Alfred John Manning was born in March of 1851 in the tiny village of Old Brampton, just south of Hyde Park in London, England. He was the son of Thomas Allen Manning and Arabella Sarah Longhurst. His father reproduced Japanese ornamental work and Alfred became a lithographic artist. At fourteen his brother, Thomas, left for America to make his fortune. Thomas became successful in starting a paper bag business in New York City and at age twenty-two Alfred left London and joined his brother.
The S. S. Nevada
On October 13, 1873 Alfred arrived in New York City on board the S. S. Nevada. He becomes a lithographer and designer in a small shop at 138 Fulton street where his brother’s business was also located. Soon his brother stumbles upon another business opportunity. A customer with a yacht was trying to sell it with no luck. Thomas, while helping him, discovered there was no registry or agency that helped owners and buyers find each other. Seeing the potential Thomas started a business to make these connections. It quickly grew to also sell marine insurance and charter or rent boats of all sizes covering the east coast and Great Lakes. The Thomas Manning Yacht Agency was the first, and biggest, of it’s kind for over sixty years.
For the next few years Alfred makes it as a designer and artist and receives several jobs from Andrew Dougherty’s playing card company. Between 1877 and 1880 Alfred patents ten card back designs and two Ace of Spades for them.
Mogul 15 Best Bower
(Reused on a 2016 Bicycle Deck)
(Reused on a 2016 Bicycle Deck)
Triplicate 18 Triplicate 18
Great Mogul Great Mugol & Pilot 5
Two Unidentified and Probably Unused Designs
Pilot 5 & Eagle Card Jolly Joker
After his last Dougherty design his work takes a downturn. Alfred then goes to work for his brother for several years brokering boat deals. Through this business they start making many connections with the richer people.
In September 1883 Alfred becomes a naturalized citizen of the United States and he also joins an up-and-coming architect named Robert H. Robertson. Even though the firm is named “Robertson & Manning” Robertson gets a lot of the credit in history due to his architectural pedigree and Alfred’s lack of. Manning is referred to as “Head Draftsman and Office Manager” even though his name appears on some surviving drawings with Robertson’s.
During his career with Robertson they designed, among many others, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad station at Mott Haven, the historic renovation of the New York Club at 370 5th Avenue, and a row of housing in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill district.
In September 1883 Alfred becomes a naturalized citizen of the United States and he also joins an up-and-coming architect named Robert H. Robertson. Even though the firm is named “Robertson & Manning” Robertson gets a lot of the credit in history due to his architectural pedigree and Alfred’s lack of. Manning is referred to as “Head Draftsman and Office Manager” even though his name appears on some surviving drawings with Robertson’s.
During his career with Robertson they designed, among many others, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad station at Mott Haven, the historic renovation of the New York Club at 370 5th Avenue, and a row of housing in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill district.
Their crowning achievement, which Alfred gets no mention of in today’s books, was the Park Row Building at 15 Park Row. It was, for a brief period, the world's tallest building.
In 1885 Alfred married Elizabeth Pollock “Bessie” Rutter. She is the daughter of James H. Rutter the president of the New York Central and Hudson Railroad. The Vanderbilts had handpicked Mr. Rutter to run their railroad after he had started out as a lowly rail clerk and worked his way up exhibiting “a great work ethic”. Among their 1,000 wedding guests were the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, the richest people in the United States. The newlyweds moved onto the Rutter estate in Irvington on the Hudson, New York. It was then, and still is, an enclave of the rich and famous.
Alfred and Thomas were also members of a group called the “New York Hussars". This was a group of wealthy gentlemen with a great interest in equestrian sports. They adopted blue uniforms and headgear for ceremonial purposes that mimicked Eurasian fashions dating back to the Napoleonic and Crimean Wars. They were often called out from their Madison Avenue Armory, which occupied an entire city block between 94th and 95th Streets, to escort presidents, governors, foreign dignitaries, appear in parades and the National Horse Show.
On April 2, 1889, the group, then some fifty-three strong, was mustered as Squadron A into the National Guard as NGSNY, the first cavalry arm of the Guard of the State of New York. Because of their age Alfred and Thomas did not muster in.
On April 2, 1889, the group, then some fifty-three strong, was mustered as Squadron A into the National Guard as NGSNY, the first cavalry arm of the Guard of the State of New York. Because of their age Alfred and Thomas did not muster in.
Alfred's brother adds his forgotten name to history when he hires a young lady named Christine Ross. She quickly becomes a great company asset and he talks her into attending New York University to study accounting. In 1896 New York creates the first professional certified accountant exams. On her second attempt Miss Ross passes with the second highest score. But, she is a woman in a man's world and they refuse to certify her. After 18 months they relent and she becomes the first woman C. P. A. in America. Thomas Manning makes her the company’s Secretary and Treasurer. Ross' clients included wealthy women and persons working in the business and fashion industries.
By 1900 Alfred breaks out on his own in the architectual world. One of his first jobs was the Town Hall in his neighborhood of Irvington on the Hudson. Then in 1902 he sells some of the Rutter estate to Melchior S. Belthoover, an oil and cotton millionaire from Natchez, Missisippi.
Mr. Belthoover wants a homeland castle recreated and Alfred builds him a 44 room stone castle sited on 37.5 acres overlooking the Hudson River. It was called "Rochroane".
This "Rhine castle" featured a spectacular stained- glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany, his father was a neighbor, that depicted the Hudson River view as seen from the castle. This window is the only surviving piece of the castle and is on display at the Corning (NY) Museum of Glass.
Alfred's lasting, and greatest, crowning acheivement is the Ayer Mansion in Boston. But since he was teamed up with Louis Comfort Tiffany he once again gets passing mention.
“American Architect and Building News” illustrated the newly-completed house in December 21, 1901, and described Tiffany's involvement. "In carrying out his design, the architect (the little known A. J. Manning) had the benefit of association with Mr. Louis Comfort Tiffany, who designed the exterior mosaic-work, which makes the house so notable on a Boston street, as well as decorated the interesting main staircase…" (His association with Tiffany had began while in partnership with Robertson.)
Frederick Ayer had amassed a fortune over a long and varied career as a businessman and investor in patent medicine, dry goods, textiles, railroads, canals, and real estate. The Ayer Mansion is located at 395 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. You can tour part of the house still.
Alfred's Design Incorporating Tiffany's Mosaic Work
At this same time Alfred patented a special designed tub and shower to possibly be used in the Ayer Mansion.
Alfred's finances start going bad in 1903. In October he is sued for two bonds he had defaulted on causing a modern day loss of almost a million dollars. The next month the Yonkers Savings Bank tacks on another quarter million. Alfred sells off some Irvington on the Hudson property he recently purchased but it was not enough to cover all the debts.
His business keeps on going though. His design for the summer home of E. J. Nathan at Elberon, New Jersey, was celebrated in the October 1905 Homes and Garden as an example of the "very excellent result by the co-operation of a little common sense on the part of the owner and a little good taste on the part of a well-trained architect...". He gets some more small commissions but still appears to be falling behind.
Thomas dies in 1908 and his business partners Henry H. Jennings and Herman Jagle run keep running it for the estate. In 1912 the business becomes known as "H. H. Jennings Successors to Thomas Manning." For some reason Alfred doesn't get involved in the business. Possibly he got some money from his brother's estate. In 1918 Alfred's family is back living in New York City in a residential neighborhood on East 233rd Street.
The Mills Hotel #2 at Rivington and Chrystie Streets was described by the New York Times as the “world’s biggest hotel” and the “finest for the use of men of limited means,” This handsome building, erected in 1906-07, was the second of the three model residential hotels for single working men erected by Darius Ogden Mills at the turn of the 20th century. On August 20th, 1919 Alfred is found dead in his room here.
Why is living in a hotel "for men of limited means"? You had to be a single man to live there. There is no record he was divorced. In the Federal Census the next year his widowed wife is now living in a small apartment in a five story building on West 111th Street and working as an Executive Secretary. She passes away five years later. Both are buried in the Rutter family plot in the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
His business keeps on going though. His design for the summer home of E. J. Nathan at Elberon, New Jersey, was celebrated in the October 1905 Homes and Garden as an example of the "very excellent result by the co-operation of a little common sense on the part of the owner and a little good taste on the part of a well-trained architect...". He gets some more small commissions but still appears to be falling behind.
Thomas dies in 1908 and his business partners Henry H. Jennings and Herman Jagle run keep running it for the estate. In 1912 the business becomes known as "H. H. Jennings Successors to Thomas Manning." For some reason Alfred doesn't get involved in the business. Possibly he got some money from his brother's estate. In 1918 Alfred's family is back living in New York City in a residential neighborhood on East 233rd Street.
The Mills Hotel #2 at Rivington and Chrystie Streets was described by the New York Times as the “world’s biggest hotel” and the “finest for the use of men of limited means,” This handsome building, erected in 1906-07, was the second of the three model residential hotels for single working men erected by Darius Ogden Mills at the turn of the 20th century. On August 20th, 1919 Alfred is found dead in his room here.
Why is living in a hotel "for men of limited means"? You had to be a single man to live there. There is no record he was divorced. In the Federal Census the next year his widowed wife is now living in a small apartment in a five story building on West 111th Street and working as an Executive Secretary. She passes away five years later. Both are buried in the Rutter family plot in the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.