854 Fifth Avenue - New York

As a center for most things, excepting politics for the latter half of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century in America, it sems appropriate to begin in New York. And while little residential architecture of that period upon which I choose to focus survives in New York, a few pieces survive here and there. This is one of the few survivors.

Following a deadly fire on April 7, 1899, which killed thirteen, the red brick and brownstone trimmed, four story Queen Anne style house which was originally built at 854 Fifth Avenue in 1867, lay in ruins until it was sold on May 25, 1903, to Robert Livingston “Livie” Beeckman for $317,000.

 

 

On October 15^th of that same year, Warren & Wetmore filled plans for new five story Beaux-Arts style residence with an English basement for Beeckman, which was to cost $60,000, with New York City Building Department on the 30'5" by 120' lot. The house was completed in 1905.

 

Beeckman, was a New York stockbroker who would go on to become the governor of Rhode Island in 1915. His family owned the financial firm Lapsley Beeckman & Co., and Beeckman left school at the age of sixteen to become a stockbroker. At age 21, Beeckman became one of the youngest ever members of the New York Stock Exchange, and by 1916, he retired from the brokerage business. After this time, Beeckman served as a member of the board of directors of several corporations, including the Industrial Trust Company, Newport Trust Company, International Silver Company, and the Newport Casino.

 

Beeckman was also an avid sportsman, known for his skill on the polo field and tennis court and was seen as an icon in the “American world of fashion and sport”

 

Beeckman married Eleanor N. Thomas, daughter of General Samuel Russell Thomas, on October 8, 1902, at her father's country residence "The Towers" at Ardsley-on-the-Hudson.

In the Summer of 1903 Beeckman purchased "Land's End" in Newport.

In February 1906 Beeckman began a long-term lease of the Stowe mansion and estate in Wheatley Hills, Long Island.

Beeckman also owned a winter home in Providence, Rhode Island.

In addition to these houses, Beeckman also made use of a private railroad car owned by the Pullman Company, "Mayflower," which they used for travel to and from Palm Beach.

The Beeckman House features original Gilded Age details created by master artisans at the turn of the 20th century. Of note are the hand-carved, white marble balustrades modelled after the staircase in Versailles, considered the inspiration for the home, and 17 ornate fireplaces throughout the residence. 

Beeckman was quite the club man, and was a member of the Knickerbocker Club, Union Club, Meadow Brook Club, Racquet & Tennis Club, Riding Club, The Brook, West Chester County Club, Automobile Club of America, Turf & Field Club, Garden City Golf Club, Whist Club, Tennis & Racquet Club of Boston, and Metropolitan Club of Washington. His wife was a member of the Colony Club.

By early 1910, Beeckman let the house to Benjamin Thaw, Jr., a Pittsburgh banker.

A few years later, in February 1912, Beeckman sold the house to George Grant Mason for $700,000.

In April 1926 the house was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Henry White for $450,000, to occupy in the Autumn of 1926. Mrs. White (Emily Thorn Vanderbilt) was the widow of William Douglas Sloane and granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Mrs. White made her own mark on the house adding cherub details to the moldings and angelic ceiling frescos.

After her death in 1946, the house was sold to Yugoslavia.