In the turn of the twentieth century, American architects were trying out new and innovative architectural designs. They were both wealthy and daring with the work they did such that they came up with the beautiful works that adorn American landscapes and especially some landmark city scape. The James B. Duke House is one such endeavor that was the product of a wealthy owner and a brilliant architect.
James Buchanan Duke, one of the founders and was the president of American Tobacco Company, and his wife Nanaline, were the original owners of the house situated on 1 East 78th Street, Northeast corner at Fifth Avenue. After he bought the original house which was known as the Henry H. Cook mansion, he demolished it in order to build the house he desired. The house still stands and was donated to the New York University’s Institution of Fine Arts in the 1950s. In January this year, the Institute of fine arts celebrated the house’s one hundredth anniversary. The house was designed in 1909 by the architect Horace Trumbauer who was a well renowned for his works for example Eleanor Elkins Widener mansion, Edward C. Knight mansion and James E. Watson mansion. He was mainly known for designing residential mansions for the affluent.
The Duke house situated in the Millionaire’s Row is a brilliant example of a detached mansion in New York City. The super-rich men of the turn of the century New York commonly known as the Robber Barons, many of them like the affluent owner of this mansion had town houses that they used for their entertainment needs and as such these houses both showed a wealth in architectural design as well as interior embellishments. The New York Millionaire’s’ Row is a fine example of affluence and still shows this characteristics to date.
Its architectural design is based on orthodox French architecture and it bears a stunning similarity to the 18th century Hôtel Labottière and another very elegant and very graceful townhouse, the Commonwealth Fund, at 1 East 75th Street. It has a protrusive middle entry way with sculptural aggrandizement especially on the roof which is bordered with more ascetic wings. These wings make the entrance, clear by its own moderation, all the more effective. The frontage is simple and its unusual windows located on its two floors are one of its principals. The windows have overstated and level panels between them with a horizontal piece in the form of a profound stringcourse separating the two floors. In addition to this, its sides are grey and rustic establishing a bay at the second floor. Columns adorn both the entrance and the above decorations create a monument of the New York cityscape.
It was constructed of extraordinarily fine limestone and of architectural brilliance is that it appears to be two storied but hidden from sight is the attic. It is characterized with ceilings of generous proportions. The walls are characterized with large windows that adorn the house giving it its elegance. In addition to the simple design of the windows, a wide range of architectural additions for example balustrades, iron guards on windows, impeccable paneling, the plain elegance and the roof cornice all emphasize the elegance that went into the building.
This building and many more like it that were built for the wealthy at this post-civil war period were a fine example of the American dream. The family of James Duke, his wife and their daughter were a family not predominantly wealthy. James Duke was born in a lowly North Carolina farm where he horned tobacco preservation skills and was instrumental in starting the cigarette industry. The mansion in the city was a way to showcase his finesse and also a testament of his achievements.
Bibliography
Boyer, Christine. Manhattan Manners: Architec- ture and Style, 1850-1900. New York: Rizzoli Inter- national Publications, 1985.
Dolkart, Andrew. Touring The Upper East Side, Walks in Five Historic Districts. New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1995.
Kathrens, Michael. American Splendor: The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer. New York: Acanthus Press, 2002.