The New York herald., 1869-01-03
FIFTH AVENUE.
Our Leading Wealthy Citizens Living ON th
Avenuc--Descriptio Of Their Dwellings
Horscs and Carriages.


other streets In other cities particularly Ia some or
the leading European cities larger and broader and
abounding IN shade trees, which this avenue wholly
lacks; bur there is no street with such continuous
succession OF palatlal residences on either side and
among its residents representing such an aggre
gate Of wealth. or course not all our
wealthy citizens reside here, for nearly the
entire length of Fourteenth street, and
Twenty-third street, and Thirty-fourth street,
and Madison avenue, and Park avenue, and Lexing-
ton avenue, and portion OF Second avenue, and
Lafayette place, and Washington place, and Wayerley
place, and Cramercy Park, and many other streets
that might be named have their palatial abodes as
well, aud SO, too, indeed, all the streets crossing
Fifth avenue-tlat is, those parts OF them adjacent
to the latter avenue But Fifth avenue Is the grand
head centre OF the wealth and fashion Of the city.
The creme de Ia creme OF our metropolitan society
live here. We give below brief descriptions OF some
Of the dwellings OF our leading wealthy residents on
this avenue-an Introductory chapter to more elabo
rate descriptions to be given hereafter. The marked
uniformity in size, general severe simplicity
or style OF architecture characterizing the
dwellings, Is what would strike the most
casual obscrver-a fact after all, TO which the street
owes It's chief beauty. Most all the dwellings
built OF brick with brown stone fronts, or else brick
fronts with brown stone 0rnamentalions. At in
tervals those having fronts OF Nova Scotia stone
or ornamentations OF this material. There are but
two marble dwellings on the entire strcct-that ia,
reckoning finished A. T. Stewards marble palace
in process of construction the costliest dwelling by
far on the avenue. There no gingerbread dwell
ings the street, none OF the nimsily fne llagre
| work, giving such show Of tawdry spendor to the
dwellings OF the rich in the older cities
OF the Old World. All the dwellings here
are plain, solidly built. substantial massive,
grandly imposing The uniformity OF architecture
10 which we have referred makes our descriptions Of
necessity alike uniform, while the paucity OF mate
rial furnished for outer ornamentation compes like
wise exceeding breyity. As the present fashion
ignores doorplates the chief intention Of the present
article is TO indicate to the thousands who daily ride
through the and the tens OF thousands OF the
sweeping tide OF humanity making up the moving
masses OF promenaders daily thronglng Its side
walks the dwellings in which sojourn our leading
men of wealtn-men prominently and honorably
known having achieved wealth through rare
business tact, sxilful management and special
dacity of enterprise and genius trade profes
| slonal life.
| Entering the avenue at its commencement at
Washington square, on the left hand corner Is the
residence OF Mr.. William c. Rhineander, a wealthy
retired merchant. lie has lived here many years,
being one OF the pioneer settlers avenue
His house is plain brick ednce, four stories h Ugh,
but IN point OF sody, as one can see, "ol the real
1lden Kind" and none OF the hurriedly put up sruc
| tures OF modern date lie has q very large and fne
\ stable contiguous to the house, with horses, car
riages and coachman to match.
On the opposite corner Is the residence of Mr..
| Thomas Sunern, another old retired merchant His
house ia three story brick, very plain but OF the
| soiid.y modern school, lie keeps his carriages and
horses.
No. s is the marble dwelling to which we have re-
ferred as completed. Its present owner and occu-
trial New Jersey Railroad 1t is built in very nnpre-
tending style, being four stories high and with very
windows correspondingly plain. 1t is totally devoid
| OF balconies. Being corner building, its exterior
is In striking contrast to the prevailing brown stone
fronts with which It Is surrounded. There Is q fine
stable IN the rear Mr. Johnston drives az substantial
| and tasiesul tuinouts, though not as snowy, as
many to be seen in the Park.
| No. 81 il the residence OF James Marsh, retired
merchant This is plain brown stone front, with
\ four stories and basement and balcony. He keeps
| his carriage aud horses, but hires them stalled.
No. 32 Dr. Gautiers residence, Is three story brick
| house, with Mansard roof and brown stone trim
ming for the arched doorway, sls and lintes. II is
very wide, with door nearly In the centre ana broad
| steps leading to IL from both ways OF the Avenue
lie keeps his own stables on mis- o and nne carriages
No. "A is where Henry r. Remsen the lawyer, lives
II IL four story brown stone front or the usual plain
but substantial pattern He keeps his carriage and
No. Al is the residence Of the Hawley Brothers, the
Wall street tea brokers. The house has special
features, except being plain brown stone front OF
iour stories. they keep their carriage and horses
| but have them stabbed.
4
Bishop. The description OF the house corresponds
with that Just described. She keeps q carriage and
horses, but has them stabbed.
No. 81, a dwelling likewise corresponding with the
last two, Is tue residence OF MIR. George Grsw0id,
tea merchant. Has horses ana carriages, but STA
! bed al livery establishment
No. si, patterned after most OF the brown stone
| fronts four stories ana q basement and a bal
| cony, ~ the residence OF the merchant Mr. Edwin
| stabbed.
| No. io7 Is where Marshall o. Roberts resides This
| building wide and rooIny and altogether OF the
solldes looking structures On the avenue II plain
pensye collection OF carriages and horses.
No. l0e Is the residence or August Belmont. This Is
one OF the oldfasnoned. pan and soidly built struc
lures to be seen In the lower part OF the avenue but
| when land here was not worth quite as many solid
sequenly, eoonomizing in space was not 30
| much Of an object at present. IL Is
basement, with % brown stone tone crna,nenaton. ana
altogether wears the air OF financial soiidity the
part OF us owner and occupant as well as belngy
roony aud comfortable Ia the interior. All the extra
characterization about the place has been expended
on his stables Ills stud j. one OF the largest, rs well
az embracing some OF the finest horses, OF any
private stable In the avenue. For multiplicity and
variety OF horses and carriages, the former valuable
and the latter Stylish he second to none on this
No 10 is the abode Of another of the solid men OF
the dty Moses Taylor, President OF the Citizens
bank Ills dwelling is Of the solid sort, four story
brown stone 'front.' and unusually wfdc II is like
wise cnaractcrized BY exterior plainness Of archiec.
commandment OF carriages Of select pattern, ami
valuable and stylish horses.
No. l4l u where James ID. w. Cutting the well |
known banker lives. lt is four story brown stone |
mont OF the ordinary width Of New YORK city lots;
pain massive structure, devoid OF special outer |
ornanentation. He keeps hrs own horses and |
riages.
No l54 IL the residence OF Robert T. stuart. tho /
sugar refiner. THIS Is q three story brown stone
front; VIDE and solid building OF exceeding PLAIN
ness of style and finish. lie has some elegant turn
outs IN his stables.
No zl6. the residence Of Mr.. j. O. Jones, President |
OF th3 Chemical Bank, is a four story brown stone |
front ard English basement, with high balcsny. it |
IL Deautiful house and soop aiid balcony finely |
and uniquely modelled. lie keeps his carriages and |
horses
No. 24o n the residence OF DR.. Cheesman. 1t IA
built alter the finest ana most cultivated pattern OF
four story brown stone fronts. IL has no special
feature distinguishing ~ from other residences IN the
neiNlDOrhOOd exccnI unusualY hruad sfcnS and hal