History and architecture
This former residence of William H. Moore is a fine example of a turn of the century stone townhouse. Its strong Italian Renaissance facade, rich carving and simple window arrangement (fenestration) give the building stability and order, and unite to make the structure a worthy architectural achievement. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, the house is an example of their skillful adaptation of a Renaissance facade to the requirements of a New York townhouse in which the sober and the elegant are successfully combined.
The first story is rusticated. Voluted keystones adorn the flat arches of the windows, while the door in the center carries a carved cartouche representing rolled leather. The principle feature of the second story is a richly carved balcony resting on large consoles or brackets. Over the second story windows the cornices rest on handsome ancone brackets. The central window head supports a small rectangular balcony with ornately designed wrought iron work.
A horizontal dentilled band course separates the fourth and fifth floors. Above the fifth floor windows the elaborate entablature with scallop-shell frieze contains dentils; and the voluted brackets support the main cornice and balustrade. This decorated area of the facade contrasts beautifully with the simplicity of the symmetrically arranged windows. The heavy moldings around each window are reduced in size on each successive floor adding a feeling of vertical perspective to the building.
The corner stones (quoins) and overhanging cornice frame the structure and give it a feeling of perfect unity.
The house was built in 1900 for William H. Moore, (1848-1923), Chicago industrialist and a founder of the United States Steel Corporation, the American Can Company and the National Biscuit Company.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.