Crowning the summit of a hill approached by Commonwealth
Avenue stood the beautiful building erected by the Empire State. Its architecture
was in the colonial style, simple and strong. Sculptural decoration was
added in Martiny's successful groups, "Progress of Art" and Progress
of Commerce." Peixotto had decorated the central rotunda. To the north
and south extended roomy wings, the one brightly decorated for use as a
banqueting hall and the other arranged for more private use as reading and
lounging rooms, with cool and restful greens greeting the eye. The apartments
in the upper part of the building were reserved for the Commissioners, the
Governor and the Hostess. In the basement was a modern electric kitchen.
Hospitality was dispensed with a free hand, and the social functions were
frequent. A large pipe-organ helped in the entertainment. The New York Building
measured 300 feet from north to south, and cost, with its accessories, about
$ 85,000. New York's exhibit in the Palace of Education
was noteworthy, and the State dad a fine display in the Palace of Horticulture,
where fresh fruits were the attraction. In the Forestry, Fish and Game Building,
a special exhibit was made of the Adirondack forest preserve.
Crowned with sculpture and set among the most beautiful and natural surroundings,
the main facade of New York's handsome State pavilion presented an architectural
achievement that vied in beauty and stateliness with some of the large exhibit
buildings. The entrance faced the Plaza of States and was reached by wide
stairs leading from the gardens, the balustrade supporting sculptured pieces.
The name of the State was over the wide portal and above it was the coat
of arms. Philip Martiny and John Lenz were the sculptors who contributed
to the ornamentation, the chief feature of which was the "tririgas"
crowing the corners
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