Entry from
November 28, 2004
Cathedral of Commerce (Woolworth Building)
Before there was a World Trade Center, there was a Cathedral of Commerce. This was the Woolworth Building - the world's tallest when built.
It is said that the Reverend S. Parkes Cadman dedicated the Woolworth Building as a "cathedral of commerce" at its official opening on April 23, 1913.
27 April 1913, New York Times, pg. SM12:
"I (Englishman Alan Francis - ed.) shall never forget my first glimpse of your Woolworth Building. You pay small attention to it. Were it in London, London would be gaping at it for ten years to come: all Europe would be raving over it. How shall I describe its strong effect on me? Perhaps the phrase which best expresses it is that it appears to me to be a cathedral of commerce.
17 October 1922, Washington Post, pg. 16:
A most remarkable photograph is this low altitude aerial view of New York's great Gothic cathedral of commerce towering into the clouds. This view of the Woolworth building illustrates a contrast of engineering a half century ago and today
26 October 1924, New York Times, pg. E6:
A NEW WORLD CATHEDRAL.
When Cardinal MERCIER, coming up the bay some years ago, saw for the first time the Woolworth Building, it is said that he thought it to be a cathedral tower giving to all the other towers and tall buildings a spiritual summit. When he came ashore he saw that it was a mighty cathedral of commerce, towering hundreds of feet above the spires of Trinity and St. Paul's, that once dominated the lower end of the island.
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It is said that the Reverend S. Parkes Cadman dedicated the Woolworth Building as a "cathedral of commerce" at its official opening on April 23, 1913.
27 April 1913, New York Times, pg. SM12:
"I (Englishman Alan Francis - ed.) shall never forget my first glimpse of your Woolworth Building. You pay small attention to it. Were it in London, London would be gaping at it for ten years to come: all Europe would be raving over it. How shall I describe its strong effect on me? Perhaps the phrase which best expresses it is that it appears to me to be a cathedral of commerce.
17 October 1922, Washington Post, pg. 16:
A most remarkable photograph is this low altitude aerial view of New York's great Gothic cathedral of commerce towering into the clouds. This view of the Woolworth building illustrates a contrast of engineering a half century ago and today
26 October 1924, New York Times, pg. E6:
A NEW WORLD CATHEDRAL.
When Cardinal MERCIER, coming up the bay some years ago, saw for the first time the Woolworth Building, it is said that he thought it to be a cathedral tower giving to all the other towers and tall buildings a spiritual summit. When he came ashore he saw that it was a mighty cathedral of commerce, towering hundreds of feet above the spires of Trinity and St. Paul's, that once dominated the lower end of the island.
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Posted by Barry Popik
Buildings/Housing/Public Spaces • (0) Comments • Sunday, November 28, 2004 • Permalink
Buildings/Housing/Public Spaces • (0) Comments • Sunday, November 28, 2004 • Permalink