The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-15
PRESIDENTS IN STONE.
The Odd Blu lding Erected bv q Patriotl
(iczen OF New York.


The Odd Blu lding Erected bv q Patriotic
tiSzen OF New York.
Patriotism inspired during the re-.
cent centennial celebration of Wash.
1ngton'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 a
rule prefer to follow the plans of the
ancient Caesars, and consider it quite q
cOndescensiOn to come down to anv
thing so modern as the French renais.
sance or the times of Queen Ann. but
there is one builder in town who is
satisfied with the history of the Re-
public as an inspiration for an archi-
tectural design. The result is 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
height and two city lots in width. The
front is of Connecticut brown-stone.
and over each window is the massive
carved head of a President. Each
mead 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 cary
ing is remarkable for it's accuracy tn
the likenesses of the Presidents. Il ia
the work of Albert Brewer, a gradu-
ate of the Cooper Union Art School.
He 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 a 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 of
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 oornice
of the building is surmounted by
large American eagle with outstretch-
ed wings, and with talons clutching
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 stone-carver
deftly chipping out Presidents Y.
Mail and Express.