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IWALKED NEW YORK CITY’S THE ANSONIA The Ansonia was conceptualized and developed by William Earle Stokes who was largely responsible for developing much of the Upper West Side especially along Riverside Drive. Much of his wealth had derived as being the heir to the Phelps-Dodge Corporation which was an American mining company. In 1899, Stokes hired European architect Paul Duboy to design what he envisioned as the largest and grandest hotel in all of New York. Duboy is probably best known for having designed much of the ornamentation on the nearby Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Stokes oversaw much of the designs himself and some believe he forced Duboy out of the equation and even took credit for his work. What is known is that upon completion of the designs Stokes paid Duboy a lump sump of $5,000 for services rendered and sent him back on his merry way to Paris. Duboy attempted to sue Stokes later in 1907 but the incident had left Duboy in a fragile mental state which Stokes used to his advantage in easily defending versus the suit. While constructing the Ansonia from 1899 to 1903, Stokes spared no expense in ensuring it was indeed the most elaborate hotel in the city. Stokes had the Beaux Arts building designed with rounded towers, a two-story Parisian style mansard roof, and covered the façade with various metal ornamentation (much of which was unfortunately melted for scrap during World War II). One bit of constraint Stokes did demonstrate was in determining the building’s final height. He had originally envisioned a much taller structure but upon completion of the building’s 17th floor he decided that this was the ideal height which offered the optimal view. He thus capped off his construction at this level. Atop this capped level Stokes added one of a handful of unique attributes for this hotel. On the roof Stokes opened a small farm complete with 500 chickens, ducks and a goat. The farm fresh eggs were dispersed each morning to the hotel’s guests until 1907, that is, when the Department of Health intervened and closed the farm due to health concerns. Other features unique for this period introduced when the Ansonia first opened included rooms with air conditioning, electric stoves and pneumatic tube systems so guests could send message amongst themselves. Complete kitchens were located on each floor to service guests. And in the lobby guests were welcomed via a fountain in the entryway complete with live seals and a caged bear on occasion. Such luxuries obviously drew a rather prestigious clientele and the Ansonia has continued to draw in the likes of the rich and famous. Past and present tenants have included Eric McCormack, Jack Dempsey, Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie, and Babe Ruth, who took residence here immediately after moving to New York from Boston in his infamous trade. During his residency the Babe tested other guests’ patience in numerous fashions. He was said to be seen chasing women around the hotel and when in the confines of his room began to take up the saxophone. Luckily for the Babe’s neighbors, the Ansonia had been designed with 3-foot thick soundproof walls. My favorite story around the Babe though was that he supposedly had a full-time employee who was designated for opening and managing his fan mail. The Babe’s instructions? “”Keep the dough and the pictures of the broads, and throw the rest out.”   One less esteemed baseball player stayed here the early 20th century, Arnold “Chick” Gandil. Gandil, is you are unfamiliar, was the first baseman for the infamous Chicago White Sox (Black Sox later known) who threw the 1919 World Series. It is here at the Ansonia that Gandil organized the first meetings amongst eight team members to propose intentionally losing the series. A series which they did end up losing five games to three versus the Cincinnati Reds. Upon uncovering the scandal all eight of the White Sox players received a lifetime ban from the sport. Another famous tenant which occupied the entire basement from 1968-1977 was the Continental Baths. The Baths were a luxury gay spa complete with orgy room and a K-Y jelly dispensing candy machine. For a period guests were entertained by “Bathhouse Betty,” aka Bette Midler, who sang along with her piano player Barry Manilow. The Baths were eventually replaced by a swingers club called Plato’s Retreat that was actually shown in the 1999 Spike Lee movie, Summer of Sam. Plato’s Retreat, however like its predecessor, has since gone by the wayside. Since 1992 the Ansonia has actually been a condominium as opposed to a hotel. It was also in 1992 that the film Single White Female was based inside the Ansonia. While the movie was set to occur here, in actuality only exterior and stairwell shots were filmed inside the Ansonia.   Website: http://www.ansoniarealty.com/ Address: 2109 Broadway, New York City, NY Cost: Free. IWalked Audio Tours To See This Site: New York City’s Upper West Side

IWALKED NEW YORK CITY’S THE ANSONIA

The Ansonia was conceptualized and developed by William Earle Stokes who was largely responsible for developing much of the Upper West Side especially along Riverside Drive. Much of his wealth had derived as being the heir to the Phelps-Dodge Corporation which was an American mining company.

In 1899, Stokes hired European architect Paul Duboy to design what he envisioned as the largest and grandest hotel in all of New York. Duboy is probably best known for having designed much of the ornamentation on the nearby Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Stokes oversaw much of the designs himself and some believe he forced Duboy out of the equation and even took credit for his work. What is known is that upon completion of the designs Stokes paid Duboy a lump sump of $5,000 for services rendered and sent him back on his merry way to Paris. Duboy attempted to sue Stokes later in 1907 but the incident had left Duboy in a fragile mental state which Stokes used to his advantage in easily defending versus the suit.

While constructing the Ansonia from 1899 to 1903, Stokes spared no expense in ensuring it was indeed the most elaborate hotel in the city. Stokes had the Beaux Arts building designed with rounded towers, a two-story Parisian style mansard roof, and covered the façade with various metal ornamentation (much of which was unfortunately melted for scrap during World War II). One bit of constraint Stokes did demonstrate was in determining the building’s final height. He had originally envisioned a much taller structure but upon completion of the building’s 17th floor he decided that this was the ideal height which offered the optimal view. He thus capped off his construction at this level.

Atop this capped level Stokes added one of a handful of unique attributes for this hotel. On the roof Stokes opened a small farm complete with 500 chickens, ducks and a goat. The farm fresh eggs were dispersed each morning to the hotel’s guests until 1907, that is, when the Department of Health intervened and closed the farm due to health concerns.

Other features unique for this period introduced when the Ansonia first opened included rooms with air conditioning, electric stoves and pneumatic tube systems so guests could send message amongst themselves. Complete kitchens were located on each floor to service guests. And in the lobby guests were welcomed via a fountain in the entryway complete with live seals and a caged bear on occasion.

Such luxuries obviously drew a rather prestigious clientele and the Ansonia has continued to draw in the likes of the rich and famous. Past and present tenants have included Eric McCormack, Jack Dempsey, Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie, and Babe Ruth, who took residence here immediately after moving to New York from Boston in his infamous trade.

During his residency the Babe tested other guests’ patience in numerous fashions. He was said to be seen chasing women around the hotel and when in the confines of his room began to take up the saxophone. Luckily for the Babe’s neighbors, the Ansonia had been designed with 3-foot thick soundproof walls. My favorite story around the Babe though was that he supposedly had a full-time employee who was designated for opening and managing his fan mail. The Babe’s instructions? “”Keep the dough and the pictures of the broads, and throw the rest out.”  

One less esteemed baseball player stayed here the early 20th century, Arnold “Chick” Gandil. Gandil, is you are unfamiliar, was the first baseman for the infamous Chicago White Sox (Black Sox later known) who threw the 1919 World Series. It is here at the Ansonia that Gandil organized the first meetings amongst eight team members to propose intentionally losing the series. A series which they did end up losing five games to three versus the Cincinnati Reds. Upon uncovering the scandal all eight of the White Sox players received a lifetime ban from the sport.

Another famous tenant which occupied the entire basement from 1968-1977 was the Continental Baths. The Baths were a luxury gay spa complete with orgy room and a K-Y jelly dispensing candy machine. For a period guests were entertained by “Bathhouse Betty,” aka Bette Midler, who sang along with her piano player Barry Manilow. The Baths were eventually replaced by a swingers club called Plato’s Retreat that was actually shown in the 1999 Spike Lee movie, Summer of Sam. Plato’s Retreat, however like its predecessor, has since gone by the wayside.

Since 1992 the Ansonia has actually been a condominium as opposed to a hotel. It was also in 1992 that the film Single White Female was based inside the Ansonia. While the movie was set to occur here, in actuality only exterior and stairwell shots were filmed inside the Ansonia.

 

Website: http://www.ansoniarealty.com/

Address: 2109 Broadway, New York City, NY

Cost: Free.

IWalked Audio Tours To See This Site: New York City’s Upper West Side

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