The Ionic Column

The story of 345 Allen Street can not be told without mention of a sister building located at 441 East Allen Street. Its the ionic columns that hold the secrets of greatness. Ionic is one of three column styles developed in ancient Greece. More slender and more ornate than the earlier Doric style, an Ionic column has scroll-shaped ornaments on the capital, or top. The ionic column is a classic architectural support used to convey grandeur, power and strength. Ionic columns have been used to display dominance at the Jefferson Memorial, Federal Hall, New York Stock Exchange, US Supreme Court Building and, of course, the White House. The ionic column was a favorite of McKim, Mead and White.

But the story of the ionic columns at 441 East Allen Street is unique…