Imagine being born with everything and going out with nothing.
That is the tale of Henry Poor, a man who was exceedingly wealthy until he wasn’t.
Hi everyone, Ken here, today we are exploring the Poor Mansion in Manhattan.
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After Graduating from Harvard in 1865, Henry William Poor headed off to New York City where
he launched a successful career as a stock broker working at his father’s company,
informally known today as the S and P. As the years went by, he made millions of dollars,
but still could not compete with the likes of the Vanderbilts and the Astors who built
palaces facing Central Park.
Nevertheless, he wanted a park facing palace to call home.
Further South in Manhattan, he came across the former home of Cyrus Field at 21st and
Lexington facing Gramercy Park.
The home was already a well respected landmark in the neighborhood, and known, as Cyrus had
launched the Atlantic Telegraph Company, running the very first telegraph cables across the
Atlantic Ocean to connect the Americas to Europe.
Henry Poor purchased the house from Field’s estate and hired prominent Gilded Age architect
Stanford White to completely rework the interior without making any changes to the exterior.
Entering the home through the lower level, you would pass through an all glass vestibule
to arrive in the entrance hall.
Where a potted plant was centered on a floor to ceiling marble fireplace complete with
statuary to support its upper mantel.
Before continuing up the stairs, we will be escorted to the reception rooms to await the
host.
The Ladies Reception Room was finished out with antique European furnishings over a herringbone
wood floor and complimented by gilded wall panels, offering a light and airy feel as
sunlight brightened the room.
The Gentelmen’s reception room took on a darker, more masculine scheme with leather
wall panels above dark wood wainscotting and an imposing stone hearth.
Mr. Poor had the door surrounds finished in bronze statuary, showing off a glimpse of
the glamour his male friends would see later in the house.
Returning to the entrance hall we will begin making our way to the main level of the house
as we pass by potted plants resting on solid blocks of marble.
As we make our way to the landing, the Main hall comes into view with each section of
the coffered ceiling boasting colorful murals to contrast with their marble surrounds.
Stepping onto the marble floor, we can rotate around the central feature to get a better
view of the alcove where the furs of polar bears surround a tiger’s hide in the inglenook.
The fireplace, rising 14 feet, was finished out with masterfully crafted artisan stone
relief work as angelic figures danced about vines and stone flowers.
From here we can turn around and admire the grand staircase, carved from solid marble,
sweeping along a curving wall decorated with antique European tapestries.
Making our way through one of the elaborate openings, we will view the dining room with
floor to ceiling old growth wood paneling finishing the walls.
The room is flooded with light as the Jacobean ceiling dances its dizzying array from the
dining room towards the conservatory.
Here, a marble pavilion stands above marble floors, blindingly reflecting the sunlight
through the leaves of exotic plants.
Tucked away in the corner, we will find the door to the butlers pantry hand carved and
decorated with wooden fruits.
Cutting back through the Main hall, we will find the library with floor to ceiling bookshelves
packed with rare literature.
The room was arranged with twin fireplaces at each end.
You can imagine how warm and cozy this room would have been in the dead of winter to curl
up and read a book on one of the overstuffed sofas while fires flickered at either end
of the room.
Now we will continue our tour upstairs to the third story, where we enter the drawing
room.
Stanford White designed this room to be like a treasure chest, displaying antique European
tapestries on the walls and ceilings with furnishings and fixtures from more than 30
cultures.
This grand room stretched from one side of the house to the other, doubling as the music
room with harps, violins, and pianos sprinkled throughout.
Leaving only enough space between items to walk around, Stanford White layered heavy
and light décor with a mix of colorful patterns, then introduced as many potted plants as possible
to create an exotic, international ambiance contained by classical architecture.
The house continued with several bedrooms, each offering a retreat from the cluttered
décor found in the public rooms.
Each of the bedrooms, though simpler, were not less elegant as they carried their own
well though out themes.
The house even came complete with an indoor squash court offering views into the conservatory
so that you would find yourself surrounded by plants and sunshine outside of the glass
walls, almost forgetting you were in the heart of New York City.
The mansion showed the world that Henry Poor was in fact a very rich man, but he would
soon grow into his name.
In 1908 his company crumbled and had to be reformed.
By 1909 he had lost nearly everything and had to sell his house and auction off all
of his décor to repay his debts.
And in 1910, the developers who had purchased the house had it torn down to build a 12 story
cooperative housing complex which continues to stand to this day.
While this mansion might be lost to time, we still have these breathtaking photos to
remember not only the designs of Stanford White but to commemorate the work of the forgotten
artisans who realized his vision.
Which part of this house was your favorite?
Let me know down below in the comments section.
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