The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
Yerkes Art Gallery.
Intended as a
Monument to His
Memory. to Be Razed;
Priceless Treasures
Scattered to the Four
Corners of the Earth;
A Sordid End to a
Beautiful Dream.

pT~ HE last vestige of the dream OF Immortal 1ams
that was Charles T. Yerkes' Is about to be DO
stroyed. Announcement is made of this in
brief dispatch received recently from New York
city, in which stated that the art gallery attached
to the former residence the late traction magnafe
is to be torn and the grounds converted into an
Italian garden by the present owner, Thomas T. RYAN
It was this art gallery that Yerkes hoped would rival
in time the ereat art museums of the world was to
bear his name and thus he would leave monument to
his memory to Withstand the ravages OK tho ages
1t was to be testimony to his name as lover
of art for although Yerkes spent most Of his dramatic
life dealing with moneymakers yet this buccaneer OF
fortune" as he was called, gifted with remark
able taste for the beautiful.
Millions were spent that his dream might come true;
the countries of the world levied upon for their
art treasures and his will provided endowment that
was intended ultimately to represent fund OF Soooo
Oo0 It was wonderful vision that this man would
have made reality; but when the time came for Its
realization the whole scheme fell like house OF cards.
Garden Replaces Gallery
The gallery itself, which Is to disappear, to be
replaced by Italian garden for another " wizard
of high finance" really portion of the Yerkes res
dence at Fifth avenue and Sixty-eighth street. 1t
was intended by the late Mr. Yerkes that the gallery
and residence should be converted into !" Yerkes
Museum of Fine Arts" but with the breaking up of
the estate both buildings sold to Robert d. Dow
ling for 81 239 000 and later that portion of the
ground upon which the gallery stood was purchased
by Mr.. Ryan,
Ryans house at s5s Fifth touches the art
gallery, which will be razed One of the decora-
tons of the Ryan garden will be the famous white
marble staircase which stands at the entrance to the
gallery.
When the plans Of the residence and art gallery
suggested with all their gorgeous oriental splen-
dor aud masses Greek workmanship architects and
artists shrugged their shoulders and designers smiled
their dsapproval of anything bizarre but when the
buildings completed the interiors said by
America.
Priceless Treasures Collected.
The gallery proper occupied the extreme end of the
house, extending stories up the interior finish If
highly polished wood and the lighting perfect. 1t
taned the treasures of the world in paintings and
sculpture, and tapestries and which cost fortune
collect. Some idea of their value Is obtained when
it known that forced sale the collection brought
almost two and a quarter million dollars!
The house and Its were bequeathed to the
people of New York city, although be transferred
formally until after his widow had enjoyed life use
Of them. And he provided fund to maintain the
place But he died suddenly and the
fortune which had been estimated at $4,000 SlO-
100000, mad $150O0yOOo enmeshed in a tangle
Of financial complications.
Even the widow, who had lived most unhappy
domestic life, often pressed sorely ready cash.
and it is said that her death in 1911 the result
OF broken heart-she died to continuous series
of dsappoinments. The courts ordered the OF the
residence and the galleries with all they contained And
thus the end of a vision Of ideasm sordid as
the dream was beautiful.