Arts and Letters

George Browne Post, the son of Joel B. and Abbey M. Post, was born in New York City, December 15, 1837. His career was most intimately associated for almost sixty years with the architectural development of this metropolis. In order to provide for the rapid increase of population during this time, there was an unparalleled growth in building. An endless variety of new problems had to be solved in order to meet the vast diversity and multiplicity of demands. Not only was the city reaching out along new avenues and over new areas of what were once fertile pasture-lands, but, alas! for want of legislative restraint, and not for want of space, one city was actually being builded over another, several times in height, reaching into the clouds, like so many Towers of Babel, scattered about in a confusion of styles. During this period Mr. Post was perhaps the most active and successful architect in finding a solution which would best meet the constructive difficulties of the modern tall building, involving the engineer's method of skeleton framework construction, accompanied by the development and general use of the passenger-elevator.

When designing the old Produce Exchange, one of our notable buildings, he employed for the first time, in the inner court of this building, iron columns and beams to support several stories of floors and walls. This was one of the first contributions to the evolution of the modern steel-frame building.

There were no traditions in the history of the art which would seem to suggest the solution of this problem, and there was a real demand for originality to meet such a hopeless situation. It is difficult to realize to what an extent Mr. Post paved the way for others to follow. In the art of architecture more than in any other creative pursuit, perhaps, the general public ofttimes finds it difficult to discern the true author of what may be a very original conception. Lost in the many modifications and slight variations, the same idea is so often reproduced by others that it becomes commonplace. A conspicuous example might be cited in Michelangelo's dome of St. Peter's, one of the most original designs ever conceived by the genius of man. Its originality can be appreciated only when one realizes that other domes, such as the Val-de-Grâce, Les Invalides, Soufflot's Panthéon, or Wren's St. Paul's were all built at a later date, and that no dome of this character, with the pendentive and the drum, preceded this most original masterpiece of architecture.

Mr. Post was really doing pioneer work at a time when the educational advantages and the condition of American architecture were not to be compared with those of the present day. In his early life he served his country in the Civil War as aide on the staff of General Burnside, who commanded the Army of the Potomac in 1862, at the first battle of Fredericksburg. He was at one time colonel of the Twenty-third Regiment of the National Guard of New York.

Mr. Post was first educated as an engineer, being graduated from the scientific school of New York University in the class of 1858. What we now recognize as engineering, with the innovation of steel and railroad construction, is comparatively a modern science, which rapidly became differentiated from the art of architecture. At that time there was little design in construction. As Mr. Post saw rather the qualitative than the quantitative side of construction, he was attracted to architecture, and he studied for three years with Richard Morris Hunt. Perhaps his first conspicuous work was the old Chickering Hall, on lower Fifth Avenue, now destroyed. He was one of the principal architects who conceived and constructed the Columbian Exposition of Chicago. I might almost say, without further mention, that we need only to look about us to see his many works. As a man he was fearless and strong, with a true sense of proportion and justice. He had unusual executive and administrative ability, and notwithstanding his great enthusiasm and impulsive temperament, there were always a quiet restraint and dignity which made him one of the most representative men of his profession. He was frequently called upon by both federal and municipal governments to render public service, both because of his generous willingness to give his valuable time and because of his distinguished personality, which made its impression upon men. The long and eventful life of our friend and fellow-Academician was ended November 28, 1913.