Lyndhurst and Westminster: Two Icons
by Anne Tureen
BIS Magazine USA December 2020 issue
It was the era of Shakespeare and ‘Queen Bess’ in the 17thcentury when the New World was discovered. In England, it was the Tudor architectural period which utilized much brickwork, rich oriel or bay windows and tall chimney stacks. Those comparable resources were scarce in this developing country. Only essential buildings were raised almost exclusively in wood, in what was to become the United States of America. One of the earliest homes that still stands today is the Corwin or ‘Witch House” built circa 1630.
The Colonial period (1600-1793) saw important civil and private construction in red brick with white wood detailing inspired by Palladiandesigns. One important example that survives today is the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Anyone who has ever visited the East Coast of the United States, especially Boston, is familiar with the Greek Revival style which dominated American architecture throughout the 1700’s. This period corresponded to the Georgian period in England (1714-1835 circa). There were specific elements unique to the Northeastern United States in these 200 years of architecture. It is quite apparent that architects as well as their clients looked to Europe and especially to England as their model.
The romantic movement of the mid 19thcentury inspired art and architecture which bolstered European medieval themes and ideas. Reflected in the vertical emphasis, with steeply pitched roofs, pointed arches on tall windows and doors, this architecture is known as Gothic Revival. Lyndhurst Mansion is one of the most prominent examples.
The Lyndhurst Mansion, in Tarrytown, New York is known among architectural historians as one of the most important 19thcentury homes in the country. In a 3-part documentary, “10 That Changed America”, airing on PBS in April 2016, Lyndhurst Mansion was named one of the 10 most influential homes that ‘transformed residential living in the United States’. The main building, with its asymmetrical shape and prominent turrets, resembles a castle. Interestingly, it was the other outbuildings, the gatehouse and the little caretakers’ houses at Lyndhurst that are considered the most significant. Architects applied the Gothic Revival concepts typical of cathedrals and state buildings to smaller dwellings. In 2016, Howard Zar, the executive director of Lyndhurst, described this ‘middle class version of Lyndhurst’ was created, duplicated and developed across the country.
The architect of Lyndhurst Mansion, Alexander Jackson Davis was born in New York City. He launched his architectural career in 1826 working for a prestigious firm that specialized in the Greek Revival style. In their offices, Davis had access to the greatest library collection on architecture available at that time. He became versant in all historical styles, especially classical and gothic which was all the vogue in the Victorian era. In 2004, a retrospective of his life and work at the metropolitan Museum of Art brought his accomplishments before the public. As Amelia Peck points out in her introduction to this exhibition, ‘Design, not structure or theory was his chief interest and strength.’
A young Davis enjoyed the everyday pastimes of the mid-Victorian era such as reading gothic thriller novels and presenting domestic theatrical productions. Davis excelled in draftsmanship in addition to watercolors, enabling Davis to communicate both the precise architectural detailing of his subject while lending a sense of scenic, picturesque romanticism. This inspired his patrons, who wanted their commissions to reflect cultured references to European history. These ideals were much frowned upon by the successive generations of architects who embraced the essential nature of Bauhaus and in the United States, Frank Lloyd Wright’s (1867–1959)rigorous organic theory. The legacy of Davis survives due to his various commissions of government buildings, cities, and universities. His only book, Rural Residenceswas published in 1837 on country homes which carried his ideas to the general public. The over one hundred private country residences for families had the primary aim of providing a lifestyle for the owner commensurate with his ambitions and social status.
Three families owned this property over the years with each having made significant changes to the building. The original commission for Alexander Davis to design and build the home was made by the former New York City mayor, William Paulding. The house was named ‘The Knoll’ from 1838-1842. When the property became available, the wealthy merchant George Merritt acquired it and continued with Davis. Davis’ additions saw the mansion double in size with Merritt renaming it Lyndenhurst(1864-67) after the estate’s linden trees. After Merritt’s death, the nouveau riche tycoon Jason Gould purchased the mansion, shortening the name to Lyndhurst. The Gould family could not do better than look to Davis for their country retreat and were fortunate to find Lyndhurst. Gould added on the massive greenhouse, which had a staff of twelve people just to maintain the palm avenue down the center walkway. The mansion stands on rising ground, a soft promontory, overlooking the Hudson River only just north of New York City. In good weather, the skyline is clearly visible from the property.
The lives of the Gould family saw the beginning and development of what we now call the ‘Dog World’. In 1847, the first recorded dog show was a group of classes for Pointers and Setters held in Tervuren, Belgium. The event considered the first United Kingdom show is Newcastle Upon Tyne, was restricted to Pointers and Setters. It was organized by Richard Brailsford, gamekeeper to the Prime Minister. Dr. John Henry Walsh, a veterinarian, and editor of the The Field, was a keen sportsman, and promoted Brailsford’s show in his journal. In 1867, he wrote the first published standard on the famous pointer, Major. Dr. Walsh actively encouraged the nascent breed clubs to prepare standards, collected and included these for his 1867 book, The Dogs of the British Isles.This was widely read, carrying to the general public the idea of specific breeds. This contemporary idea generated several editions of his work. In his editorials, Walsh lobbied for judging according to standards rather than subjective opinion. At the 1869 London show, organized by the National Dog Club, dogs were judged based on a breed standard for the first time. This event was arguably the birth of the modern-day dog show.
Conformation competitions and the publication of standards made breeding through artificial selection the mania of the day. Dog shows were regularly attended by men and women of elite society and royalty. In 1873, the foundation of The Kennel Club in Pall Mall was followed the next year by the opening of their stud book. This brought increasing cleanliness and uniformity to proceedings. Walsh himself wrote that he ‘hoped this craze for dog shows would abate before a lunatic asylum became necessary!’ Fortunately for us, breeding and showing continued in the United Kingdom, across Europe and the United States. Anyone, who was anyone, wanted to be part of it. Two of the Gould children were especially involved.
Frank Jay Gould (1877-1956) spent much time with his family at Lyndhurst. As a young man, his passion for the Saint Bernard, an icon of the Victorian dog fancy, led the family to build an entire kennel for his dogs. He later transferred most of his stock to another breeder as his activities brought him to France. Frank judged Pointers at the Westminster Dog Show in 1915. He served as President of the Saint Bernard Club of America and established the Gould Cup for this breed.
Anna Gould (1875-1961) also a dog enthusiast, was known for keeping King Charles Spaniels and Pekingese. Like her brother, she went to live in France for many years. During her time in France, she was married to two French aristocrats adding to her name the title of Duchess. In 1937, after the death of her second husband, Anna was able to flee France before the German invasion. She returned to residency in Lyndhurst as well as her position as society leader.
Only four years after the foundation of The Kennel Club of Pall Mall, the Westminster Kennel Club was founded. An article in the New York Times made the announcement on March 28 1877, that the first Westminster Dog Show was ‘A New Fashionable Amusement’. It goes on to say:
‘The Westminster Kennel Club, of this City, an organization of gentlemen interested in the improvement of the strains of hunting dogs, in the use of which they find their best amusement, are preparing for an extensive bench show to be held at Gilmore’s Garden, on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of May.’
This Westminster Kennel Club’s Dog Show is a landmark event. Not only is Westminster important in the discipline of conformation showing, but also significant to the history of sports in the United States. Only the Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse race has a longer continuous running. When the Covid-19 coronavirus threatened to curtail public events, the kennel club was quick to find an alternate venue to ensure the continuation of the historical show. A change was needed from Madison Square Garden and the limited event space of the Piers in New York City. The lush rolling hills and open-air grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion, on the countryside of Tarrytown, was the ideal solution. Lyndhurst is accustomed to hosting large events and specifically, dogs. Two other Kennel Clubs, with established shows, offered to surrender their booking dates to ensure the Westminster tradition continued. As Howard Zar, the executive director of Lyndhurst points out in an interview, ‘there is continuity in the union of Westminster and Lyndhurst.’
The 145thWestminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Junior showmanship Finals and U.S. Agility Masters and Obedience Masters will be held on the grounds of the estate the 12thand 13thof June 2020. Westchester Airport is very near, though driving from NYC takes less than half an hour and there is public transportation from the city on the Hudson line subway and/or train, only a 1.15hr trip. The vibrant area of Westchester affords hospitality at every level of comfort. A panorama of attractions nearby include the Rockefeller estate and several national parks.
