December 19, 1908





RECORD   AND   GUIDE





1259





CANAVAN BROTHERS CO.

Excavators and House Shorers





The importance of the work done by the excavator in tlie
erection of the giant arcliitectural creations of the twentieth
century is frequently overlooked in the admiration for the
finished structure. The stability of the building depends very
largely upon the foundations, and the strength of these depend,
in turn, very largely upon the preparation made for thera. In
Manhattan, where the peculiarities of the sub-soil often de¬
mand tiiat the excavation go down forty or fifty feet through
solid rock, tlie engineering problems attending the operations
are both complicated and full of difficulties. The contractors
who execute the contracts to excavate and shore for the modern
"cloud scratchers," as the Germans call our skyscrapers, must
be skillful, indefatigable and resourceful. Needless to say they
must be provided with the latest appliances, such as pneuraatic
and electric drills, derricks, blasting devices, etc. The shoring
of adjoining buildings and the care required to avoid damaging
them to the least degree call for efficiency of the highest order.

The Canavan Brothers, 518 West 5Gth st, who have prepared
the way for the construction work on some of the flnest build¬
ings in New York, thinlt that the owner or general contractor
exercises economy in employing a concern that does the work
scientifically and expeditiously. Their plant at the address
noted is large enough to handle any job ever given out in New
York. The amount of machinery kept on hand and the number
of men employed, added to tiie long experience of the flrm in
this line of work, enable the management to execute several
large contracts at the same time. Rapidity without the sacriflce
of safety is wliat counts these days in every phase of con¬
struction work. The reputation of Canavan Brothers among
architects and general contractors is too well known to need
explanation.

The facilities of the Canavan Brothers Co. and their motto of
"Never procrastinate—do the work to-day." explain the unin¬
terrupted chain of brilliant achievements whicii has character¬
ized their work for the many years that they have been ex¬
cavating and shoring in the metropolis of Araerica.    The record





made by the company in removing the solid rock from the site
of the new Fifth Avenue Building, Broadway and 23d st. was
noted in a special article in the Record and Guide last sumraer.
The contracts secured this year alone indicate that the Canavan
Bros, are awarded the big ones, those invoiving great obstacles
and responsibilities. Mention of four of these—the excavating
for the Fifth Avenue Euiiding, for the Belnord Apartment
House, the addition to the Hotel Astor and the Maxine Elliott
Theatre—justifies this statement. The Belnord will be the
largest housekeeping apartment house in the world, and the
site takes up an entire city block, extending from Broadway to
Amsterdam av, between SGth and 87th sts. The blasting of the
huge boulders of rock for the Belnord was a six months' con¬
lract, but it was completed in two-thirds of that time. The
addition to the Hotel Astor not only involved much heavy blast¬
ing, but also the danger of damaging the magnificent original
plant adjoining on one side and private residences on the other
side. Foresight, care, skill and the best machinery are required
above all things in such a contract as this. The Maxine Elliott
Theatre was a rush job, and Canavan Brothers were at work
there on one part of the site while the walls were rising on
another part.

Work of recent years included the excavations for the
"Apthorp," the palatial apartment house erected for the Astors
on the city block bounded by Broadway, West End av, 7Sth st
and 79th st, a contract completed in flve months quicker than
the contractors expected, as it was thought to be a year's under¬
taking; the excavations for the Brunswick Building, at Madison
square and 26th st, one-flfth of the site being solid rock, but
which took the company only six weeks to complete. Enumera¬
tion might be raade indefinitely of the excavations and shoring
work accomplished by these indefatigable brothers, David P.,
John F. and Maurice J. Canavan, who have been engaged in
this work for the past twenty flve years.

518 West 56th St., New York City.
Phone 450O Columbus.





EAST ORANGE, N. J.—Hyman Rosen¬
sohn, Broad st, Newark, is working on
plans for two apartment houses, to have
all modern improvements, except Steam
heat. David Boenninger will be the owner
of one to be located in Valley st. East
Orange. This will be a 3-sty structure,
partly frame construction, tbe exterior
being stucco on metal. The estimated cost
is $10,000. The other apartment house
being designed by Mr, Rosensoiin will be
owned by E. Himber, and located at
Bigelow and Hunterdon sts. The esti¬
mated cost is $10,000.





Banlcs.

ROCHESTER, N. T.—Messrs. York &
Sawyer, 156 5th av, Manhattan have pre¬
pared plans and will talie figures after
Jan. 1, for a 10-sty addition 47xG0 ft,
to the bank and office building for the
Rochester  German  Insurance  Co.

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Plans have been
completed by Mowbray & Uffinger, 92
Liberty st, Manhattan, for a 5-aty bank
and office building. 45x100 ft, to be
erected at Nashville, for the Union Bank
and Trust Co. Estimated cost is $150,-
OOO.    The architect will take bids.

BLOOMFIELD, N. J.-The Bloomfield
Trust Co. bas just purchased a site at
Bloomfield and Glenwood avs. It is in¬
tended to erect a handsome building suit¬
able for banking purposes on the plot.
Offices will be located on the second and
third floors. No plans have yet been
prepared or contracts let.





Churches.

JERSEY CITY, N. J.—Members of the
Second Reformed Church of Hudson City,
according to reports, have accepted plans
prepared by A. P. Heidt, of Newark, for
an edifice to be erected at a cost of $45,-
000.

CANASTOTA, N. Y,—Trustees of the
Methodist   Episcopal   Church  are   having





plans prepared by Merrick & Randall,
Syracuse, N. Y., for a 1-sty and basement
church, 80x94 ft., of gray pressed briclc
and stone, witli slate roof, to cost about
$35,000,

ARKPORT, N. T.—The Presbyterian
congregation lias appointed the following
building comraittee to secure plans and
estiraates for a new brick church; Nor¬
man Wheeler, Jolm Taylor, S. W. New-
some, Lester Conderman and W. M. Hurl¬
burt.    Architect will be retained at once.

BATAVIA, N. Y.—The First Baptist
congregation. Rev. Paul Hayne, pastor,
will commission an architect to prepare
pians for additions to the Sunday School.
Two stories, probably concrete construc¬
tion. Plans to be submitted with esti¬
mate of cost at the annual churcli meet¬
ing, to be held Dec. 30.

LIBERTY, N. Y.—The First M. E.
Church, Rev, J. Tredinnick, pastor, are
considering the erection of a new parish
house to cost about $10,000. Local archi¬
tects and builders are submitting plans in
competition for this building. Size of plot,
50x100. The materials of construction
have not been decided upon.

VERONA, N. J.—Bids will be received
by Clinton D. Baldwin, chm. building
committee of the M. E, congregation,
Bloomfield and Lakeside avs, until 10 A.
M., Dec. 30, for the erection of a church.
Plans can be seen at office of chairman
and at Builders' Exchange, Newark, N.
J. W. R. Brown, architect, 5439 Superior
st, Chicago, 111.

BROOKLYN,-Messrs. Allen & Collins,
architects, of Boston, Mass., are taking
estimates on the construction of the Plat-
bush Avenue Congregational Church, at
Dorchester road and East ISth st, Brook¬
lyn. Pians provide for a brick and stone
building, li^-stys, 75x100, with an ex¬
tension, that will provide for Sunday
school rooms, kitchen and church parlors.
Approximate cost, $'(^,000.





Competitions.

SHILOH, GA.—The Pine Mountain
Tuberculosis Sanatorium will receive
plans and bids until Jan. 1, for a san¬
atorium to consist of 4-room cottage for
administration building and dwelling for
superintendent and attendants. Address
Secretary Pine Mountain Sanatorium,
Shiloh.  Ga.

BUFFALO. N. Y.—Invitations will soon
be extended by the Grover Cleveland Me¬
morial Committee to sculptors to submit
competitive designs for the bronze statue,
in sitting posture, of the late President,
Grover Cleveland, to be installed in the
Franklin st front of the City and County
Hall, Buffalo, N. Y, The comraittee in
ehar-ge consists of Thomas B. Lockwood,
Carleton Sprague, John L. Clawson, Chas.
W. Goodyear, Jacob L. Siegrist, Louis P.
Puhrmann, J. J. Albright, and H. H. Sey¬
mour.

ALBANY, N. T.—The Soldiers" and
Sailors' Monument commission has selec¬
ted the Washington Park site, Albany,
on which to erect a monument. Con¬
struction to be stone and bronze. Com¬
petitive designs will soon be called for.
Competition will be limited to seven
competitors. Six of the competitors to
receive $500 each and the seventh com¬
petitor to receive the commission to pre¬
pare designs. Designs to be submitted
to flve judges, three of the judges to be
appointed by the commission and two
judges to be appointed by the competing'
architects or sculptors.

HARTFORD, CONN,—The Hartford
high school commission, consisting of
Archibald A. Welch, chairman, Thos. S.
Weaver, secretary and treasurer, Thos.
F. Kane, Adolph W. Gilbert and Fred¬
erick P. Ford, appointed to select a site
and procure preliminary plans, has In¬
vited the following architects to submit
plans in competition: Brocklesby & Smith,
Davis & Brooks, George Keller, of Hart-