Of worship
In Nav last che Trustees Of Plymouth Church at
,.i,ed for plans for church building to be erected On
. ate on Brooklyn Hghts, containing twelve lots OF
ground and with capacity for seating 5000 persons,
she SPACIOUS buildng now occupied by the Church
being entirely inadequate to the accommodation OF the
vast crowds attracted by the eloquent preaching Of Mr.
Beeeber.
Architects of reputation have too much professional
r,;Se in ordinary cases 10 enter into composition Of
this kind but the novelty and magnitude Of this ed
Gee tempted two at least Of the distinguished archi-
.rs Of this city 10 send in plans and last month, when
abe eompe,ing designs were exhibited in the parlor Of
che Church in Cranberry street. there were two, which
by the beauty and novelty Of their design, and the ar
ts,c ability and thorough knowledge displayed IN the
drawings, excited general attention. There were
TWENTY-FIVE designs in all, and to four of them pre-
,uiums were awarded. The two designs whose beauty
had attracted the attention of the public, however,
were not amAng those which the Committee had hon.
ored by the award Of premium. The reason given
forneglecting them was that they would demand too
large an outlay Of money il either were adopted.
These two designs were by Richard M. Hunt and
Jacob wrey Mold. As these plans were not accepted,
il "a hardly worth while TO attempt description OF
hsm as the are the private property Of the architects
and may be used hereafter
The plan which was adopted by the Committee, and
10 which the highest prominence was awarded, was
by Mr.. Charles Duggin of this city, young English
san who has been engaged chiefly, since his arrival
here in building ornamental cottages IN New
Jersey All professional men have a rather unamable
way ofdescrbng each other works. but architects
eel all others in the vgor with which they disprase
each others performances. Mr. Duggin's design for
abe Plymouth Church has in for its full share of
left-handed compliments from his brother architects,
enc of whom describes il huge box, quodlibet
of architectural odds and ends and "rabbe Of bar
racks" &c. But the plans Of Mr.. Duggin, though
not of character TO place him on level with Bra
mantle are not altogether destitute Of merit, and If
they do not possess the elegance and originality OF
those offered by Hunt and Mold, they had sufficient
merit TO win the appreciation of the Plymouth Church
people who saw in them the elements of what they
required for their new honse of worship.
The sire chosen for this large edfce is Of the
moot commanding in the neighbOrhood Of New-York.
il on the Nights in Montague street. just above the
landing Of the Wastreet Ferry, and when the church
ia completed it will loom mp above the surrounding
houses like the spectral dome in Coles picture Of the
Voyage Of Life.
The entire building covers an area Of $50 feet 'front.'
ID n1.otrO0 0faat 10
sen street. The principal elevations which is on
Montague place. exhibits three-storied gable 'front.'
ranked by two square towers, with mixture OF clas-
sical and medieval characteristics not very easily de
ecribed The front isto be wholly Of white marble
and the towers are of red brick with marble dressings
The towers which are 26 feet square, contain the stair
eate leading to the galleries and are 80 feet high The
eastern tower contains the clock and bey, and is sur
mounted by an octagona lantern. Since the adoption
Of the PLAN ii has been modified by the addition OF
rteepe l25 feet high the eastern tower anda change
in the roof Of the tower from the Mansard 10
the pssoda form. The main building will be IN form
an irregular ocagon it will have two galleries. with
choir behind the pulpit capable of seating 100 singers
ON the floor are for 500 persons the rst gal
lery will contain 800, and the second ,iOO, making
accommodation for congregation OF ooO, exclusive oil
the choir The floor is not wide the upper part
of the church, as passage-way Of six feet on each
side extends on arches from Montague place TO Rem
sen street. The ectureroOm offices, parOrs and Sun
dayscheol rooms are in the rear, with the entrance
from Remsen and are constructed without any attempt
At architectural display on the exterior.
The estimated cost Of this vast structure is $l25OOO
and il is TO be finished in about Is months Mr.. Hunts
plan, which was on a more economical scale than Mr.
Mods was estimated 10 cost t2l7 600. But, after ALL
this great Church may be built for though the lots
have been purchased the plans drawn, and the est-
mates made, the money has not been subscribed and
abe Pts mouth Church people not the kind of men
10 commence work of this kind until they see their
way perfectly clear to It's conclusion.
II the new Plymouth Church should prove failure,
the Brooklyn Academy of Music will not There viii
be an Opera House, whether there be Brooklyn
opera or not The money for that great undertaking
has been all secured, the lots purchased, the plars
made, and the foundations for the building already
laid. short distance above the site of the gre.t
church ON the same side of the street in Montague
place, near Court street. the Academy Of Music is
in process Of construction on a scale of startling
grandeur. 1t has frontage Montague place Of 80
feet, exceeding the Academy in Fourteenth street by
81 feet; but ar part of this win be appropriated
small concert roou the auditorium of the Opera House
viii be something less than that of the New-YoTk
Academy.
The Committee having the affair in charge, instead
of advertising for plans, very sensbly employed an
architect in whom they had confidence, and empOw-
cred him to furnish the plans according to their
Auiremenis. The individual chosen was Mr.. Theodore
EidHtz, who made the designs for those remarkable