New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-24
MAY SHOCK NEW YORK
First SteeI-Frame SkysCraper
Built in Chicago, 1t Is SAID.
IT WAS CALLED TACOMA
George T. Mortimer Tells why
It Was Put Up and by Whom
in the Windy City.

George T. Mortimer, vlce-president o.
the United States Realty and Improve
ment Company, has an article about the
first and present day skyserapers IN the
last issue of zine Real Estate Maya
zine" "The first steel skeleton building
was erected in Chicago, in 1881 says MI
Mortimer. "and therefore the ROVER
Building. in lower Broadway, is not tie
original structure Of this class.
Impressed with the material loss oil
rentabIe space involved in the erection Oh
buildings built by the old method, Where
tho masonry carried the burden OF the
structure, and, spurred on by the ehoi
Gus increase in values Of lana IN inc
"Ioop." or business section, Of chicago
some of the local architects gave the mat
ter their attention And in 1888 Messrs'
Holabird & Roche, who had gone INTO tue
matter with George A. Fuller, local en-
rineer and bullder, evolved the plans FOR
the Tacoma Building, which was punt
by the George A. Fuller Company II was
the first skeleton steel building.
This building was situated at La sane
and Madison streets, Chicago, occupying
a lot 100 by 100 feet, and was twelve
stories high.
prior to this time, however, Jenny
Mundie had used some Of the principles
involved in the Tacoma Building in the
erection Of the Home Insurance BulldInS'
also in Chicago.
This statement will be somewhat OF a
shock to many New Workers, as it is the
popular conception there that the Tower
Building. at No, 80 Broadway, was the
first skeleton frame building, and that
Bradford Lee Gilbert, the architect OF
that building was the father Of the sky
scraper.
LAS the Tacoma Building was built In l8'J
and the Tower Building not until loo9'
they will have 10 yield their claim with
graceful reluctance to Chicago.
The circumstances surrounding the
erection Of the Tower Building, however,
are interesting, and the comparison Illus
trates more than words can express the
tremendous development Of New York IS
skyline since the Tower Building was
erected.
John Noble Stearns was the owner OF
a lot at No. 30 Broadway. The lot was so
narrow that he feared that he would be
unable to improve it in such manner
that il would return an adequate income.
In his dilemma ne. turned to his friend,
the architect, Bradford Lee Gilbert, who
recommended the steel frame structure,
which had never been tried in New York,
and in 1858 Stearns authorized him to so
ahead
During the erection Of the building, and
especially during the winter when the
winds were high, Stearns received many
letters protesting against the folly Of the
some Of them from engineers
Of high standing. who condemned Gil
bert IN no uncertain language.
zone Sunday, when the steel work was
about completed. it happened that the
velocity OF the wind was extra high, and
a large number OF people went to the
building expecting to see ii fall
AT this time Gilbert, TO assure the peo-
pie Of his confidence in the enterprise,
climbed to the top with the owner, in the
presence of the crowd. Mrs. Gilbert, in
telling OF this. says:
ON reaching the street they marched
no Broadway. arm i'm arm. singing the
Doxology to tho amazement OF the parish
toner's Of Trinity Church, who were just
coming out"
THE Tower Building. eleven stories high,
was in 1889 the skyscraper' Of New
York. to-day it is a structure OF such in
significance that doubt IL many Of you
have noticed It's existence.
Born Of necessity on account Of the ris-
ing values Of land i'm the business SC
ton OF the larger cities, the skyscraper
has developed rapidly, both in height, APP
pointments and artistic effect. The twelve
story Tacoma Building developed into
the 7OO-foot Metropolitan Tower. now sur
REAL ESTATE.