The Astor Building 4

More construction photos of the St. Regis Hotel under its temporary name “the Astor Building.” Once the steel framing of the typical floors got going, it went fast. Here’s November 5, 1901, with the heavy-timber sidewalk shed almost complete and floor beams being erected at the 5th floor: The cylinder on top of the sidewalk on the 55th Street side, visible in the second photo looking at the Fifth Avenue side, is, I believe, the boiler of a steam engine, probably being used to power the derricks. Nine days later, the columns are in place above the 7th floor and the beams are following: By November 20, the frame has got high enough that the entire site starts to look like a building rather than an overside jungle gym. The facade is in progress, mostly at the second floor, brick back-up and stone veneer. And the ad is for Robert Burns brand cigars, made in the US with Cuban tobacco. I doubt there was any connection to the poet other than in an ad man’s imagination. Part 1: here.Part 2:…