The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-04
ODTTUA X Y.
The Millionaire Contoif, Owner Of n Once
Famous broadway Garden.

The Millionaire Contoif, Owner Of a Once
Famous broadway Garden.
In Broadway, nearly opposite the Jaffray
stores. two immense ediaces are rising, solid
structures, that show that great capital Is be-
hind them. The Jaffrav stores are on the site Of
the old Carlton House. IL was favorite place
Of resort for the aristocratic WhIes thirty years
ago. Ii was also the scene OF the murder Of the
gamble Corlis, who was shot by a mysterious
woman. The new edinces on the site OF old
Contoit's Garden, that was kept and managed
by John II. Contoit, who lived 90 begin the new
stores. On Saturday night he died at the age Of
eighty eight years, leaving only son. who is
one of the veetry OF Trinity Church, and sole
heir to a fortune estimated at three millions Of
dollars. All this great wealth grew out Of the
little garden. but It was big one In 1890 40.
1t was seventy Ave feet on Broadway, and ex-
tended through To Church street. Tidy boxes
lined the sides. and they were always fresh with
white and green paint. a oosey table and smoo tn
benches. The centre Of the garden was pet billed
underfoot, and there were everereens and shrubs
all about. Cont0t's cakes and ice creams were
famous all over New York-more 40 than those
OF the Atlantic Garden down by the Battery,
where is now the depot OF the Elevated Rail
road, or OF Vauxhall Garden, on whose site
william IL. Aston, as executor of his fathers
trust, has erected the great library that Ia always
shut at night, when The poorer people would like
TO enjoy the Request that was intended for them.
But the deltcacics ~ Comforts were riValled by
those OF Mrs B''ly Niblo In her garden. now the
site Of the theatre.
Jno. H. Contoit was Frencn confectioner. His
family was a proud and high one az home.
When revolution scattered II his father came to
this country to earn his bread by making cakes
and ice cream In Comforts Garden has been
made many a Knickerbocker match. Almost
any city grandfather can tell pleasant things
about the tidy box retreats, the shadowing
shrubs, and the colored lamps that arched the
walks by night. About thirty year, ago the
march OF improvements put the garden too far
| down town. and the confectioner retired. He
| was an odd and somewhat eccentric gentleman.
Very prudent. economical, and careful, but
always courteous IN hia most brusque moments.
| lie moved into the large double brick house at
Prince and Marion streets, and there his body
| lies awaiting burial ON Tuesday from Trinity
Chapel In bis vault In the old Carmansville cem-
etery, that a big boulevard has cut In twain. Mr..
Contot was exceedingly economical 10 bis own
| Hrendi Dgs, yet he was far from being a nicer.
| lie arose daily at o'clock and made HE own
| ire. His food was of the simplest kind. Only
| q month ago the reporter saw him getting into a
stage, aud ny his eprikhily and airy Parsian
| tread shaminR young Wall street broker In
eye-g,ase and cane who behind him. He
never Kept a coach, but preferred the demo
cratic OMNIBUS. lie said the joitlng was good
exercise. He never travelled nifty miles from
New York city, and for the last ten years Of his
life did not cross either of the rivers. He had d
popularity Of always having about nifty thou
sand dollars ss balance IN the Pacific Bank.