Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-07
TIE ART GALLERY.
Sketch OF Its Eonnder-Descriptio o
the Building and Its Art Treasures.

= Sketch OF Its EOuEder-DescriPtiO OF
the Building and Its Art Treasures.
Judge Edwin Bryant Croker, the found
er Of the magnificent gallery of art which
has now-by the liberality of the lady in
whose honor this grand testimonial was
giyen-been donated to the city. was a ma
tive of O5wcgo, n. Y, where he was born
April %, 1918. While q child his parents
removed to Troy, where he graduated at an
early age from the Van Rensselaer, Insti-
tute as civil engineer. This profession be
followed, in connection with railroad build
ing, until 1886, when he removed with his
fathers family to Indiana. They settled in
the then almost wilderness of Marshall
county, cleared 3 farm and engaged in the
occupation of agriculture Soon firing of
the dullness OF farm life, however, Young
Croker removed to South Bend and tool;
up the study of law. His progress was
rapid, and III 1912 he was admitted TO the
bar. He continued the practice of liis pro-
fessiOn until 1852, when he removed 10
California and at once located in Sacra-
mcnto. In 1863 he was appointed by Gov
ernor Stanford to the vacancy on the
supreme Dtilitl CduSCu ljy tIlb ItSi8ilGtiSll
of Chief Justice Field, which position
he filed with marked ability and
credit His opinions have withstood
the test of time and remain to-day
among the soundest expositions of law in
the history of litigation i'll this State.
On retiring from the bench he be-
came the leading counsel for the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company His
laboTs IN this new field were Of the most
arduous character, and it was in their dis
charge that he brought on those ailments
that few years later cut short his life and
robbed the State Of one of its brightest and
profoundest legal minds He had mean
time become one OF the Directors of the
company, and the success Of that great en-
terprise in surrounding the stupendous
difficulties that beset its lncorporators in
the early days Of its struggle, was to q
highly honorable extent due to Judge
Crocker's abilities and foresight.
In 1869, at the close of long and ardu-
Gus legal struggle in behalf of the railroad
into which he entered with all the zeal and
ardor Of his nature-andi in which, as usual,
success crowned his labors-he was stricken
with paralysis; and, though he partially
recovered therefrom, his days Of usefulness
in his profession were ended. Being pos
next few years TO travel, and visited all the
chief countries of the Old World. Judge
CroCler was always Al ardent lover of art,
and it was during these years of travel
abroad-while visiting the great art CEN
terS Of EGrope-that he was enabled to
crafty his tastes in that direction; and he
accordingly purchased largely Of the
choicest works that money could obtain.
Before returning to America he commits
stoned agents abroad TO visit the galleries
and museums from time to time and Sc
cure for him the finest works of art TO be
had; and thus he laid the foundation fer
the splendid collection Of art treasures that
has for the last decade been one of the
Chief attractions of the Capital city of Cali
fornia, and which has challenged the ad-
,niration OF visitors Including the best of
critics. from all quarters of the globe
Judge Croker died in this city on the
Gath day Of June, 1875, surrounded by his
family and deeply mOurned not only BY
the community in which he had lived for q
quarter OF century, but by the people of
the entire State. in whose early history he
igured so conspicuously and with so much
honor to himself Resolutions were
adopted by the Bar Association Of Sacra-
monto and Of the Supreme Court III which
lhe memory, the virtues and ability of the
deceased jurist were tittingly commence
'ated. The funeral procession was one of
he largest ever witnessed in Sacramento,
md was attended by people from many
parts Of the State, attestng tie great esteem
II which Judge CrOcker had been held by
Ill classes Of people. Rev. l. i. Dwinell
an eloquent and touching eulogy
Upon the character of the deceased. The
were Leland Stanford, c. z.
B. B. Redding, s s. Monta-
que, Jerome Madden, H. O. Beatty and A.
I. Towne. The remains were deposited in
he family plat in the City Cemetery where
chaste and handsome monument mark
heir resting-place.
THE ART GALLERY.
The construction of the Art Gallery was
early in the year 1871, and |
hortly after Judge CroCker's return from !
lis prOtracted journeyinFs in Europe II !
lad for some time been the favorite project |
o establish here in the city of his adoption |
gallery Of art that would compare favor |
bly, with any private collection in the !
world and in order TO accomplish this he |
ound it necessary to erect a building |
pecially suited 10 the purpose Of properly |
displaying the pictures and sufficiently !
to receive the vast collection |
ghich itw his hope to finally secure. The |
rst thing necessary TO do was to secure
Ossession Of the entire block of ground |
his splendid mansion, and
his was finally accomplished, the owners
f lots and buildings on the Second and P |
treets sides being amply repaid for their
The quarter block (i60 feet front |
a o street and an equal frontage on Sec
nd Immediately in the rear of the family
esidence was set apart for the purposes of
nc Art Gallery, and Judge Croker at
nee placed the matter in the hands
f the well-known architect, Seth |
,abson. As before stated, work on the
ructure was begun in 1871, and it was not
ntil two and half years afterward that it
as ready for the reception Of the treasures
lat were to be consigned TO its keeping.
Though the building and its contents
ave, within the last ten years, become IA
liliar not only to Sacramentans, but to
lousands of residents of other parts of the
tate-many of whom have come to Sac
smento for the sole purpose of viewing
re building and its art collection-a brief
escription thereof may not be without in
rest at this time. The structure is of what
known as the Italian style of architecture
plain and massive, but impressing one
it'll q sense of that quiet grandeur and
ltid " Oih nulCI - 50 plSstSiiisSs 10 tuc large
ass of people whose tastes run counter to
le cheap and gaudy, either in architecture
otherwise.
The Gallery, which is fre-proof through
It-except, of course, the interior wood
n frontage of 81 feet on 0 street, ,
I'd extends back along Second street TO a .
,pth OF 122 feet The walls are of brick,
70 and half feet thick, and the entire
ructure is of the most solid character
ON basement to roof The main en-
ance is to the second floor, and is reached D..
7 short fight of stone steps from the .
rect level to the top of the terrace sur
unding the building. But what is known :,
the basement is really the first story, I
ing on the level of the street. This is
ached by notwithstanding steps from
e terrace and consists of a billiard-room :
ID what has been designated as skating c
TX and bowling alley. In the rear of the a
tier is the heating-room, laundry, etc.
lie entire building is warmed BY the ap- t
ratus in the heating room, which is Pc ?
liarly constructed, and by which the heat f
regulated by automatic process The f
ors Of the billiard. room and skating a
* are of matched woods and laid with fl