New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
N. Y. A. C.'S SPLENDID HOME.
CORNERSTONE OF THE NEW BUILDING
LAID BY PRESIDENT WHITLEY

STRUCTURES OF ITS KIND IN AMERIcA-CERE-
MONIES WATCHED BY ENTHUSIASTIC
CRowDs-BIsHoP POTTER MAKES THE
INvocATIoN-cHAuNcEy NJ. DE-
PEW on THE INFLUENCE OF
ATHLETICS
The wet and dsagreeahe weather which pre-
vailed yesterday afternoon deracted little from the
success of the ceremonies attending the laying of
the cornerstone Of the New-York Athletic Clubs
new home. at Fifty-ninth-st. and Sixth-ave.
Adequate provision for the protection of the sew
eral hundred guests from the rain had been made
by roofing In the first floor of the new building
on the northwest side. where the cornerstone was
laid. There were seated the officers and prorli-
nent members of the club. crowd of nearly
thousand people also assembled in the streets sur
rounding the building. and entered heartily into
the spirit of the ceremonies.
Among the invited guests. who were accommo-
dated with seats the platform. were representa-
tives Of numerous clubs in the city and Of the
organizations comprised In the Amateur Athletic
Union The presiding officer James Whitley.
president OF the New-York Athletic Club. and
among the guests who surrounded him were Colo
mel f. Van Wyck Chauncey NJ. Depcw. Bishop
Henry c. Potter Colonel George Moore Smith.
William y. Curtis. Jennings S. Cox. Bartow S
Weeks Walter G.. Schuyler. A. G. Mills. August
Belmont. II. Buermeyer. Albert T.. Cofax. Walter
S. Baldwin. Dr. r. Hamilton Burch. General
Thomas S. Watson. John c. Gulick. Charles T.
Goodhue James H. HGslin. Douglas Henry. Dr.
s. D. Powell Thomas f. Murtha. Howard T.
Frothngham James ID. Foot. Robert NJ. Thomp-
son. John r. Van Wormer. Walter Stanton. James
A. Lynch. C. T. Wills. Hugh II. Baxter. T.. W.
Keerney Mortimer Bishop. Augustus I. Docharty
+. d. Ames C. +. Bothner. i. l.. Howard j. Cor
don. Arthur J. Moore. l.. Poynter. G.. NJ. Breck
H. Lyons. j. A. Booth. r. c. Nicholas. DR. Samuel
~ C o,lf oil n In ms
Tho floor pentifully decorated with American
flags and tho colors of the club.
THE BUILDING DESCRIBED.
Work on tho new building has been rapidly
pushed forward. Already four stories Of the iron
work have been completed. and II Is expected that
before spring has far advanced the exterior work
will have been finished. The building which prom
ises TO be one OF the finest athletic clubhouses In
the country will have a frontage on tho Park OF
l20 feet another Of 100 feet on Sixth-ave.. and a
depth OF 200 feet. II will be eight stories high.
From tho drawing OF the new clubhouse 1t Is seen
that the architecture Is somewhat Moorish IN
STYLE and the color effects have been selected with
a view 10 making harmonious contrast to tho
green masses OF foliage Of the Park and the nd-
tnccnt brownstone buildings. The first story Will
be l.gh. red stone claboraely carved over the
main entrance Tho brick used above will be
thin Pompeiian of salmon tone with black mot
things and mingled In which will be terra Gotta
ornamentations OF rich design. The distance
from the sidewalk to tho top OF tho cornice OF tho
building will be 10 feet.
Provision has been made for six bowling gal
ler,es with accommoda tons for spectators. in the
basement. In order that no noise from these may
penetrate to other parts Of the house. tho alleys
Will be unnellod under the sidewalk Another feature
OF the basement will bc commodious Turkish
baths with n separate plunge bath. The entrance
hall Of the building Will be thirty-cight feet wide.
and will extend through the centre 1t will be deco
rated with mosaic tiling and fancy marble. The
library opens from this hall. and also the reccp-
tion-room behind which is the coatroom and OPP
posi,e across the hall. the Offices. In addition at
the Fifty-elgh,h-st. entrance will be runway for
bicycles and storage-room where 10 wheels can
be accommodated.
Tho second floor contains nm enormous billiard
and the principal smoking and lounging
apartment OF the club. The third floor Will be
given up TO bedrooms and the fourth entirely 10
the gymnasium. which Will be the finest seon IN
this part Of tho world. Tho NTH floor has a run
ming track. sixteen laps 10 the mile and seven feet
wide: the sixth floor the locker rooms. shower and
massage rooms: the seventh floor the dining rooms.
and the top noor eight or ten private dining-rooms
and four bachelor apartments. 1t Is also planned
to have roof garden.
HOW 1T WILL BE PAID FOR.
In order TO ra,so the additional funds necessary
for the completion OF tho building. the club has
offered 20 life memberships at so each this being
n reduction OF 500 from the former Appllca-
tons 1t Is said are already coming in with crafty
ing rapidly. The feature which appeals mos,
strongly to the members In this project is that
tho life memberships practically undcrwrite tho
prosperity OF the organization because OF the vest
ed interest thereby created. Pending the sale OF
these life memberships the club has authorized tho
issuance OF short debcnturo bonds. bearing per
cent interest which will be redeemed the life
memberships are taken.
In Its history and achievements the club possesses
an interesting record. The first steps toward It's
organization were taken at a meeting held In Au-
gust 1863 and articles OF incorporation wero fled In
April 1870 In 1879 the club membership 10
active members and nine honorary members. and In
February 1856 the first athletic clubhouse built In
this country was opened by 1t at Fifty yfth-st and
Sixth-ave. The present membership OF the club Is
2e29
THE CEREMONIES.
For fully an hour before the opening OF yesterdays
ceremonies. guests and members began 10 gather
until there were fully five six hundred present.
Bishop Potter. who was att.rod In fun acadcmical
robes offered the prayer OF Invocation. asking that
the brotherhood Of the club might in the future be
even more deeply cemcnted than In the past. and that
al all times the guiding hand OF the Almighty might
be seen In the work. aims and Advancement OF the
club President Whitley then briefly alluded to the
minor difficulties that were encountered In the new
prospect hut added that they had been overcome in
every direction. and the work proceeding sat
sfactorly that by October next the house would be
ready for occupancy. Mr. Whitley finally congratu-
lated the members Of the club and others who were
engaged in the enterprise upon the certain success
full outcome OF their efforts.
Barlow s. Weeks then announced that there would
be placed a cavity in the cornerstone of the
OF the club. Its first
constitution Its present constitution club SEAL list
Of all the officers. and members since its organiza-
ZION a history OF the cub. and documents relat-
ing 10 the new house The ceremony OF laying the
was then performed by President White
~ with silver trowel presented TO him ny the mem
hers OF the club He declared the stone laid In tho
following words: II have tried this stone. and find
i, level and square and declare 1t well and truly laid
MR.. DEPEW'S SPEECH
The address delivered by Chauncey NJ De-
new who said In part: "Thc laying OF the corner