Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-12
rILDsS,s rwo noarns.
The ssr@niercy Park Double House,
and the Palace Near Yonkers


s"e @r@moroy fam D@nbho HOUSE,
ns the rsisce Wear fonkers
Of Samuel J. Tilden's residence the
New York sun gives the following de-
scription: II has been announced IN tho
public prints that Mr.. Tilden intended,
when he joined two houses into one four
years ago, and created the beautiful and
unique house No. 10 ON the south side of
dramerey Park, that at his death the
building and the fine library Il contains
would De given to the city OF New York
for public library. John Bigelow, Man.
Ton marble ana Henry Watterson, It was
sha, We're 10 be made trustees OF the
properly Tor this purpose. The library
u IN some respects unique. IL numbers
SU,uoo volumes, which include one Of the
nnest collections In the world Of Illus
trated books
Inc double house consists OF the dwell
ing ne occupied when Presidential can
didate and until he removed to Grey
stone, and OF the house adjoining it on
the west. The latter was entirely re-
buiit, and Mr.. I1lden's old house was in
great part reconstructed, the front en-
trely so. The front Of the double build
ing Is OF Bellevilie brownstone, trimmed
with red Carlisle stone imported from
Scotland. Decorative bands and arch
stones OF black and gray vary the pre-
yailing tint OF red due to the free use of
the Carlisle stone. There are two en-
frances, one on each side, The one at
the east side Of the building is the main
entrance, and Is very striking. Polished
red granite columns support corbels Of
Oarlisle stone, on which are carved in
high relief representations OF the four
seasons, each framed in appropriate
foliage. Over the smaller western en-.
trance is the head of Michael Angelo.
Between the two doors bay windows, one
round, the other square, extend to the
third hoor. Between them is panel Of
brownstone framed in red and divided
into three parts by black granite bands.
In the upper section are the heads of
Shakespeare and Milton carved In Oar
Isle stone, in the central the head Of
tranliin, in the lower the heads OF
Goethe and Dante. The new building,
in which is the library, is completely fire.
proof. Near the entrance is passenger
elevator. The library fills the first floor.
The old house is finished in satinwood,
which IL ueed with especial iayishness In
the dining room.
Greystone is on the main road, known
as North broadway, about three miles
north OF Yonkers. 1t is one OF the finest
houses in the vicinity of New York. Its
original cost was nearly $500, 600, and II
is said to have ruined its first owner, Mr..
Waring. After buying II Mr., 1iiden
subsequently purchased adjacent land,
until his holdings comprised some 12O
acres. His land extends from the road tc
the river front west, and from the road
east as far as the eye can see. Looking
from his front porch he was literally
monarch OF all he surveyed. The house
| although 1t il more castle than 0
house-facea the road. 1t is some dis
lance back and rests on the apex Of the
acclivity between the road and the river.
II Is built OF massive gray granite blocks
whence the name Greystone. II hns {
large square central tower, fianked by
supporting wings of lower altitude and
surmounted by mansard roof. There il
o smaller tower at the lower end. II has
an elevation of 45O feet above the rivel
and the view from the back is very fine
embracing the Catskill Mountains, New
York bay, and the Tappan Zee. Broad
halls run through the centre q
the building and the rooms ar,
distributed on both sides. They are al
very large and spacious, and furnished
with much taste and elegance. The yisi
tor is struck by the extraordinary mum
Der of books. Every room and even thu
halls have bookcases filed with valuabl,
works. The collection of books on agri
cultural subjects is very extensive one
The grounds descend in terraces to thu
river. They are kept in the finest order
with tiourishing trees, ornamental ant
fruit, of every species, and with neatly
trimmed lawns. The private road from
North Broadway leads up through Rrov,
of finely-grown trees. To the north o.
the house are the stables, fine granite
buildings, and most extensive green
houses. There are besides, CHECKER
houses, kennels, COW sheds, and othei
farm buildings. An intimate friend o.
Mr.. Tilden said that he expended not lea
than $4,000 a year in keeping up THU
great establishment. He employed regu
larly 80 men in the greenhouses, 10 meI
on. lie f8s@ s2d three coeShsnap. heside
] | hirinr laborcrs Freauentiy. He hhd Q
! haad Of Alderney cattle-his suuply q
milk being 100 quarts day-a fiock @
: sheep, innumerable poultry. several yalu
able dogs, and - fine horses.
i. His greenhouses were rivals of MI
9 Gould's nj Irvington, and were filled wit
Q orchids, rare palms and other ohoic
e plants and flowers Mr.. Tilden deliohte
10, IL ~. =.