Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-17
Al Retrospect.


 
 What Might Have Been-An old Scheme
 Which Was HbandOned-The HanOck
 Park Project-PrOperfy Improvements
 Hon. John Fl. Leeds Resfdenees
 Years ago, as some of our older citizens re- member, there was little else but vacant land or commons in the southern portion of the city below where the West Congregational church and Washington school stand. MT. Fuller, president of the Board of Fire Com missioners, recalls that forty years ago there were but two houses in all that section of the city, the Truman filling house and the Good year house. Mir. filling is still living about S3 years of age. Mir. Fuller remembers that a party of speculators who had formed @ company for the purpose, came here from New York, and looking about lit upon the section of the city in question as a spot suitable for operations. They saw millions in it." as a spot which they designed to improve and get fine water fronts This was about 1S34-5. Their project was to build wharves of the point Oyster Point) and at other points suitable. They applied to the Legislature to get power to do what they wan4ed to do, but the Legis- lature refused to grant it. The company had paid part of the purchase money down, but it all fell through when they failed in the Segislature, and the land reverted back to the original owners. MT. Fuller, speaking of this section, added that second important project for this section was the park project of the late Gerard Hallock, who of fered to the city the big block at Lamberton street, with some conditions attached. The offer was declined. It was probably owing to the state of feeling when the war broke | out that the offer was refused. It was a good offer-a very good one. However, it's no use crying over split milk. Had the offer come years before it would probably have been accepted. Following MT. Hallock's death, perhaps immediately after, 8 great deal | of land in that section came into the market at fair prices and it was improved by men of | moderate or fair means, and the section at | once began to grow up and increase rapidly. | In the 30 years previous building operations had been more or less in progress, but now 8 | decided impetus was apparent. There were ! built number of fine houses on Howard avenue, among winch were Eelectman A. Foote's and that of MT. Fuller, which gentle men are as is well known, of the Long Wharf Fish company, 8 prominent and widely | known concern. Then came Mir. Country. mans; the building of the West Congrega tional church costing $25,0OO or $3o, 900, the Washington graded school, one of the largest school buildings in the city, the residence o1 Moses Thomas, the tea man, the Beckley ' cottage, the fine residence of MT. John H Leeds, and now MT. Countryman's pretty and stylish house to be occupied by himself 1 in one part, the other to be the residence of Rev. Mir. Teller, pastor of the West church Such also was the growth ot this section that three other schoolhousei \ were built, the Greenwich avenue the Car lisle street and the Hallock street schools | MT. Townsend, with F. S. Bradley & Co.,, o1 | State street, and c. B. Foster of the VarnisI works, East Haven, have also built on. this avenue. Mir. Purmont Bradford, promi nent contractor at Sargent & Co.'s, moved into this section also. There were severa \ fine residences erected years ago this | side of John H. Leeds, viz, the Dubois and Mills residences, and others. Mir. Kitten dorf, prominent man at the railroad shops ! is also in this section. In the Beckley cottage resides Pastor Teller. In all, con siderably over $2OO, 900 in residences of note and public buildings has been expended il this immediate locality on Howard avenue MT. John H. Leeds, although his business ii in Stamford, could not turn his back upor New Haven, but built him home on this avenue, which is in sall respects most com plete and substantial and a model American cottage, costing about $2O,OOO. The style ii very unique and pleasing, the portico 1T front with its fine pillars, the ornamental window caps. slated roof, ample portico or the side over the concreted driveway at the carriage landing, and other features being highly pleasing. Mir Leeds has beautifully furnished ths house with moquettes and velveti from Armstrong's, lambrequins iron Fosters, and furniture, all of elegant descrip tion, from Bowditch & Prudden's Mir. Cutler specially obtained the line of very superior steel engravings adorning the parlors, on' after Rosa Bonheur, cattle scene, another Charles I. and Vandike at Hampton Court an artistic proof and very fine work of art another a copy of one of Bierstadt's Rocky Mountain scenes and another New Eng land village scene. A specially fine feature are fine, rich and elegant stained | glass windows, mosaic work iron Gibson & Sons, New York. All are exquisite in design and very fine work. Open grates marble mantles, a bath tub with massive wood work, large and spacious rooms, ir fact everything is in the best and most com plete style. The kitchen laundry, etc., are all connected, yet entirely separate apart ments as to ingress and egress. MT. Leeds has very fine barn, complete in all re spects, and the wide, concrete walks and turfed and ample grounds well set off the premises. MT. Leeds, as is well known, is { l director and prominent member of the Stam ford Manufacturing Co.,, is ex-president of the Board of Fire Commissioners, for many years most ably served the city as a Fire Commissioner, and is director of the Yale National bank, etc. In one of his rooms is 6 l fine collection of minerals, which he has col lected during his travels on important busi ness engagements in all parts of this country and in Europe some of them of rare beauty. He has an elegant supply of table ware oi Haviland's make, France. The residence wal built by the late Mir. Pinney and the build ing is very finely heated by steam. Various further improvements in frescoing are to be done at later day.
 After Over Five Years' Illness.
 Frank Rooney, who had been sick with hip disease at the hospital for five years and foul months and confined to his bed all that time, died yesterday of that disease complicated with other ailments. He was 21 years old High mass will be celebrated at 8. m. The deceased was an orphan. He leaves sister.