J.J. Astor III House

The J.J. Astor House measured 50-x-107 feet and the decorative window dressings, architraves, cornices and Corinthian columns were built with Nova Scotia freestone. A garden with a fountain separated J'J's house from that of his brother's next door.

Having been unsuccessful in politics and tired out by his aunt Lina's fanatical and relentless quest for social dominance, Willy quit America for England where he became the 1st Viscount Astor. As a parting shot at his aunt, he had wished to build New York's largest (ie., smelliest) Livery Stable in place of his childhood home but was persuaded by George Boldt (the builder of the iconic Boldt Castle) that a hotel would make more financial sense. In 1891, No. 338 was knocked down and by 1893 the 13-story "Waldorf Hotel" towered dominantly over his aunt next door as a reminder of who was boss.

In 1895, George Boldt then managed to convince Willy's first cousin, John Jacob Astor IV, of the sense of knocking down his mother's house, No. 350, to replace it with another - taller and grander - hotel, the "Astoria". Lastly, and with every ounce of diplomatic skill he could muster, Boldt succeeded in negotiating between the two warring factions of the Astor family, convincing them of the business sense in joining their hotels to create what would become the iconic "Waldorf-Astoria Hotel". The hotel stood until 1929 when it was razed and replaced by the Empire State Building, found today at No. 338 Fifth Avenue.