New York
 | |
| Location | Plateau of States |
|---|---|
| No. of Buildings | 1 |
| Construction | |
| Construction Cost | $57,275 ($1.73 million in 2021) |
| Furnishing Cost | $18,000 ($542,867 in 2021) |
| Dates | |
| Special Day | Oct 4, 1904 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Clarence Luce, of New York City |
| Dimensions | 300' x 60' |
New York's entry stood on the brow of a hill, the land sloping off gently to the north, and faced upon a broad plaza, through which ran one of the most frequented highways within the Plateau of States, known as Commonwealth avenue. For its neighbors were the buildings of Kansas, Iowa,Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin and Oklahoma, while westward, at the foot of the hill, was located the great Flight Cage erected by the United States government, which held the exhibit of live birds from the Smithsonian Institute.
Before the Fair
Messrs. Caldwell & Drake, of Columbus, Ind., contracted to complete the building in accordance with plans and specifications of the architect.
Description
Outside, the New York building contained many beautiful, stately trees, afforded countless opportunities for landscape effects. From the opening day the grounds presented a charming appearance, the well-kept lawns giving place here and there to large beds of nasturtiums, poppies, cannae, and rhododendrons, while at the lowest point on the grounds, near the northeast corner, was located a lily pond. It was filled with the choicest aquatic plants of every variety, which were furnished through the courtesy of Shaw's Gardens and the Missouri Botanical Society.
Designed in dignified Italian architecture with colonial treatments, the building was surmounted with a low dome. There was a large hall 60 feet square running the full height, arched and domed in the Roman manner, with galleries around the second story.
The sculpture treatment of the building was most carefully considered, with the result that Martiny's Quadriga, which flanked the dome and represented the progress of art and commerce, and Lenz's dancing groups around the portico columns, were among the best examples to be seen
There are wide porches on the sides and ends and a portico in the center, with Doric columns that support a pediment in which are the commonwealth's Coat of Arms. The porches were provided with easy chairs for visitors during the heated term and on the north part luncheons were served.
The state's main hall was flanked on the northern side by a large assembly corridor with a barrel ceiling running up to the second story, and the treatment of this room in old gold, Antwerp blues, and siennas and, with its crystal chandeliers and barrel vaulted ceiling running up through the second story, was one of the most attractive features of the building. The draperies were in green velvet, and the chairs were of leather, treated to represent the old Spanish illuminated leather. From this hall ascended the grand staircase, both to the left and to the right. The mural decorations of the large hall were done by Florian Peixotto, and represented De Soto discovering the Mississippi, one showing the French and Indian occupation of the land, and others showing New York in 1803 and New York in 1903.
Beyond the grand hall were small dining rooms and serving rooms connected with the culinary department. A pleasant feature was a private restaurant, conducted by Messrs. Bayno & Pindat, of New York city, the former being the inventor of an electric range which was used in the preparation of food. The kitchen and commissary department was in the basement at the north end of the building. The privileges of the restaurant were by card only, and were extended to New Yorkers, Exposition officials and prominent Exposition visitors. The cuisine was most excellent, and throughout the season appetizing meals were served on the spacious verandas at the north end of the building, over which canopies had been erected, the illumination being furnished in the evening by electric lights, contained in Japanese lanterns
To the left of the entrance hall were waiting rooms, writing rooms and retiring rooms for the accommodation of guests, while at the extreme south end of the building were two reading rooms.
Also, on the first floor were coat rooms, a bureau of information, post office, telegraph and telephone offices.
The second floor contained the offices of the Commission, which were occupied by the Secretary and the clerical force, and also eight suites of rooms, consisting of parlor, bedroom and bath, for the accommodation of the members of the Commission and their guests. One of these suites, more handsomely furnished than the others, was called the 'Governor's suite', and was reserved for his exclusive use. While not originally contemplated, the third floor in both the north and south ends of the building were finished and partitioned into rooms for the use of the attaches of the Commission. This increased the capacity of the building by eight rooms.
The Aeolian
The Aeolian Company placed a magnificent pipe organ in the east balcony of the rotunda, and in the gallery north of the grand hall, nearly 100 feet away, was installed an echo organ, while a set of cathedral chimes sounded softly from still another distant part of the building. All three instruments were under control of the organist at the console located upon the main floor of the entrance hall, and could be played either by hand or by music rolls manufactured by the Aeolian Company. The organ was valued at $50,000 ($1.51 million in 2021), and was equipped with an electric keyboard which permitted the playing of all three instruments or any single one, as the operator desired.
Mr. S. H. Grover, a representative of the company, was in attendance throughout the summer and gave a recital each day at three o'clock in the afternoon, played by means of a roll of perforated paper. These recitals soon came to be a feature of the Exposition, and were largely attended by music lovers.
