John B. Snook
Encyclopedia
John B[utler] Snook was an American architect who practiced in New York City
.
Born in England, Snook emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He was trained as a carpenter in his father's carpentry business, and was largely self-taught as an architect. In 1842 he joined the New York firm of Joseph Trench, and within five years he was the junior partner in the firm, working as Trench and Snook, in which capacity he was the designer of the A. T. Stewart department store
(1846) on Broadway, the first luxury dry-goods store in America. Its "palazzo mode— borrowed from Charles Barry
's London clubs"—" set a style for New York commercial hotels that lasted until mid-century. In the partnership he was also the architect of the brownstone
-sheathed Metropolitan Hotel
(1851-52 )erected in the same "palazzo" taste on Broadway at Prince Street, and the marble-clad St. Nicholas Hotel (1854) on Broadway at Spring Street.
After Trench moved west to San Francisco in 1857, Snook continued to work in New York City on his own. Most of his buildings were in the city, but he also designed and constructed buildings in the city of Brooklyn
in Westchester County, and in New Jersey. Three sons, James H., Samuel B., and Edward T., eventually joined his practice, doing business as John B. Snook & Sons. One of his sons-in-law, John W. Boylston, also worked in the firm. Stephen Decatur Hatch
worked as a draftsman in Snook's office, 1860-64.
Cast-iron for Snook's commercial building facades was provided by Cornell Iron Works and by Daniel D. Badger
's Architectural Iron Works. Most of his work was in commercial buildings, warehouses and tenements, but Snook also designed churches, hotels, institutions and hospitals, and some residences, such as the villa in North Tarrytown, New York, commissioned by Anson G. Phelps (1851). In 1869, Cornelius Vanderbilt
employed Snook to design the first Grand Central Depot, which served as the main passenger terminal for the New York and Harlem Railroad
and the New York Central Railroad
.
In 1836 Snook married Maria A. Weekes, with whom he had nine surviving children. Snook died at his home in Brooklyn in 1901; the firm carried on as John B. Snooks, Sons. His papers, including an archive of architectural drawings, are conserved in the New-York Historical Society
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Born in England, Snook emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He was trained as a carpenter in his father's carpentry business, and was largely self-taught as an architect. In 1842 he joined the New York firm of Joseph Trench, and within five years he was the junior partner in the firm, working as Trench and Snook, in which capacity he was the designer of the A. T. Stewart department store
280 Broadway
280 Broadway is the site of America's first department store. It later housed The New York Sun newspaper and is now used for municipal offices for New York City...
(1846) on Broadway, the first luxury dry-goods store in America. Its "palazzo mode— borrowed from Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
's London clubs"—" set a style for New York commercial hotels that lasted until mid-century. In the partnership he was also the architect of the brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
-sheathed Metropolitan Hotel
Metropolitan Hotel (New York City)
The Metropolitan Hotel in New York City was a Manhattan hotel opened September 1, 1852 and demolished in 1895.It occupied a three-hundred-foot brownstone-faced frontage of four floors above fashionable shopfronts occupying a full city block on Broadway and two hundred feet on Prince Street...
(1851-52 )erected in the same "palazzo" taste on Broadway at Prince Street, and the marble-clad St. Nicholas Hotel (1854) on Broadway at Spring Street.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in Westchester County, and in New Jersey. Three sons, James H., Samuel B., and Edward T., eventually joined his practice, doing business as John B. Snook & Sons. One of his sons-in-law, John W. Boylston, also worked in the firm. Stephen Decatur Hatch
Stephen Decatur Hatch
Stephen Decatur Hatch was a prominent late-19th century architect who was responsible for a number of historically or architecturally significant buildings in Manhattan, New York City and elsewhere...
worked as a draftsman in Snook's office, 1860-64.
Cast-iron for Snook's commercial building facades was provided by Cornell Iron Works and by Daniel D. Badger
Daniel D. Badger
Daniel D. Badger was an American founder, working in New York City under the name Architectural Iron Works. With James Bogardus, he was one of the major forces in creating a cast-iron architecture in the United States...
's Architectural Iron Works. Most of his work was in commercial buildings, warehouses and tenements, but Snook also designed churches, hotels, institutions and hospitals, and some residences, such as the villa in North Tarrytown, New York, commissioned by Anson G. Phelps (1851). In 1869, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
employed Snook to design the first Grand Central Depot, which served as the main passenger terminal for the New York and Harlem Railroad
New York and Harlem Railroad
The New York and Harlem Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States, and possibly also the world's first street railway. Designed by John Stephenson, it was opened in stages between 1832 and 1852 between Lower Manhattan to and beyond Harlem...
and the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
.
In 1836 Snook married Maria A. Weekes, with whom he had nine surviving children. Snook died at his home in Brooklyn in 1901; the firm carried on as John B. Snooks, Sons. His papers, including an archive of architectural drawings, are conserved in the New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library located in New York City at the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan. Founded in 1804 as New York's first museum, the New-York Historical Society presents exhibitions, public programs and research that...
.