Union Club House, Fifth Avenue and 21st Street

The Union Club House on Fifth Avenue, northwest corner of 21st Street. The South Dutch Reformed Church was on the southwest corner of 21st Street, to the left. The Union Club of the City of New York was founded in 1836 and occupied this building from 1855 to 1903. Engraving by Gulick, published in the Ballou's Pictorial, Boston, September 8, 1855. A hand-colored version is below. Continue...

Below, text about this illustration as published in the Ballou's Pictorial:

«The engraving below, drawn and executed expressly for us, represents the beautiful new club house, corner of the 5th Avenue and 21st Street, New York. It is three stories high, without counting the basement and attic. The building extends 64 feet on 5th Avenue, and 120 feet on 2ist Street, the entrance being in the centre of the front on the latter street. From a vestibule, after entering, you perceive two spacious halls running at right angles with each other, with graceful arcades, the whole painted in harmonious colors. The grand staircase opposite the entrance is of black walnut, highly polished. The reading-room is 22 by 56 feet, and the drawing-room, a magnificent apartment, 34 by 56 feet, is at the opposite end of the building. The reception-rooms and office are elegant and appropriately decorated. The second story is devoted to card-rooms, private dining rooms, library, drawing and governor's rooms. The hall of this story runs lengthwise of the building, and is decorated with columns and arches. The third story is sub-divided into private rooms, clerk's room, smoking and billiard rooms. One of the billiard rooms is 35 by 36 feet; and in this story also is an abundant supply of Croton water. The attic is devoted to bed and store-rooms. A spiral stone staircase runs from the basement to the roof. In the basement are kitchens, laundries, housekeeper’s and private rooms, and other apartments necessary to the comfort and convenience of the establishment. The façade is one of the greatest architectural attempts in this country. The building is altogether very nearly a hundred feet high. The front of the first story is decorated with coupled Corinthian pilasters, supporting rich entablatures, and resting on the basement. ...»

More: Washington Square to Madison Square ►