John B. Snook

His first work in the field was in partnership with William Beer from 1837 to 1840,[5] then in 1842 he joined the firm of Joseph Trench.

[5] Its "palazzo mode – borrowed from Charles Barry's London clubs"[7] set a style for New York commercial hotels that lasted until mid-century.

Stephen Decatur Hatch, who later became a notable architect on his own, worked as a draftsman in Snook's office from 1860 to 1864.

[11] Snook also designed churches, hotels, institutions – the Odd Fellows Hall (1847–48), Grand Street, survives (with some additions) and is a New York City Landmark[12] – and hospitals.

His other designs include residences such as the villa in Sleepy Hollow, New York, commissioned by Anson G. Phelps (1851),[13] and those of the Vanderbilt and Lorillard families.

Snook's Grand Central Depot , completed in 1871, seen here in the 1890s, not long before it was torn down to make way for the current Grand Central Terminal
Looking out the north end of the Murray Hill Tunnel toward the station in 1880. Note the labels for the New York and Harlem and New York and New Haven Railroads; the New York Central and Hudson River was off to the left. The two larger portals on the right allowed some horse-drawn trains to continue further downtown.
More characteristic of Snook's work are these cast-iron buildings , the Loubat Stores, at 503-511 Broadway (1878-79), with cast-iron by Cornell Iron Works [ 1 ] They replaced the southern wing of the St. Nicholas Hotel. [ 2 ]