New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-11
Il COMPOSITE CHURCH.
Materials from -Four We'll KnOzCn
Buildings Incorporated an 1t.

The new church OF Our Lady OF Lourdes. IN One
Just east OF Arnster-
dam-ave.. in respects resembles the coat or
many colors given by Pharaoh to Joseph II IS
probably the most elaborate piece OF architectural
patchwork in New-York City. and possibly IN the
United States Both on account Of its site and the
second hand materials Of which it is constructed,
the building IS full of interesting history 1t stands
on ground that once was part OF the premises OF
Alexander Hamilton In the early morning the shad-
ows Of the decayng black gum trees planted BY the
famous Federalist fall upon the eastern wall OF
the odd looking edihce. and at midday IN winter.
when the is lowest. the shadow OF the old
Hamilton residence a school, Just be-
low One-hundred- rty-second-st. in Convent
ave. will almost reach the churchl
The walls are largely composed OF the materials
OF the Old Academy of Design, demolished only
a year ago to make for the big extension OF
the Metropolitan Life Insurance Building. at Tween
ty-third-st and FOurth-ave The tiger striped
arches Of the windows OF the academy have been
transferred bodily TO Washington Heights. there to
cause odtmers of the next decade to rub their
eyes and rack their brains for memory OF where
they that building before. But even that IS
not all. On the east side OF the church. and on
the One-hundred-an -fortythird-st. end. are win
dows and pinnacles that many oIdtime travellers
up and down Madison-ave. will have worry
their hair gray in trying to remember. They
the windows and pinnacIes that were the archi-
tectural features OF the temporary east gable OF
St Patricks Cathedral When the end OF the build
Ing was taken out about q year ago, for the
struction OF the Lady Chapel. the euterprising
priest who presides the parish Of Our Lady OF
Lourdes recognized its utility and appropriateness
additional feature OF his reconstructed Acad-
envy OF Design, and improved his opportunity TO
transfer It bodily to the heights overlooking the
Harlem.
All these things. however were not enough 70
satisfy the good priest. There were IN the pile O.,
second hand building material from which his
church was selected some choice bits from the old
A 7. Stewart mansion. and they also were secured
and are TO be built into the unique structure
They however are not such O5trusive features Of
the exterior the old Academy windows and the
big window and tho pinnacles OF the Cathedral
Only the priest and the builder perhaps could point
them out The most startling feature OF the ex-
terror decoration OF the Church OF Our Lady OF
LOurdes IS tall triangle OF Cathedral or Stewart
mansion water table or coping projecting from the
Academy Of Design south wall For architectural
holiness. without regard for consequences this bit
Of ornamentatiOn Is without parallel here and
possibly elsewhere.
Father Joseph McIahon. the rector OF the parish
Is. young man of great enterprise. who IS per-
fecuy willing that the critics shall carp to their
heartS content about his building. tie is erecting
II TOR the glory of God and the good OF man, and
the worst he has TO say 10 those who laugh at his
Odd building is: Well. my good man. II you don't
like the looks from the outside. come in when we
you better
Speaking OF the design Father NcNahon said.
We shall have a picturesque house OF worship or
historic ground. Probably shall later want one
larger and more pTetentOus than this but / think
we shall not suffer In our composite church. which
has, OF course, less than one equally large ans
comfortable would have cost n The stors TaS bes1
especially quarr1ed and dressed 20 order. The late
Archbishop COrrlgan gave rs the rear wall Of the
cathedral and We bought the Academy stone at a
which the front and side walls are built above the
nrst story was secured at a very reasonable price,