New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-07
"THE MEN OF THE RING
THEIR SUMMER PALACES At SOUTH NOR
WALK, CONN.

CARVEY's AND KEYsER's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PARK AND INGERsoLL's HOME-HOw PoLiT-
ICAL INFLUENCE AND MONEY ARE MADE AT
TIE SAME TIME.
Taking the road which crosses the New
Haven Railroad Depot at South Norwalk, Conn, In
souherly direction, proceeding about half mile through
country noticeable the beauty OF Its scenery and the
luXurance OF its vegetation, and turning to the LETT at
the first fork suddenly upon the euryng he
OF solid stone wall which neoses the grounds Of EI6rt
A. Woodward, James H. IngersOl, Andrew j. GarVey,
and John H. Keyser the "Men of the Ring" or men su
10 have been made rich by the Ring Of New-York.
This property at present Of such interest TO Newfork
tax payers Is pleasantly located swell OF land that
rises gently from the shore of the Sound, commanding
view Of wide stretch Of country northward and south
ward; while looking eastward across the ~ miles VI
water that interyenes between it and Long Island,
oncmay see in clear weather. tho heightened line Of level
coast Of the latter with its background OF dusky hs;
and here and there rising slightly above the surface vi
the water lie green and wooded slets such as the eye
loves rest upon. Backward and westward the ahd Is
rolled mp in undulating hills covered with forests Ihe
property Is about mile and half In length Win an
average width of mile and tho propretors
intend TO form there rom grand park with walks ana
drives like the Central Park, or more properly Ike
IIcwclyn Park NewJersey build small houses on the
meadows opposite their own for the occupation OF men
I'm moderate circumstances, by the patron SAINT
Of Gotham; and thus while drawing handsome income
luxury that wealth can command and reign supreme In
their little community. AS every house thus built ana
occupied would contain nj least one voter there's ldir
presumption, too, village calculations and surmiaes
may be trusted that they are looking to the political CON
troll OF tins Republican district.
O,tensby TO increase the natural beauty Or the spoil
Mr. woodward at the time superintendent Of Streets In
South Norwalk, procured appropriation from the
Town Council 10 dcfTay the expense OF widening the
road which skirts the property, and which Is 0steha-
tously called "WOOdwardave." The work OF widening
has not yet begun aud the money has not yet been
drawn. Following this road TO the left by the curve OF
the wall for quarter OF mile, it leads through an iron
gateway with granite pillars stone causeway TO
an island formerly known az Reeds Island" Here IN
former tunes Mr.. Reed kept house Of entertainment,
where the hungry and thsty used to resort to satisfy
the inner man.
This island contains ahouthee acres and Is now called
"Garvcy's Island" II lies just a the mouth Of Norwak
Harbor, and opposite the famous "Grcgory's Point
where fat men" love 70 congregate when byalyes are
In season. and nearly surrounded by water at all tines
but extremely high tides the salt meadow, always i'm
passablc connecting it with the mainland, Is covered
with water The old house used by the former proprie-
tor stl stands but viii be torn down. There are
besides, barns carTiage-houses, and other Duld-
ings recently erected, and the dwelling is IN
tended for the present owners country residence Ihls
is tho most unpretentous building of the group along
Woodvardaye lit is n frame phOuse, three stories In
height OF the ordinary VILLA pattern painted yellow win
brown trimmings, and is about twenty-five by thirtyye
feet in Dimensions. The windows are square with round
ed tops pointed wooden arches being set In
above. II has a French roof, and square tower
with circular windows on tho soutleasterly side
overlooking the Sound. The workmanship Is eY-
identity good and the material used In It's construct
ton of the best the boarding is OF fine grain ana
shows few knOts There can be no doubt That the
pascrng wcl DONE that the elaborate finish OF the
op+eIra guarantee that
has been or Will be spared 10 make II all that
a ulastcrcr can desire. The island IS COM
pletely bordered by trees which have probably stood
for ages and the whole place has the appearance OF
undergoing alterations and repairs, SO that one can
hardly form conception yet Of what 1t VIII look Ike
when finished II has been in Mr.. GaIyeys possession
about year and half long enough perhaps, for men
who have not served apprenticeship on Courthouse
Jobs where they in hurry to have finished il.
The salt marsh adjoining already spoken o. IS owned by
Mr. Garyey and the others named and IT is here they In
tend to ditch and ill in, and build the cottages for the
accommodation Of the tenants and possible voters
alluded 10. -
Returning 10 tho mainland and entering the open gate
way al the OF WOodwardayc, tie stately man
SION fun 50 feet by So OF Mr. Ingerso looms upon the
sight Built on the highest point OF land included in this
beautiful tract each Of s three stories Of an unusual
hight with an imposing Mansard roof capped with high
reaching trrets and q lofty tower and supplied eX-
teriorly with every device that the Imagination
can suggest the the skill Of wormen invent 1t stands
an illustration of what ambitious wealth can accomplish
Innumerable windows, whose every pane IS polished
mirror; broad corridors surrounding the entire bud-
ing; spacious doorways with ornamented pillars and
carved cornices the noble tower looking grandy over
the adjacent country turrets and roof surmouned by
delicate iron ratings, that look at distance Ike the
work OF fairy hands, the whole colored by
faint drab, which is more tint than paint;
and all this set IN park whose meandering
walks. marble statuary that greet the eye at
every curve SHADY groves and fresh lawns beaut
fully yaTiegaed by rare and costly hower emulate our
own Central form picture which might satisfy the
esthetic longings OF even Tammany magnate The
house has two wings finished in the style OF the rest ana
altogether contains room enough to accommodate
regiment. There also gardeners house
car,iage houses containing various styles Of
vebicIes. stables where fast horses are better,
LODGED than many families in this city, BESIDES
barns and other Outbuldinss, and windmill when
pnmps ND what water is used on the premises Inc
grounds here are In an unfinished state OUT enough
has been done to the nature Of the Improvements
intended. and It Is said that the whole property from
Garyey's TO Keyser's inclusive will ultimately form one
Grand mark which will be thrown open to the use Of the
public-eycept ON sundays,-fOr these gentlemen are
pious in their prosperity.
"wooDwARDs FOLLY"
There &c nothing but winding road 10 mark the bound
ar between this property and that Of Mr. Ebir Wood
ward which is laid out in the same style, though the
borse harms stables and other buildings vary consd-
erably in appearance and construction From all ac-
counts Mr. woodward Cor "Woody" as he Is Familiarity
DESIGNATED I'm Norwak seems TO have been the leading
i5, in This enterprise At NOrwak he generally
sposd 70 be dependent upon salary OF $500 as clerk
in a New-York Office until within the last
three years But he suddenly appeared as
man Of wealth about that time. His
cxrayagances. particularly in the purchase OF real
estate have rendered him the laughing stock OF many
loss sanouine or less farsecng than himself He is now
.ting large building in South Norwalk near the rail
road DEPOT the upper portion of which is intended for an
onerah house and the lower part for stores But this
L. nfIln ndf h..nn nI 4.