The Visiting List

It took time for all of Fifth Avenue along Central Park to be developed and this block of Fifth Avenue was not developed until 1899 when four French Beaux-Arts houses at 1006, 1007, 1008, and 1009 Fifth Avenue were under construction. While 1006 Fifth Avenue was designed by Richard W. Buckley  and built for William H. and Katherine T. Gelshenen , the three houses at 1007, 1008, and 1009 Fifth Avenue were built as a group under the same building permit and were completed in 1901. Designed by the firm of Welch, Smith & Provot, they were constructed for William W. Hall and Thomas M. Hall, prominent New York City builders and developers.  The two houses at 1006 and 1007 Fifth Avenue were demolished in 1972 and the much-altered house at 1008 Fifth Avenue was demolished in February 1977. From Left to Right, 1009, 1008, 1007 and 1006 Fifth Avenue 1009 Fifth Avenue Today The surviving house at 1009 Fifth Avenue, like the others in the row built by Hall & Hall, was built on spe...

To many New Yorkers living during the Gilded Age, Louis Sherry was synonymous with Delmonico's. In fact, Delmonico's was the one business which Louis Sherry himself was happy to consider a rivial.  In 1896 work began on a new building for Sherry and on October 8, 1898, he re-opened his business uptown in a predominantly residential neighborhood on the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and West 44th Street. Shortly thereafter Delmonico's would follow and would set themselves up across the street. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, the 11-story apartment building was the new home to Louis Sherry, which occupied the first three floors of the building. Built of a steel frame, the  façade  was made of cut limestone in the style of the  Renaissance .  Main Entrance on West 44th Street The special feature of Sherry's was a large ballroom, which with an accessory of halls and anterooms, occupied the entire third floor of the building, with the dancing space proper...

It is hard not to consider Delmonico's when discussing American cuisine. Delmonico's was the beginning of fine dining in America. In addition to the famous Delmonico steak and Delmonico potatoes, Delmonico's has also been attributed as the originator of Chicken a la King, Eggs Benedict, and Lobster Newberg.  Delmonico's first opened in 1827 at 23 William Street. The restaurant moved several times before settling at 56 Beaver Street in August 1837. Eventually spreading to four locations by the same name in New York between 1865 and 1888.  In the mid-1890s it was decided to move Delmonico's uptown, and land was leased from Theodore Augustus Havemeyer at the north-east corner of Fifth Avenue and West 44th Street. (This is the same Theodore Havemeyer  who owned "Friedheim" which was previously discussed  here .) Designed by James Brown Lord, on March 17, 1897 plans for the new building were filed with New York City Building Department. The front of the buildin...

All built environments are made up of more than just houses. From government buildings, to shops, to recreational facilities, we are surrounded by structures to provide for the support of our houses and lives. In this blog I will investigate some of these other buildings as well. At the beginning of the 20th century, horses were still a major part of American life, not just for transportation, but also for recreation. And in many cities, facilities for recreational were built in proximity to public parks where riders could access the bridle paths which were laid out for their use. Founded in 1881 as the Gentlemen's Riding Club at the old Dickel Riding School at Fifth Avenue and 39th Street, its name was changed in 1883 to the Riding Club. Soon after its 1883 re-organization, the club too possession of a new $60,000 clubhouse on 58th Street nearby Central Park. When this clubhouse was built, the private entrance was on 58th street, and the entrance for riders was on 59th street....

Continuing our look at the houses of Fifth Avenue, we have another early 20th century residence opposite Central Park. Built by speculators John T. and James A. Farley between 1900 and 1901 on a 25' x100' lot, 991 Fifth Avenue was designed by James R. Turner and William G. Killian. This five story Beaux-Arts style house with American basement, features a rusticated limestone base, with the first three floors bowed out creating a stone-balustraded balcony on the fourth floor. This bowed feature allowed for additional light to flood the house not only from the west, but also the north and south. Ruddy-colored brick, with carved limestone detailing is used for the exterior of these three floors. The house is finished with a dramatic slate mansard roof with three elegant copper-clad dormers. In May 1901, the house was purchased by Mrs. Edward King (Mary Augustus LeRoy), widow of Mr. Edward King, for $225,000. Mrs. King also maintained a house in Newport and was a member of th...