174 



nORTICULTUEE 



August 8, 1914 



A MAGNIFICENT FLORAL BUILDING 



The illustration on our cover page 

 and those appearing herewith will give 

 some idea of the beautiful structure of 

 the F. R. Pierson Company at Tarry- 

 town, N. Y., which we noted in our 

 issue of May 30 and which is now com- 

 pleted. The building is of stone and 

 fireproof throughout. The building is 

 4iys ft. front, 50 ft. deep, and 30 ft. 

 high. The large plate glass windows 

 are 10 ft. 6 in. by 14 ft. The buildinc 

 is flanked on the north .by a p'.ani 

 show-room, 15x50, of steel and copper 

 enclosed with heavy plate glass, and 

 on the south by an Italian garden— 2 

 massive, dignified structure— in keep 

 ing with the solidity and massivenes .; 

 of the main building, the pergola post - 

 being constructed of stone also. 



While the photographs give a verv 

 good idea of the exterior of the build 

 ing, the interior needs a little descrip- 

 tion. It Is very beautifully finished, 

 and is quite unique. The ceiling is 

 30 feet high, and is of elaborate de- 

 sign. It is a beautifully executeJ 

 piece of workmanship. It is supported 

 by two massive columns, which a'so 

 support the balcony. The main floor 

 is not intended for a store or shop, but 

 for a reception, or show room. The 

 floor of this room is of quarry tile, im- 

 ported from North Wales. There is a 

 large open fireplace nine feet in width, 

 surmounted by a very beautiful man- 

 tel, which is a magnificently executed 

 piece of hand-carved work. 



On the east side of the room is what 

 would ordinarily be termed a refriger- 

 ator, but which is in reality a show 

 'case so designed as not to appear at 

 all like a refrigerator. This is seven 

 feet wide, sixteen feet long and eight 

 feet high. The frame work is of steel 

 rnd cement, insulated with cork, and 



Lawn View Showim; Side Entk.v.me to Main Bi'ildim; via Pekgot.a 



the exterior is finished in marble, 

 bronze, and Caen stone. The plate 

 g'ass front is double, with an air spa^e 

 between to prevent condensation. 

 The pilasters are solid bronza. The 

 floor is constructed of moss-green en- 

 caustic tile; the rear walls are large 

 mirrors; the ceiling and other interior 

 walls are covered with opal plate glas?. 

 The roof of the show case is co.'ered 

 with smaller tiles, of the same general 

 design and color as the floor of th = 

 main building. The show case is 

 lighted by two ceiling lamps enclosed 

 in opalescent globes. In the rear of 

 the show case, extending from the 

 floor to the ceiling on each side, are 



Pergola View 



five sets of aluminum drawers, for the 

 storage of violets, gardenias, ferns, 

 asparagus, and other articles of that 

 character. These drawers are con- 

 cealed by doors covered with a mirror. 

 A balcony, 16 feet from the main floor, 

 extends around two sides of the build- 

 ing, affording ample space for office 

 work. Between tlie balcony and the 

 main floor is a mezzanine floor, on 

 which are the toilets and a large safe 

 deposit vault. Below the mezzanine 

 floor is a large workroom 10 x 40. 

 There will be no counters or other 

 conventional store fixtures on the 

 main floor. 



The interior walls are of Caen stone 

 imported from France. The stairways 

 are of marble, with bronze railings. 

 All of the doors in the building are of 

 metal, the door on the main entrance 

 and those leading into the conserva- 

 tory and Italian garden being of 

 bronze. 



The lighting efl'ects are most artis- 

 tic. The large central fixture, sus- 

 Dpnded from the ceiling, is five feet in 

 diameter, and contains lamps of eight 

 limdred candle power. The inside 

 lioltom of these fixtures is covered 

 with amber colored glass, which gives 

 a soft, mellow light. 



If it were not for the conservatory 

 on the north and the Italian garden 

 on the south, the building might be 

 mistaken for a modern public library 

 or bank. Nothing like it has ever be- 

 ■ore been attempted in the florists' 

 I usiness, either in breadth of conce;)- 

 lioii or execution, and it is a building 

 that will probably not be duplicated 

 tor a long time to come. It represent? 

 :mi outlay of nearly fifty thousand dol- 

 lars. 



The building is designed to m°e' the 

 Minditions of a hi.gh-class residential 

 luinhborhood. A building of this char- 

 :irter would only be possible in such 

 a town as Tarrytowu, which is the 

 wealthiest suburban section in the 

 United States, being only twenty-five 



