The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-14
GRIFFITH THOMAS, ARCHITECT.

GluFFiTH TdOMAS, AkChlTECf.
Mr.. Griffith Thomas, one OF the best known archi-
tecs in New York-the man, in fact, who in the lam
guage of the leading property owners of this city,
.'las than any else helped to build up this
city during the past forty years"--died at his resi-
dence in Fifth avenue at ABOUT midnight on Sat
urday Mr.. Thomas born in London in 1890
from Welsh descent. He studied there the first prn
cpes of the profession to which he devoted his fe
arrived in this country when only eighteen years
OF agc. His first efforts in New Haven where he
erected o magnificent of houses OF peculiar and
original design, which stamped the young Englishnan
whose talents would not be lost in this country
Eager for larger field of operations he moved to
New York, where his father Thomas Thomas, had al
ready preceded him. Mr.. Griffith Thomas, how
ever took charge OF the business. and counted
among his patrons the Volts. the Bishops. the Dar-
NUNS, the Ciscos. the Johnsons and Marshall O..
Roberts, for all of whom he erected mansions in diff
ferent parts of the city. Moses Taylor and the
Astors. pleased with his work. also gave him their
patronage. believer in the value OF iron fronts
soon induced many owners of business property to
change the mode of architecture and to use different
material than marble. which. until his innovation.
had been generally adopted in the construction Of
large warehouses; 1t will be remembered what
novel sensation he created In broadway when he first
erected Lord 4 Tuylors building on the corner
of Grand street, which has since passed
into other hands. Not much time elapsed
before other architects followed the example Of
Thomas but the leading iron structures in New York
to-day his design and his work The Domestic
Sewing Machine Building. at the of Broadway
and Fourteenth street; the Potter Building, ut the
corner OF Eighth street and Lafayette place. and
Arnold, Constable 4 Co. s warehouse Nineteenth
street, extending from Broadway TO Fifth avenue
oil erected by Mr.. Griffith Thomas. Among
other prominent buildings standing in our public
thoroughfares rs products Of his skill the Park
Bank building on Broadway; the Now York Life In
COnnaly m RrnaH
way aud Leonard street; DIR. Springs well known
Brick Church. Duncan's building in Union square.
the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, the Twenty
Street Baptist Church, the Greenwich Savings Bank
in sixth avenuc the Chemical Bank. in Broadway; the
Mount Sinai Hospital. the Woncn's Hospital and
otEcr structures OF more or less note 1t through
period OF forty years OF active life architect
that the deceased left his mark almost every lead
ing thoroughfare in our metropolis. He designed
and planned for Mr.. Amos Il. Emo and his associates
the Fifth Avenue Hotel IL exists at present. Mr..
Thomas began the construction of this building ana
carried on successfully until the fourth story had
been reached. The Emo family, approcatng tho vast
expense connected with the erection of the structure
began ~ look out for tonant and finally secured
Mr.. Paran stevens. The latter made it condition
that the building should be finished TO suit him. and
for that purpose insisted that all those previously
engaged the work should be reno yed the architect
Included. MIR. Thomas desiring TO throw obsta
clos in the way of those who had undertaken the
vast enterprise, surrendered his work Mr. stevens
new architect, who changed nothing of the ground
plan or the original design of the structure He had
the satisfaction. however, afrerward of being en-
gagged as the architect of the Stevens family and con
structcd the fine Fifth avenue mansion for Mrs.
paran stevens In the language OF bro Their arcni-
tect Mr. Griffith Thomas had 'tne cream of the
business In New York" Domestic ahiiction how
saddened the last few years OF his active lie.
Two bright sons, Faulkner and Griffith Thomas,
were carried away by sickness, the ut thirty tho
other at twentysix years of age. The father, ever
since these aictions, i'll ls72was more like himself
Nevertheless. ho kept working steadily, only
passing occasionally few pleasant hours with init
mate friends. On Friday morning last he
with u rush of blood to tho head loot
and expired peacefully at about nidnighton saturday
In the presence of his sorrowing widow lady well
known In New York society. Tho funeral will take
place from the residence No. W Fifth avenue when
ltcv. Drs. Duryee aud Macarthur will oiiciate and
te remains be conveyed 10 the family vault Green
wood.