Fashion Academy of Art 812 Fifth Avenue New York City

The McMurtry house, seen above in 1907, would originally have been very similar to No. 811 to the right.  Adjacent door at No. 813 (left) is the ostentatious mansion of Francis Ahrend. photo by Byron Company, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult_VPage&VBID=24UP1GH0N7KN&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=894

In Dec of 1887, while Mrs. F. Fisher was busy making plans for a reception and trip the light fantastic toe to be held in her mansion at No. 812 5th Avenue on the evening of the 21^st, George Gibson McMurtry had other things on his mind.

As a teen, the Irish-built-in orphan had been placed on a steamer by his uncle to brand his way in America. He worked in various trades, slowly advancing in the steel business.  He eventually established the Apollo Iron and Steel Visitor in 1885 in Apollo, Pennsylvania.  And heast well-nigh immediately ran into labor problems.

Direction and labor were continually at odds and McMurtry blamed it all on alcohol. "The Cyclopedia of American Biography" explained "Regarding intemperance as the cause of much misery amidst the working people, as well as of inefficiency in the work performed, he endeavored to eliminate this evil." He found, all the same, that foundry workers in the 1880s were loathe to give up their drink.

Equally a result the labor unions rebelled in full force. "Strikes and other forms of friction followed and caused endless problem."

To find a solution, McMurtry "fabricated an extended tour of the great European industrial centers" and at the Krupp Works in Germany got the thought of a company town for the workers. On his return, he completely reorganized the Apollo operation. He congenital a new plant a few miles outside of boondocks and congenital a 640-acre boondocks that he named Vandergrift.

Intending to create a "model community," he hired the architectural business firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot to design "schoolhouse buildings, libraries, churches, h2o supply, sewer system, lighting constitute, sanitation, well-paved streets." He did non relent on liquor, however. "The Cyclopedia" noted "The liquor traffic was completely eliminated, and the people found that that was skilful. Poverty disappeared earlier prosperity; content took the place of misery, and families who had known the bitterness of desire found themselves gradually possessed of the luxuries of life."

Vandergrift was completed in 1895. Workers moved in and relations betwixt them and McMurtry reversed. The millionaire mill owner was now viewed as a friend and distributor.

Back in New York Mrs. Fisher's firm on Fifth Artery was leased to United States Rubber Company executive Richard Evans. The lease appears to have begun on January 1, 1897 when deliveries of furniture first began. Evans's first calendar month in the handsome residence would not go smoothly.

Every bit Evans's effects were unpacked, the crates and packing textile—generally excelsior—were taken to the cellar. On the morning time of January 19 the servants smelled smoke and the butler, Henry Johnson, opened the cellar door to notice flames that "had gained some headway," according to The Sun.

Johnson ran into the street and found Policeman Long who rang an alarm. The highly flammable packing materials were blazing when firefighters arrived. "The firemen chopped away role of the basement floor, and finally succeeded in subduing the flames with three streams of water afterwards 2 hours' work," said the newspaper. Richard Evans found himself dealing with what would amount to virtually $36,000 worth of damages to his new rental home.

In 1900 the American Sheet Steel Visitor was formed with McMurtry as president. It soon merged into the American Sheet and Can Plate Visitor, a subsidiary of the United states of america Steel Corporation. Now in his 60s and extremely wealthy, "Mr. McMurtry felt justified in retiring and taking up his residence in New York Urban center," said "The Concordance of American Biography."

George and his married woman, the former Clara Lothrop, had four children. At to the lowest degree one of them, George, Jr., moved into the sometime Fisher mansion at No. 812 Fifth Artery with his parents. The brownstone-fronted mansion had started life out as a relatively mundane, if luxurious, rowhouse. It was probably Mrs. Fisher who gave the business firm a tardily Victorian makeover.

Four stories tall information technology sat above a deep English basement. While its stoop and portico were relatively unchanged, it now showed off with French Second Empire embellishments. Handsome carved window framings and an eye-communicable two-tier mansard roof set information technology apart from its neighbors.

McMurtry leased the house from Charles H. Sanford (although the title was in Sanford'south wife's name). Sanford seems to have been having financial problems, for his name was publicized in 1900 for existence in arrears on his personal taxes.

Eventually George purchased the mansion, just transferred the title to Clara's name. As with the Sanfords, titles of personal real estate were ofttimes put in the married woman's proper name. Clara'southward buying of the property would forego sticky problems in the consequence of her husband's death.

The New York Times noted on April 29, 1902 "The domicile 812 Fifth Avenue, near Sixty-2d Street, for some fourth dimension the residence of George G. McMurtry, President of the American Canvass Steel Company, was conveyed yesterday to Clara L. McMurtry past Sarah F. Sandford for an expressed consideration of $270,000." In today'southward dollars, Clara's new house would take cost merely under $vi one thousand thousand.

Later that year, in October, McMurtry was presented with a sterling argent Tiffany & Co. punch bowl by his one-time employees. The solid-silver basin weighed an amazing 42 pounds and was gold lined. Included in the rich decoration was a portrait of McMurtry below which was the inscription "A lovable character and possessor of many noble qualities, who, past his generous deeds, has proved himself a truthful friend of the workingman." The workers had obviously forgiven him for taking away their liquor.

The basin was a wonder of silversmithing. Beneath the 4 columns that supported the bowl was a "perfectly modeled miniature street mill, with the men in their natural position when putting a canvas of steel through the rolls," reported The New York Times. The newspaper said "The bowl is pronounced ane of the distinctly notable products of the year in art silversmithing." Tiffany & Co. charged the workers $5,000 for the tribute.

3 months afterwards the very eligible 26-year old George Inferior's engagement to Mabel Postal service was announced. George'southward fashionable bachelor dinner was held at Delmonico'south on December 12. The wedding took place 4 days later at the home of the bride.

Past now an established broker, George and his new married woman moved into the firm at No. 812 Fifth Avenue with his parents. He brought unwanted attention to the family on July 19, 1907 when he was arrested for racing on city streets. George teamed up with 2 chauffeurs—Charles Aldridge, the chauffeur of stockbroker Henry Guy; and Louis Le Boulanger, Frederick Havemeyer's driver—to outrace 1 another on Hoffman Boulevard in Far Rockaway.

Soon four motorcycle policemen were engaged in "a lively hunt," according to The Evening World. "During the pursuit Policeman Shepard'due south auto hitting an obstruction and he was shot into the gutter aslope the road," said the newspaper. "He was cutting and bruised, only not seriously hurt. The other patrolmen in the chase, Grace, Ennis and Finch, captured the motorists after a run of iii miles."

Young George waived examination and was held at $1,000 for the Court of Special Sessions.

In May 1914 George Junior and Mabel moved out of the Fifth Avenue mansion. George leased the Henry F. Osborn mansion at No. 22 Eastward seventy^th Street.

George Senior barbarous ill in 1915 while summering in Atlantic City. All of a sudden, on Baronial 6, the multi-millionaire died. The Times noted that "Mr. McMurtry was much averse to publicity, and was said to exist one of the 500 New York millionaires whose proper noun was never seen in print." With her children grown and married, Clara was now left in the Fifth Avenue mansion alone.

George Junior'stranquillity life on Eastward lxx^thursday Street, in the meantime, would soon be interrupted by the The states' entrance into World State of war I. George had already served in the military. He fought with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and participated in the Battle of San Juan Hill. Now he returned to serve his country, rising to the rank of Captain with the U. S. Regular army's 308^th Infantry.

George'southward unit would become known equally the Lost Battalion. Cutting off and surrounded past the enemy in the woods of Argonne, France, in October 1918, the wounded McMurtry commanded his officers and men with optimism and cool that prevented panic and anarchy. With no food or means of advice and under heavy barrage, he directed the moving of the wounded to shelter before seeking shelter himself. On October 6 he was wounded over again, this fourth dimension by a grenade, yet he continued to direct and command the troops, refusing medical assist or relief. After assistance came, he personally led his men out of the position before allowing himself to exist taken to the infirmary on October viii. The German assail was defeated "due largely to his efforts," according to his later Medal of Accolade citation.

The McMurtry boys continued to attract notice for heroic deeds. George's brother Alden served throughout the war on the United States Army Full general Staff. After, he started an machine parts business concern, and invented motorcar parts.

He besides had go a Connecticut State Trooper. On the frigid dark of February 15, 1920 Mrs. C. Due west. Dreyer was startled by the sound of crashing drinking glass next door to her home in Sound Beach, Connecticut. Looking out her window, she saw a flashlight axle moving about in the summertime home of New York Urban center socialite Mrs. Eliza Chiliad. Morris.

She telephone law. Trooper McMurtry was in a nearby firehouse and he and fire-eater Addison Salary sped to the Morrison mansion. They entered through the smashed window and "descending to the cellar they saw 2 figures silhouetted in the pitchy darkness confronting a window," reported the New-York Tribune.

When McMurtry demanded that the men surrender, he was answered with a volley of gunshots. In the dark cellar, the policeman, fireman and thugs exchanged gunfire and one-on-one fighting. Just when McMurtry'due south flashlight defenseless one of the criminals peering from backside a chimney, his battery died.

"McMurtry rushed in the direction of the chimney and luckily succeeded in grappling with his antagonist," said the newspaper. "They rolled nigh the floor, neither able to meet the other. McMurtry managed to grasp the burglar'south right arm and forestall him from shooting while he belabored him with his blackjack. The burglar got hold of some heavy instrument on the floor and struck McMurtry in the stomach with information technology, nearly knocking him out."

The stalwart trooper fought on, however until he "was finally able to bring his body into a position where he could fire. He sent five bullets into the struggling bandit, who and then cried quits." When it was finally over, fireman Salary had bullets lodged in his left jaw and shoulder, McMurtry was wounded in the arm and both burglars were dead.

The year post-obit her son's dauntless action, the 78-year onetime Clara McMurtry died in the house on Fifth Artery on May 17, 1921. 2 months subsequently the house was sold for $225,000. The New-York Tribune mentioned the mansion's prestigious neighbors at the time. "The holding adjoins the residence of F. J. Arend, 813 Fifth Avenue…the n-corner of 60-second Steet and Fifth Avenue, which is on the same block, is owned past Mrs. Hamilton Fish, who as well owns the bordering belongings, 811 Fifth Avenue. The Threescore-third Street corner contains the residence of Raymond Hoagland."

No matter how prestigious the address, the firm at No. 812 Fifth Avenue was decidedly out of way past 1921. The Tribune noted that "The purchaser intends to occupy the house subsequently making minor structural changes."

The "minor structural changes" that the new owner, architect Charles T. Mathews, had in mind were not so small-scale. The builder had earned attention for remodeling the Church of the Holy Trinity in 1891 and for remodeling the east end of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1893.

Within the year the mansion's brownstone face had been stripped off to exist replaced past gleaming white limestone. The rusticated facade was interrupted past two-story pilasters at the 2d and third floors and the exuberant Victorian mansard was toned down. Mathews saved the expense of relocating the entrance to street level; only disguised the former mansion with a vaguely French Classic face.

Once the exterior reconstruction was completed, renovations of the interior commenced that would concluding for years. In 1928 the work was nearing completion, only still it was occupied only by servants. Mathews was living at the Metropolitan Club. On February 28 that year the piece of work turned to tragedy.

In 1923 work was nevertheless going on in the remodeled habitation.  The flanking mansions are unchanged.  photograph past Wurts Brothers, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult_VPage&VBID=24UP1GH0NX2Z&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=894

Mathew'south sister, Florence, was supervising the workers around 1:30 in the afternoon. One of the painters, J. Beck was at work in the 2d flooring hall removing varnish from the woodwork. The chemicals used were flammable and somehow, perchance because of an electrical apparatus he was using, in that location was an explosion. The flames spread along the woodwork of the second floor, racing up the stairs to the tertiary floor.

Overtaken by the explosion, Beck inhaled flames and barbarous to the floor. Another painter, James Harris, saw the blaze and shouted to the others in the house. Painter Fred Leutaemeyer and Florence Mathews reached the basement level safely. But backside them, a servant, Elizabeth White, rushed in the wrong management and was trapped by flames. She shut herself in a fourth floor room and screamed for assist out the window. The Times reported that "The flames were already racing upward the corridors by the tertiary flooring to the fourth. Her escape was cut off and the flames were threatening to break from the hallway into her room."

The panic-ridden woman was finally carried down a ladder by a firefighter.

An estimated crowd of 5,000 gathered on Fifth Avenue watching the drama play out. Within, Lieutenant James Connolly and Fireman Elwood Grebe were heading up the staircase when the skylight above exploded and rained glass and metallic down onto them. Grebe suffered severe caput injuries and Connolly a cleaved nose.

When the flames were finally extinguished, J. Beck was, tragically, dead.  Damages to the house that Mathews had been working on for most a decade and which were nearly completed were estimated to exist almost half of what he originally paid for it.

"The fire was contained well-nigh entirely to the hallways," reported The Times. "Several tapestries were reported damaged. Valuable oil paintings suffered to some extent from heat and smoke, although the flames did not brand their way into the rooms where they were hung. Several tapestries and other works of fine art were carried out by firemen."

The business firm was repaired and the esteemed bachelor architect and author moved in with his unmarried sister Florence. After his death in January 1934, the house along with the bulk of Mathews's manor went to her. With her brother gone, however, Florence preferred to live at the family manor, The Elms, in Norwalk. Unaffected by the Great Depression, she maintained a staff of ten and continued her lavish lifestyle.

She did return to No. 812 when socially necessary, however. In 1938 she hosted the wedding reception of her great niece, Patricia Yard. Martin, post-obit her spousal relationship to Dr. James Lawrence Puddle. Later that year, on Baronial 16, she died at the age of 82 while sleeping in the Norwalk mansion.

In Feb 1939 the doors of No. 812 Fifth Avenue were opened to the public as Charles'southward and Florence's furnishings and artworks were auctioned off. The New York Times reported that "The sale volition comprise a series of Louis XIV Felletin tapestries later on Charles Lebrun depicting episodes in the life of Alexander. Also in the auction will be furniture, crystal chandeliers, porcelain table lamps, fireplace furnishings, Continental paintings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and Oriental rugs."

Perchance to protect his house next door, Francis Arend purchased No. 812. But in 1945 he had moved out of No. 813 and the former Mathews mansion was existence leased to the Style Academy. In April of that year he sold both properties to Mrs. Ann Hartman. The Times said that No. 812 was "said to be the last of the sometime 'high-stoop' residences on Fifth Avenue."

The Fashion University, a school of blueprint, styling and merchandising, remained in the former mansion for virtually 2 decades. In 1961 the house with iii incarnations was replaced, forth with its ii adjoining neighbors, past a modern flat edifice designed past Robert Bien.

The new edifice replaced three one-time structures -- photo past Alice Lum

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Source: https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-lost-mcmurtry-mansion-no-812-fifth.html

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