In the summer of 1898 I was with employment by a Sanderson, Willet, and Parker, a residential design and architectural firm established in Yonkers and primarily serving the surrounding clientele. Although I was architect by certification, my direct report-to, Mr. Willet, saw fit that I executed only the most rudimentary of the firm's tasks. My duties, hence, included a mere two principal undertakings: compile lackluster pricing schedules and ensure that Mr. Willet, et. al., remained never at want for a fresh refill of his tea. For neigh upon 18 months I longed to demonstrate my abilities as a creator, an innovator, a designer of handsome New Yorkan dwellings. I lingered within the curtains for this duration as senior colleagues not simply produced pleasing housing designs but further delivered such conceptuals to fruition, including the final turn-key event with the receiving owners.
"Why Mr. Roche, this indeed a fine element of your whole successes, a fine element indeed!" Mr. Willet to my colleague and prince of the firm a Mr. Alexander Pennington Roche (pronounced Roe-shey; yet, is does have a lovely 'roach' appearance.) "Yes, Mr. Roche, you've, again, managed to meet if not exceed the intentions of Mr. and Mrs. Allour in your recent accomplishments. Kudo sir, kudos."
Mr. Roche, you see, was a gentleman of "great nobility," or so maintains he in his vanity. Mr. Roche, I'm lead to believe, is too noble for his own presence. Yet, I desired to be like him - I envied him. I envied him not in the sense that I loathed him but rather I admired his abilities aside from his personality.
Truth be told, I desired a desk cluttered with slide rules, protractors, and drafting lead cases. I dreamed for the moment when I could join those who stamped their fist to their work surface and congratulated their accomplishments or cursed their annotated mistakes. I too wanted lead stains upon my shirt cuffs and eraser dust upon my trousers. I desired all these simple attributes of my surroundings so much so that I initiated a pessimistic campaign of frowning upon the successes of my colleagues... until a certain late Friday afternoon.
"Williamson!"
"Yes Mr. Willet?" I scurried to Mr. Willet's office.
"Firstly Williamson, this cream is rather spoiled I believe..."
"Oh, I am sorry Mr. Willet. May I?" I asked reaching for the cup and saucer.
"Indeed... what say you?"
"Ugh... Quite right Mr. Willet. Please accept my apologies sir. I'll fetch another cream jar immediately and ..."
"In time Williamson, I deem I have drunk my fill this day. In fact Williamson, the purpose of my calling was not simply the cream sir but rather you have been working here for perhaps six months..."
"...One year and six months sir."
"... Williamson, you will do well not to interrupt me son."
"Yes Mr. Willet."
"Yes, one year and six months. Throughout this time, Williamson, you have served this firm well. You're both efficient and tidy and you make one fine cup of tea sir."
"Thank you Mr. Willet."
"Mr. Williamson I should like to offer you an assignment with Sanderson, Willet, and Parker... a design tasking of uncomplicated proportions but vital to the reputation of this firm nonetheless."
"I would be honored Mr Willet."
"Fine sir. Please see Mr. Roche for further details. He has been assigned to carry you through this your... "
"Mr. Roche sir?"
"...Williamson, again, you will do well not to interrupt me sir. Please seek Mr. Roche come Monday A.M. Dismissed."
I shall admit that I was, frankly, uneasy at this first duty. I forecasted certain disappointment with Mr. Roche taking the glory or passing the failure. The week's end passed slowly and with much concern for Monday morning. I ate very little and slept even less.
"Willy! I understand you will be my understudy, shall we say, for this you very first tasking with our firm?!" Mr. Roche's inquiry was undeniably discomforting.
"As I understand it, yes, Mr. Roche. And, it's Williamson Mr. Roche."
"Oh, Mr. Williamson ... Willy! What's formalities among chums sir? Now, tarry not sir, we have plenty to accomplish this day alone. I have established a briefing with the funding clientele, a Mr. and Mrs. Carlson from within Yonkers. He is an tremendously successful newspaper man and she, well, Mrs. Carlson is a bit of a loony? Yes, loony would indeed be adequate."
"Looney?"
"Quite right Mr. Williamson. You soon shall see."
At first interaction Mr. Roche was a subtle self-important paired with hint of arrogance. He smiled at our coming challenges and suggested that we would encounter certain struggles of momentous proportions. I was nervous, so much so that my hands sweat and my head ached with the tinge of forthcoming responsibilities. Mr. Roche, conversely, remained collected, and he provided me an illustration of his confidence.
"Mr. Carlson! So very nice to see you again sir! ...and may I add, 'The Examiner' has produced none but society-shifting commentary in recent months sir. Congratulations!" Mr. Roche shook Mr. Carlson's hand with both of his own. "Ah, Mrs. Carlson, may I declare madam that your attire is perfectly modernized as usual! Paris? London?"
"Berlin, Mr Roche, Claus Humlaucher "
"My inaccuracy Mrs. Carlson. Nonetheless, I presume you and Mr. Carlson are excited for your new home?"
"Quite so. Shall we confer in the reading room? To be frank, Mr. Roche, I have standards that must be represented in my resident, and I demand only the best in finished product. Your firm has been selected to..."
"Mr. Carlson, are you to join us sir..." asked Mr. Roche.
"Mr. Carlson," interrupted Mrs. Carlson, "has pending responsibilities elsewhere."
"I see." Responded Mr. Roche.
"As I mentioned sir, your firm has been selected as a result of a recently completed home project for the Faulkner's a few miles away."
"Yes, I am familiar with the project. In fact, I was the lead designer for the Falkner resident."
"I see." Stated Mrs. Carlson "and who is this?"
"My apologies ma'am, this is young Willy! Ah, correction, Mr. Williamson. Mr. Williamson will be taking the lead on your new resident design initiative. I will be providing Mr. Williamson with ...."
"Mr. Williamson, what are your qualifications and recent projects sir?" Mrs. Carlson asked interrupting Mr. Roche.
"Yes. Very nice to meet you Mrs. Carlson, and may I add the I am honored to work with you and Mr...."
"Mr. Williamson, with all due reverence, Mr. Roche is the designer of record for the home that I deeply admire. Suggesting that you will be designing my new resident causes me definite alarm. Your qualifications and recent projects sir?"
To suggest that my hands were merely perspiring would be a perfect understatement. Nay, my hands were rather drenched in nervous sweat commonly seen dripping from a skittish race horse.
"Quite right Mrs. Carlson. I am a recent graduate - I should say, 18 months past - of State with an undergraduate in architectural design with concentrations on residential dwellings. Further, and since graduating with honors, I have been employed by Sanderson, Willet, and Parker." I responded confidently.
"And, your recent accomplishments Mr. Williamson?"
"Ah, pardon my interjection Mrs. Carlson," interrupted Mr Roche, "Mr. Williamson has been engaged in and providing augment efforts to a variety of design initiatives with several of the members of the firm. These successful achievements have allowed him to excel and, thus, take on a responsibility such as the design of your new home madam."
I was rightly taken aback by Mr. Roche's kind interjection. A fabrication, unquestionably, but a kind assist nonetheless.
"I see. Well then, let us discuss options, objectives, and expectations. I want it big, big and loud in both design and color. I want a bed room large enough to play badminton in. I want trees in full display gentlemen, no waiting for saplings to mature...."
Mrs. Carlson briefed Mr. Roche and I that she intended me to design her a home of great repute. She wanted to position herself as the person with whom possessed a home of such great character that she would be the envy of all her social class contemporaries. It was to be a Queen Anne and not a "fluffy, old Stick-Eastlake design like the Meyers' home" which was, as she put, "out-of-date and demonstrates nothing by 'Dutchyness'." She would settle for no less than what she wanted; money was posed no roadblock, and Mr. Carlson would "sign his name where needed and when needed," said she. Mrs. Carlson provided me not simply a list of requirements and expectations of concept and design direction. No, it was no list at all; rather, it was a novel in size; pages were numbered; and, paint swatches from a paint distributor in Detroit were glued to the back page of the binding.
Walking down the drive from the Carlson's estate Mr. Roche slapped me upon my back and informed me that I had challenge ahead of me.
"Willy, you've an awfully rocky row-to-hoe sir! Nip?" Asked Mr. Roche holding a brass flask in front of me, "and are you certain you are staged for such an undertaking?"
"Indeed not sir! Meaning, I am undeniably up for the challenge, yes. But, I do not take in spirits while working... and it's Mr. Williamson, Mr. Roche."
"Quite right Mr. Williamson..." responded Mr. Roche. He took a sip from the flank. " Your will do well under my tutelage, Mr. Williamson. My years with the firm are few, but my successes are many. There are many things we must discuss: first, your hair sir, we must find a tonic to control your cow-licks, and second, we must focus efforts on you growing a bit of a mustache sir! Say, did you take note of my rather astute and judicious actions upon Mrs. Carlson's 'Mr. Williamson' inquisition!?"
"Of course, Mr. Roche, and I should like to offer my appreciation for...."
"Willly Williamson it is then?!"
"I should think not, Mr. Roche... unless suggesting I may refer to you as Mr. 'Roach'?"
"What's this! 'Roach'?"
"Indeed sir."
"And, from whence does this lowly title originate sir?"
"From none but our colleagues at the firm, Mr. Roche."
"I say! Astonishing! Even Ms. Mills?"
"Correct sir."
"Blast! She's my favored administrative clerk sir! Frankly, Mr. Williamson, I am both amused and taken aback." Claimed Mr. Roche with a smile of certain satisfaction, "MISTER Williamson it is then sir!"
Mr. Roche slapped me upon my back again as we approached the steps of Sanderson, Willet, and Parker. He was an odd fellow, and I was not quite certain how to carry on about him: guard on stance or guard at rest. A conviction, nonetheless, was that Mr. Roche would be a critical element in my development, save for the mustache and flowery hair tonic of course. Indeed I did have a rocky row to hoe with my Carlson home undertaking, but I was staged at the ready. Tomorrow it is tea and spoiled cream no more!
"Bright and early Mr. Williamson!" instructed Mr. Roche as we separated company for the evening.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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