Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-19
PRESIDENTS IN s1oN<
"o v"d bu lding Erected by \ Patrlotls
si~zen Of New YOrk

WI" nu ldinR krectod BY Patriotic
sisxen Of New York.
Patriotism inspired during the re.
cent centennial celebration OF Wash.
ington's Inauguration has shown itself
IN many ways. But probably the most
unique and most lasting result ia
evidenced In building on Lexington
avenue Architects and builders as 4
RUE prefer to follow the plans OF the
ancient Caesars, and consider 1t quite
condescension to come down tn anv
thing SO modern as the French renais-
sance or the times of Queen Ann, but
there Is one builder in town who il
SATISFIED with the history of the Re-
public as an inspiration for an arcbi.
tectural design. The result is a build.
Ing called the President"
1t is on the east side OF Lexington
avenue, one door above Twenty.
seventh street. 1t is five stories in
neight and two city lots in width. The
front is OF Connecticut brown-stone.
and over each window is the massive
carved head of President. Each
head forms part OF the window cor.
nice. and is not merely carved in re-.
lief' but stands out entirely free from
the front OF the building The carv-
ing Is remarkable for its accuracy to
the likenesses Of the Presidents. It lie
the work OF Albert Brewer, a gradu-
ate OF the Cooper Union Art School.
lie was at work on the cad OF
washington which crowns the arch
over the entrance when a reporter
called. A frail scaffolding barely CIV
ing him room to turn around was sus.
pended In front of the head that his
chlsel was rapidly cutting out from
the rough brownstone. On each side
OF Washington. and over the windows
OF the first floor. are the heads of the
two martyrs. Lincoln and Garfield.
Underneath the window is devise OF
an eagle with spears and flags in re-
lief.
The columns supporting the arch
over the entrance have for capitals the
heads of Indians, with their sharply
defined features. Above the windows
OF the second story are heads of Grant.
the the sphinx; the benevolent feat
ures OF Zachary Taylor, the placid
countenance of James Monroe, and
the stern face of Thomas Jeffer-
son. The windows of the third story
bear the massive features of John
Adams. the sharp countenance of An
drew jackson, the head of James X.
Polk, and the benevolent features Of
John Quincy Adams
On the next story are the heads oil
President Harrison and ex Presidents
Hayes, Cleveland and Buchanan. From
the top story Van Buren,, Ty er, Madi-
son and Pierce look down on their
comrades below. The massive cornice
OF the building is surmounted by a
large American eagle with outstretch.
ed wings, and with talons clutchine
the typical bunch of arrows. The tiles
in the vestibule form the Stars and
Stripes in beautiful design. and many
other patriotic inspirations are carried
out in different parts of the structure
The novel design originated with Mr..
William Broadbelt. the owner. He
explained to the reporter that the Cen
tennial celebration suggested to him
the idea of putting up building in
the centennial year which would re.
mind the passer-by OF the first century
of the Republic. The building is in
tended for an apartment house, and
the interior is elegantly finished
throughout. 1t is already being Wis
tied by sightseers, and the opposite
sidewalk is usually blocked by small
audience watching the stoue-carver
deity chipping out Presidents. N. Y.
Mail and Express.