The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-25
ONE or rHE cIrr,S pALACES.

The growth of the atstOcratic quarter
tends now very strongly northward along the
line Of Fifth avenue. This avenue. from Thirty
fourth street g. the Park has for years past been
occupied the choicest site for costly resi-
dences. Northcrly, from Murray HUI, It de-
sceuds by gentle slope, and, ut half miles
distance, reaches summit OF equal elevation
at Fiftieth street. Around this locality
are placed the Roman Catholic Cathedral
aud their orphan asylum. the Dutch Reformed
Church, st. Thombs's, st. Bartholomew's, and
DR.. Hills churches. Passing this hill so nobly
| occupied, the avenue proceeds on descending
grade another half mile until II reaches, at Fifty
ninth street, one Of the grand entrances to
Central Park. The neigh )orhood OF Fifty
seventh street, both ON the avenue and on
Fifty-seventh street, where we ind some OF
the finest dwellings in this city, Is at pres
ent preeninently the aristocratic quarter
Of New York, and cannot fail to be ono OF the
great architectural centres Of the city. AS we
advance toward superior style Of houses we
shall abandon the uniformity Of four-story
brown-stone houses, all OF even width, which
marked the period of the city's growth from
Fourteenth to Fifty-nfth street. and wo shall
learn the use and beauty OF color and OF variety
Of material.
There Is no reason why we should be limited
to one style Of architecture
The massive castle-ke dwelling erected by
Mrs. Adele l.. s Stevens. on the southwest
corner Of Fifth avenue and Flfty-seventh street,
is the most recent illustration Of what we ad-
vance. II was designed Ly Messrs. Harvey a
Pauidng, architects. 4 modil cation Of the
old French chateau style In vo-ue some three
or four hundred wears ago, It H. the chief orna-
mcnt Of this fashionable locality, Astounding IN
fine houses, and promises to be a landmark for
. ftnfas q q q
remind one OF feuda times, shady plrHs and
grassy lawns. In dlmen ions it is about seven
ty-fJur feet front ON the avenue by seventy feet
deep, three stories In heisht,with Mans ard roof
built Of brick aud Cleveland stone in the way Of
trimmings. The towers constitute a marked
feature In this picturesque structure. The whole
conception is felicltOus and teaches us that the
sentiment II the beautiful can be erAtined with
forms which show great harmony and fitness,
and are sim entirely novel. The. interior is tn
ished IN hard wood, in rich, subs tlntiai man
ncr, with much solid Ddnelling aud some artistic
carving. Nothing nimsy, gaudv, or meretriciou,
ofcnds the eye Of the most 'astidous. 10
% person Of taste tho whole aspect OF
the house, both outside and inside, conveys
unmstakaoly the Idea Of centcmans resi-
dence. The building has been made substan-
tally FIRE uroof, through the medium Of hollow
Thing on the Beck with system, which forms an
efectual barrier against fire On eacu particular
story. The main stairway, o. oak, Is doutle
lath d ani Yinstercd, the private stairway ia
the tower H. OK iron. An iron roof covered with
slate precludes oil danger Of IRE from the olt.
side.
The house IS provided with an elevator
worked hy water hyir1statio NE WIFI %
goes from the first to the third story. Practical,
it Is scli-acting and runs night and day all tie
year round. These hydrostutic iift- are being of
late-enerally adopted in the more elaborate If
our modern lrst.cla-s dwellings. There are some
ten or twelve of them now in use IN this city.
The conservatory occupies prominent posi-
| tion on the second Alor. Communicating direct
y with the chief dwelling apartment The
towers not only add much to the picturesque
ness u the structure, but have been very clev-
crly adapted to practical uses.
The building was constructed n much with "a
| view TO general excellence and massive sordttY
a. elegance Of form and style. Commenced 80
the early spring Of ISL it is now just nuisled
and ready for occIphtion.
The land occupied anl attached TO this most
superb ~ New York dwellin. houses forms T.
plot Of a feet front by Is feet deep. We est-
mate it, present value, even in these times, at
SaJ)0O without brick on II.
The only other corner 81 Fifty seventh street
and Ffth avenue unbuilt on. the southeast cor
her, belongs to Robert Bonner, who owns the
whole Fifth avenue front ON She east side be-
tween Fifty-siXth and Fifty-sevonth streets We
do not know II Mr.. nlnner Offers this property
for sale, but we feel inclined to believe
that II he does. he would not ask less
than sej0o0l for IS feet front hv II
feet deep on Ff;y-seventh street, including
| his choice southeast corner Of Fifty-seVenth
street and Ffth avenue-one II the VERY
choicest corners in this city above Madison
avenue. Roughly es,imn'in, the cost of and
loss of Interest on the building durin. the proc
cess " erection az S!jlpu0, we have er ui
total u t5))ool, which Vs. think is rather under
| than over the actual expenditure incurred Tn
| the purchase Of the land and the erection Of OBJ,
| building. with tne single exception of
| what Is known as the stewart Pal cc.
on the northwest corner of FlNh avenue
| aud IairN-fourth street, Mrs. stcyones man.
sion Is the most expensive house ever built
10 tins city. Mrs. stevens T. the daughter ana
only child Of the late hr. sampson. well rsnem-
oercd los our older c't zen. a. IN aucti 1neDr in
Pearl street and ! ter a. a direct r of the Chem
| lc u nk, IN which he WIS "a heavy sto kholder.
For man, years previous To his death lac resided
| in the house on the northeast corner Il Bon
street ana NroadwIy, which WIS su7scquonuy
| demolished to make way for the magnificent
warehouse now occupied 10y Brooks Hrothcrs.
aud which forms part II the stevens estate.
! Nr SAMPSON was one u the rich men OF y u.s.
YORK.
The average New Yorker may walk up Filth
avenue, and with sell satisfaction regard rs
uniformity as the perfection OF architecturc
lie IA 8 seen nothing Iuer there can Zoe nothing.
! hncr. To him all attempts at originality and
Beauty. thlt break M the uniformity are " gin
ger bread.' butrhere are now men enough i'm