The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
O,CONNER'S HOTELS.
The story Of the Making ofAnotber New York
MiIlionRire's Fortune.

The old private Post Office at the head of
Chatham square Is to be a hotel. When samuel
Gouverneur was Postmaster In 1896, tho great
IRE destroyed the Post ONCE, then In w all street,
and 1t was reustablished I'm tho rotunda in the
City Hall Park. Years afterward. after John ].
Coddineton had served term a. Postmaster,
John Lormer Graham leased the old Dutch
Collegiate Church 10 Nassau street, anu the Post
Once was removed into II. The uptown popu-
lation clamored against the removal of tho Of
fee, and Postmaster Graham established
branch ONCE In the old structure at the head Of
Chatham square. when Isaac " Fowler be-
came Postmaster in 1850 tho branch was aban-
doned. The uptown people emonstruted, and
Aaron Schwartz, the Superintendent, continued
the service ofthe nails there In his own inter-
est, and accumulated a large fortune by charg-
ing one cent commission on every letter
ceived OF delivered. An act Of Congress doclar-
ing all streets, lanes. aud avenues to be postal
routes, and barring all but Post ONCE employees
from delivering malls in them, ousted Schwartz,
and the old building was relinqushed to mer-
camille pursuits
The structure has been purchased by Owen
OConner for sl5,0OO, aud at an additional cost
Of 5000 it Is to be made a cheap hotel for work
ingmen. Mr.. O'COnner owns many Ike institu-
tiOns Ia this city. and has made them n source
OF immense profit. Fifty Yeprs ago, at the age
OF thirteen, lie crossed tha ocean from DuDlin
TO HALIFAX. and In That city he became an ap-
pr ntice In newspaper Office. by Industry he
earned money enough to pay passage TO New
York and leave a surplus e ffty dollars for him
self. This nifty dollars WIS stolen from him by
apickpocket. After painful season OF distress
Mr.. OCOnner secured a position In ThOs. Adds
Bmmetts law office. and there he scraped to-
gether capital Of few hundred dollars, with
which he began to speculate. He spent his
spare hours la the undorwritors' salesrooms in
platt street. on the lookout for bargains and
the goods that he bought lac sold In the auction
rooms at handsome profit. In time he accu-
tnuldted enough money u be aple to establish
Wholesale store I'm Liberty street,
and "a retail store in Catharine street. for tho
sale Of these goods. lie then abandoned the
law. While az the height % his prosperity rs a
speculator In damaged goods be met a Miss St.
John, now one OF the richest women
in the West. and she Interested him
in -chems for supplying cheap board
and lodging for worklngmen. He purchased the
church cdihce Mt William ana Frankfort streets.
aud erected the Frankfort House. 1t contained
go small rooms. and was designed IA hotel Tor
men exclusively. Mr. O'Conner SOLD the hotel
for sGO,OOJ more than II cost him. This large
gain ne made the base OF extended operations
in real estate. He bought whenever n good bar
gain offered. and he has become Que OF the most
Conspicuous SPECTATORS that frequent the Real
Estate Exchange and the Pine street salesrooms
lie has accumul lted a capital Of over one mil
Hon dollars. Hts sons credit him with that
am cunt, hut his neighbour believe him
Circle Hotel. at Broadway and Fifty-liuth street,
10 which he lives when In New York, the Aston
Place Hotel In Third avenue, the Grant ii ouse
In the New Iiowerv, n cheap lodging house at
Washington ana Cedar streets, and the new
hotel In Chatham square.
4 few years ago Mr.. OConner srett two years
IN Ireland. ami purchased the famous Mount
Pluukett estate Of one thousand acres ON the
River shannon. He has there yacht costly
stud OF bunting aud rding horses and spa
cious mansion. He Is sixty three years OF age.