The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-21
OLD MR.. RICHARDSON'S COFFIN.
The Story of the Life of an Eccentric
Connecticut Millionaire.
From the Ne,c York World.


From the Netc York World.
BRIDGEPORT, CONN, Feb. 11.-Million-
aire Joe Richardson is about to move his
coffin from his house in North Bridgeport TO
his residence on Lexington avenue, New
York-from his Gothic chateau overlooking
the Bridgeport water reservoir to his tall,
slim house, half block long and only s
feet wide, in New York city. There are
many interesting phases in Mr.. Richard
sons life quite as remarkable as his practice
OF keeping coffin on hand, together with
the uses for which the coffin has been util-
lied for many years.
Mr.. Richardson is possessed of great
wealth. Years ago it was said that his
check was good for millions. He is often
called mlser, but unjustly so, for to those
who know him he discloses a warm heart and
he has the reputation of rebating rent rates
for families actually too poor to pay him.
de has given sums varying from $500 tn
81 900 at different times to churches in
Bridgeport. Mr.. Richardson does not hoard
gold and silver to count it and gloat over it
like miser, but accumulates wealth for
the love of work There is a slight differ
ence between Joe Richardson and miser.
He stdrves himself and goes without stock
lngs and overcoatS from the force of habit.
1t is no deprivation to him. He was
brought up to it. He was educated and
cared for by a charity school in England
sparingly educated pinched and starved
veritable charitable grinder" By in.
domitable energy, frugality and exception
counted among the millionaires of the
present day.
He was on friendly terms with Brigham
Young, and built several important struc-
lures for that great Mormon. He built the
Utah and Northern railroad, now part OF
the Northern Pacific, and rebuilt the Fourth
avenue horse railroad depot in New York
after it was burned, a few years ago.
Mr.. Richardson was on very friendly
terms with the late William H. Vanderbilt,
and built the big annex to the Grand Cen
trail depot, in accordance with Mr.. Wander
bits directions, but contrary to his own
ideas. In consultation with Mr.. Wander
bilt. 'Old" Joe Richardson, as he is called
in Bridgeport suggested that an under
ground depot be built, but Mr. Vanderbilt
objected because of the cost. Hence the
cheap, corrugated iron-roofed annex of to-
day.
Mr.. Richardson has brother, Benjamin,
living in Harlem, and he, too, is peculiar.
Around the top of his house is a row of can
mons. He grows heavy white beard. and
owns George Washington's state carriage.
Joe Richardson's brother and himself, when
boys, used TO play under fine old apple
tree in the northern part of Fairfield county.
They used to climb the tree and gorge them
selves with apples, when green and ripe,
and they experienced both pleasure and
pain while toying with that tree and its
fruit When Joe Richardson grew well
enough off, he bought the farm on which
this apple-tree grew. Time rolled on, Joe
Richardson got married and built and lived
in the Gothic house overlooking the Bridge
port water reservoir. 1t is this water com
pany which has been the stepping-stone foI
all Joe Richardson's wealth. One day the
old apple-tree was struck by lightning, split
in twain and knocked down.
The brothers each took half the apple-tree
trunk and had collins made. The wood OF
the dear old tree under which they had
played as boys should be buried with them
the apple wood should be their last house.
The Harlem brother has his coffin in his for.
titled dwelling where cannon mount the
bastion, and Joe Richardson has Away:
kept his coffin in his diningroom at North
Bridgeport.
The title of "Old" Joe Richardson, as hC
is commonly called, is not uttered with dis
respect. It's his name. He knows anC
answers to it. He seems to like it, anC
although not man at first sight to inspire
any one with the idea that he has nicke
in his pocket, yet his appearance, his humol
and his queer freaks are as odd as his baul
account. He can stand on the roof of hi
his house in New York city and almost a!
far as the eye will reach in every direction
count dwellings owned by himself clear Of
mortgage.
Water consumers in Bridgeport have
growled at Joe Richardson for years. HI
has controlled the water privileges anc
holds the city with a cast-iron charter The
rates are good and the supply is poor. Wher
mid aft tho .a,1
office the consumers find one of Joe Rich
ardsons jokes staring them in the face. Il
is large printed placard hanging on the
wall with the motto Thou shalt MOI
swear
The coffin, which is soon to go to New
York, was seized upon by Mr.. richardson
first wife, a frugal woman, with delight
She saw that it could be turned to some
thing useful, and stood it up in the corner
of the dining-room, fastened shelves inside
and kept the preserves and canned good.
| within its apple-wood Sides This dining
room has one round window, high up OF
one side, and the dining-table is swung from
| the wall, similar to those on board a ship
| The round, jail-like window, the table anC
| the coffin as a whole are not calculated tC
provoke an appetite. Several years ago the
| first Mrs. Richardson died, and the coffin
has stood idle ever since.
| Mr. SeCOuQ COuTUSDlD d1lO
marriage were something out of the genera
run. 1t occurred during the time he was
building the annex to the Grand Central
| depot. He went up one day to a wealthy
widows house in Harlem and said to her
Pm Joe Richardson. You know me wei
enough. If you don't, you can make some
inquiries. I've come to offer to marry you
Now, amt got no time to waste, and il
you want to marry me you will find me
down at Forty-second street at work or the
depot. I'll wait for you until noon-ls
o'clock tomorrow If you come, we'll &C
over to the church and get married"
That was all. 1t was simple and to the
point. That's the way Mr.. Richardson does
business-straightfo and without bag
| Cling. The next day at noon the widow
found him at the depot, and he kept his
promise and married her. 1t was during
the noon hour, and no time was lost. She
went to his eight-foot house and he went
hack to work. 1t was over year before
his son, living in Bridgeport, discovered
that his father had married tee second time
Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson now live in that
peculiar-shaped house on Lexington avenue
and Eighty second street. When the street
was widened it left Mr. Richardson only 8
| feet of land between the sidewalk and the
pext lot. He tried to sell the strip to adj
Joining property owners, put they laughed
| at him and offered SOC. for his narrow strip
I