Ithiel Town

Ithiel Town is well known to most all students of early New England architecture. He is very well documented and many of his significant commissions are still standing for all to study. He was very well learned in all design matters as well as an very accomplished engineer. He wrote several books including, " Improvement in the Construction of Wood and Iron Bridges", New Haven 1821. His work included stints in Boston, New Haven and New York. His commissions not only included some of the more significant buildings in New England but included the State Capital buildings in North Carolina and Indiana. His library of architectural and art books was famous and probably the richest and most complete that had been brought together in America up to the time of his death, 1844. There are many books and articles on his most influential life and career. However, it is rare indeed when we have an opportunity to closely examine a structure designed by such an important American architect. So it was great interest that I read the article by Burkhard Bilger, Mystery on Pearl Street, in the January 7, 2008 issue of The New Yorker. The article focuses on a five story building designed and built by Ithiel Town at 211 Pearl Street in New York City and the efforts of Dave McWater and Alan Soloman to save it from demolition by a development company with an eye for bigger and greater plans. Bilger gives a wonderful account of the research and documentation that Alan Solomon uncovers. As is so often the case, the deeper the research, the greater the questions.
I strongly recommend looking up the article at a local library as it sheds some new light on the wonderful work of Ithiel Town as well as illustrate the difficulties we face in trying to preserve our architectural heritage.