Photo Credit: Roving Rube. Viewpoint: 5th Avenue between 44th and 45th, looking north; 2/11/02 4:45 PM.

Notes (Roving Rube): A rising sun, griffins and honeybees conceal the water-tower of the 38-story Fred F. French building. (Click Detail for close-up of them.)

One of the building's architects described the symbolism of the panels, intended to express the corporate values of the Fred French real estate development company: "A rising sun, progress, flanked on either side by two winged griffins, integrity and watchfulness. At either end are two beehives with golden bees, the symbols of thrift and industry." (quoted in New York 1930).

This picture backs Frances Morrone's assertion in The Architectural Guidebook to New York City that the building "sparkles even on days when its neighbors sag in shadow."