Jan. 26, 1901.] 
FORESr AND STR£AM. 
77 
The New Home of the Y. Y. G. 
At eight bells on the morning of Jan. 19 the burgee was 
horsted aloft on the new home of the N. Y. Y. C. and the 
building was formally opened to its members, the old house 
at 67 Madison avenue being permanently closed at mid- 
night the preceding day. The new club house is located 
on the north side of West Forty-fourth street between 
Fifth and Sixth avenues. 
After over two years of careful study and attention, Mr. 
Whitney Warren, the architect, has completed his work 
on what is conceded to be the finest yacht club house in 
the world. Mr. Warren has had entire charge of the 
building from the laying of the foundations to the de- 
signing of the linen and china, and the result is that the 
work is perfectly harmonious throughout. 
The exterior of the building is modern French Renais- 
sance, and conveys even to the unpracticed eye the pur- 
pose for which the building has been constructed. Al- 
though the height of the building is really six stories, the 
effect is that of a low .structure, as the three top stories 
are set back some distance, making a sort of terrace, which 
is fitted up for the use of members on hot summer nights. 
This terrace will be made most attractive with palms and 
shrubbery, and along an arbor built at the bottom of the 
fifth story will be trained vines that will be allowed to run 
to the top of the building. The material used on the 
fagade is Caen stone imported from Normandy, a sort of 
cream colored limestone which is easily worked when first 
quarried, but hardens rapidly with age. The first, second 
and third stories are marked with appropriate and striking 
wide, and is wainscoted in quartered oak, and above this 
the walls are covered with sea green burlap, the hangings 
being of red. The room accommodates four tables. A 
sort of companionway leads from thcjeast side of the 
billiard room to the glass domed palm room, which is 
25ft. in diameter ; it can also be reached from the landing 
at the head of the main stairway. 
A large electric elevator, around which winds the stair- 
case, leads to the next floor. Here the model room is 
located ; it is 96ft. long, 45ft. wide and 26ft. high, with a 
balcony running around the east, west and north sides ; 
this room is finished in oak, and the balcony is supported 
by colored and gilded dolphins. On the west wall is the 
fireplace, an immense aflfair of stone weighing over forty 
tons. Hanging in front of the fireplace is the model of an 
old sloop-of-war, on which the club places great value, On 
the left of the fireplace is a large Flemish oak chest inlaid 
with coats of arms which was presented by one of the 
club members. The ceiling is formed by three large panels, 
the center one of cathedral glass, and helps materially to 
light the room. On the walls are hung the many valuable 
models, and on the backs of the settles and on the tables 
will be placed the full-rigged inodels, which are now on 
the way back from the Paris Exposition. The effect of the 
model room viewed from any point is magnificent and 
impressive. Opening from the model room balcony on the 
east side is the mezzanine floor, by ineans of which the 
card room, 35x28ft., is reached. The entire front of 
the third floor is given up to the library and 
chart room. The library is 46ft. long and 32ft. 
wide. The books are well arranged, and each 
division is marked with the subject of the books it con- 
Designed by B. B. Crowninshield for J. B. Cornwall. 
ornamentation. T^Jie prominent feature of the front of the 
building is the jfiree large windows which light the 
model room. Th|y have immense circular panes above, 
and below are m^e to resemble the sterns of old Dutch 
vessels, the effect ^being very tinique. 
On entering the; building, the visitor finds himself in a 
large apartment, t^o stories high, floored with marble, the 
staircase being directly opposite the entrance leading to the 
next floor through; tw© marble columns which support the 
ceiling. The balustrade on the stairs and the landing is a 
conventionalized design carved in Caen stone, represent- 
ing waves curling over and breaking, with sea growths 
entvdned through] it. On the east wall, hanging above 
the stone wainscoiing, is a large tapestry portraying the 
defeat of the Spahish Armada. On the south and west 
walls are hung paintings of former Commodores J. Pier- 
pont Morgan, E. A. Stevens, J. C. Stevens and George F. 
Schuyler. On th^ right of the stairs is the ofiice, and 
on the left the entrance to the bar. A short flight of stairs 
lead from the left side of the hall into the grill room, 
which is 68ft. long; by 30ft. wide, and is made to represent 
thej " 'tween decks" of an old ship. The room is most 
effaptive,and the work accurate, as it was executed under 
the. sttpervision a ship's carpenter, the deck beams, 
knees, timbers and planking all showing fastened with 
trcf rails, rivets arid bolts. Although the deck is crowned, 
it v ;;- found to be- impracticable to give the floor the con- 
tour of the sheer, so the idea was given up, but the effect 
is gained by mean^iof corrugated glass placed in the doors 
and»windows. Thie room is lighted by wrought iron lan- 
terns- hanging from overhead and others sunk in the 
planking to give the effect of portholes. The woodwork 
is of unfinished oak and the tables, chairs and seats that 
run around ^he sides of the room are of the same ma- 
terial. In the center of the west wall is a huge fireplace 
with a large copper hood where the grill room cooking 
will be done. On the walls are hung many valuable prints 
of the older yachts. At the south end of this room is the 
b^ck board from the gig of the old schooner Gimcrack, the 
first flag ship of the club, aboard which the club was 
organized. At the north end of the grill room is the en- 
trance to the^ billiard room, which is 45ft, long and 28ft. 
tains. The chart room, which adjoins the library, is 34ft. 
long and 28ft. wide. Both of these rooms are finished in 
natural oak with red hangings and furnishings. Owing 
to the large size of the proininent rooms, it was necessary 
to have the rugs made, and it took over a year to weave 
them. On this floor are the rooms of the secretary, treas- 
urer, superintendent and several private dining rooms. 
The latter rooms are finished in mahogany, and the walls 
are a deep blue with gold decorations. The fourth floor 
contains one square room, from which large French win- 
dows open on the terrace. There are also a number of 
private rooms on this floor. The upper floors contain pri- 
vate rooms for the members, while the servants are on the 
top floor. In the basement are dressing rooms and baths, 
also the locker rooms. The kitchen, store room, ice house, 
wine rooms, pantries and waiters' dressing rooms are also 
here. The west side of the cellar is taken up with the 
boiler and machinery ; under the sidewalk is a coal vault 
capable of holding 500 tons. The heating apparatus is so 
regulated that an even temperature may be had through- 
out the building. 
The ground occupied by the club house is 75ft. wide and 
looft. deep. It was the generous gift of Mr. J. Pierpont 
Morgan, and cost $148,000. The building itself cost $350.- 
000 to erect, and only the club house committee know the 
expense of the furnishings. 
Secretary Oddie submitted the following statistics for 
the consideration of the club on the eve of taking posses- 
sion of the new club house: 
The club house in the Elysian Fields was moved into 
July 15. 1845. 
The first club book was published in 1846, when the club 
had 122 members and 12 yachts. 
In 1853 there were 159 members enrolled and 14 yachts. 
In 1861 there were 488 members and 25 schooners and 22 
sloops. Two of these schooners were offered to the Gov- 
ernment and accepted. 
On June 10, 1868, the club occupied the N. H. Wolfe 
cottage, Clifton, S. I. It then had 278 members. 228 
schooners, 13 sloops and 1 steamer. 
In 1869 there were 383 members on the roll, 29 schoon- 
ers, 20 sloops and 4 steamers. 
•j*^ In 187 1 the club moved to the southwest corner of 
Madison avenue and Twenty-seventh street, where there 
were 452 members on the books, 37 schooners, 14 sloops 
■ and 8 steamers. 
On May i, 1884, the club moved to No. 67 Madison 
avenue. It had then 390 members, 50 schooners, 23 sloops, 
■35 steamers and 6 launches. 
There are now 1,495 members on the club's roll and 80 
schooners, 119 sloops, cutters and j'awls, 174 steamers, 3 
naphtha and 19 other launches in its fleet. 
New Home .of the Qiicagfo Y. C 
\Vhen the Canadian yachtsmen come to compete for the 
Canada cup in August they will be entertained in the 
beautiful new home of the Chicago Y. C. The proposi- 
tion to build a new house had been discussed many months 
before it was finally decided to build, and when the ball 
was fairly started rolling at one of the smokers of the 
club, it was kept going until enough had been subscribed 
to make the erection of the house a certainty. It is to 
cost between $17,000 and $20,000 and will ' be located 
opposite Monroe street just outside the park breakwater. 
Work upon the substructure will begin immediately, and 
the construction will be pushed to an early conclusion. 
The exterior will be of half timber and rough cast con- 
struction, so as to be best adapted to smoky atmosphere of 
the water front. A broad dock will be placed on the east 
front, and access to the building will be by a bridge con- 
necting with the park breakwater. The interior will be 
finished in hardwood. The principal rooms will be on the 
main floor, and consist of an entrance hall, flanked on one 
side by the superintendent's desk and private office, and on 
the other side by the women's parlor and cloak room, 
and leading to a reception room 28x30ft. On the south 
side of the reception room is the living room, 35x40ft., 
with broad verandas on the south and east side?. The din- 
ing room, 24x40ft., will be on the north of the reception 
room, with kitchen and pantries adjoining it upon the 
west. The reception room is extended to take in the 
porch, this portion of the veranda being inclosed in glass, 
so that it may be used in inclement weather. There is 
nearly 200ft. of porch in the main floor level, with which 
the main rooms communicate b_v French windows extend- 
ing to the floor. This arrangement will give great elas- 
ticity, allowing a great crowd to be cared for upon occa- 
sion, at the same time giving rooms of a size small enough 
to be comfortably furnished for use by the smaller num- 
ber of members ordinarily in attendance. Oarsmen of the 
club will have their shells in the lower story, convenient 
to the w^ater. Also, on this floor will be lockers, servants' 
dining room, store rooms, toilets and shower rooms. Ser- 
vants' quarters will be in the attic, where there also will 
be committee rooms and bedrooms for use of members. 
Yacht Club Notes* 
The annual meeting of the American Y. C. was held on 
Jan. 15, and the following officers were elected: Com., 
Henry W. Eaton; Vice-Com., William H. Brown'ng: 
Rear-Corn., George W. Quintard ; Sec'y, H. de B. Par- 
sons; Treas., William Porter Allen;" Flee: Surgeon,. 
Samuel B. Lyon, M. D. ; Measurer and Consulting En- 
gineer. George W. Magee, U. S. N. ; Trustees. Class of 
1904, William H. Parsons, John Murray Mitchel land 
WiUiam Porter Allen. 
At the annual meeting for the election of officers of the 
Keystone Y. C, held at the club house at Tacony, these 
officers were chosen: Com., Robert W. Brown; Vice- 
Com., Thomas McKane, Jr. ; Sec'y. Samuel Y. Dingee ; 
Treas., Frank Fisher; Board of Directors, Samuel, Y. 
Dingee. Thomas McKane, Sr., John Hirst, Jas. Ayers, 
Alois J. Mullei\ ' 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
John F. Byno, well known as a yacht rigger, died on 
Jan. 17. He was born in 1840 at Cape Cod, and his early 
life was spent in Boston, where he helped to rig many 
of the best pilot boats of that port. For thirty-three years 
he was with Francis Low & Co.. and then came to New- 
York to manage the business of ex-Congressman Philip 
B. Low, with whom he served ten years. He then started 
in business for himself, and was successful. The last 
yacht he rigged was Genesee, built froin designs by A. 
Cary Smith for J. S. Watson. He also had charge of 
rigging the yachts Lasca, Colonia and Corsair. 
Mr. C. L. Eckert, of New York, has purchased the 60ft. 
sloop Thistle from Mr. J. F. Fordham through the 
agency of Messrs. Huntington & Seaman. Mr. Eckert is 
to change her rig to that of a yawl. 
1^ 
Mr. William P. Kirk, of Toms River, N. J., has com- 
menced work on a sloop yacht for Mr. Allan Pinkerton, 
which is to be completed by May 15. She is designed by 
Mr. H. J. Gielow. Her dimensions are : Length over all. 
41ft.; length of waterline, 26ft. 9in. ; beam, lift. 7in., and 
3ft. draft. Her keel, stem and deadwood will be of oak 
and she will be planked with cedar. Her joiner work will 
be finished in natural wood, The cabin is large and is 
fitted with transoms so that four persons may have sleep- 
ing accommodations if necessary. There will be a galley, 
ice box, fresh water tanks, etc. 
^ ^ ^ 
The steel steam j-acht Alvina, built for Mr. Charles J. 
Fletcher, of Providence, R. I., was launched Jan. ig from 
the yards of the Harlan & Hollingsworth Companjr. The 
Alvina will cost about $250,000. She is a twin> screw yacht 
designed by Mr. A. S. Cheeseborough. of Bristol, R. I 
Her dimensions are 215ft. over all. 20ft. Sin. beam ^nd 
lift. 6in. draft. The yacht will he schooner rigged. 
Alvina is intended for long voyages, and the contract 
speed is fourteen miles an hour. Next summer she will 
be taken to Europe. She will be elaborately furnished; 
besides the five staterooms, there will be a large cabin. 
Electric-light and ice-making plants will be among her 
equipment. 
^ 1^ 
Manning's yacht agency has sold for Mr. Ackerman the 
sloop yacht Pocahontas to Mr. John C. Sharp, of Taun- 
ton, Mass. 
