New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-09
PARK FOR PITTSBURG.
A WEALTHY LADY IN ENGLAND GIVES 800
ACRES
A ROMANTIC ELoPEMENT OF HALF CENTURY
AGO RECALLED BY MRS. sCHENLEY'S
MAGNIFICENT GIFT.

A ROMANTIC ELoPEMENT OF HALF CENTURY
AGO RECALLED BY MRS. sCHENLEY'S
MAGNIFICENT GIFT.
Pittsb,rg. Dec. (SpecLll.-One portion OF PITS
burc Is ENJOYING Western land boom, because OF the
MAGNIFICENT cift Of a wealthy old lady residing In Lon
don. England She owns mOre ground in Pttsburg
than any resident Individual corporation and her
history Is very romantic. She IS Mrs Mary schehley
widow of captain in the British army, and she mas
lust presented the city Of Pittsburg with ooo
acres of ground in the Twenty-frst Ward and an
option on an adjoining tract OF 100 acres at
figure far below that asked by owners of adjoining
nroperty Tie decd conveying the 300
acres has been fled and the option of the other tract
has been accepted Mrs. Schenleys only stipulatioh
IS that the park shall bear her name, ana the request
will be gladly compiled with. One instance Oh inc
fortunes made by owners Of land In the vicinity oi
the new park is that of a man VINO SIX years aso
purchased tract for So 500; since the announcement
of the park project he has sold It for 100000 MIS-
scheneys generosity does not stop here In the near
future she will build magnificent asylum for the
blind to be modelled after celebrated London insttu
tion and she will donate ten acres for the purpose
Previous 10 the announcement of these gifts, Mrs
schenley was very much revied woman. she was
denounced as heartcss arlstoerat who lived
luxurious life in foreign land from the income OF her
vast Pittsburg estate upon which not cent was eX-
the first time selling ground in Pitsburg. Heretofore
she has simply leased IT, principally to poor people.
who erected thereon miserable shanties. She owns
nearly the entire first Ward, the PoinP district,
so called because there the Allegheny and Mononga-
hela rivers unite 10 form the ohio. In this district
still stands the only remnant of old Fort Duquesno
1t IS bockhouse, occupied by an Irish family, ana
situated In a dirty back alley
To get an idea of Mrs. sehenleys vast possessions.
one has only to unfold house map of Pittsburg, and
gaze at the big tracts OF ground vacant or Improved
after the manner of the Point" district. There are
several of these tracts and they TO be found in
all directions from City Hall. Probably no single
person residing In foreign lana owns
80 much property in any American city does Mrs.
schenley. The value Of her Ptsburg property IS harl
to estimate, but it cannot be far from S200OO,OOO
Mrs Schenley was Miss Mary Croghan, the only
child OF Colonel George Croghan, at one time an officer
Of the United states Army, who half century ago,
was prominent in the affairs Of Western Pennsylvania
At sixteen, Mary, who was beautiful
fair haired GIRL sent TO private school for young
ladies On staten Island IN New-Yor5 Harbor. Tho
school was presided over by an English \
rcIative, Captain Edward Schenley, of the British
Army came to visit her. lie fell in love with the
young Ptsburg girl, and she returned the affection.
They eloped 10 NewYork were married and sailed for
England at once. Colonel Croghan furious, and
It was not until he visited England and found Schen-
Iey's home pleasant and happy one that he f0rGaVe
tho couple. Then he brought them back TO America,
and here they resided for year, at the end OF
which time they returned to England for good.
Colonel CrOehan and Captain Schenley long since
dead and Mrs. Schenley's daughters are married, all
of them into the English arstocrary. Mrs. Schency
left her property hers in tho hands of agent AMI
attorney. She divides her time between her nous >
n London and a pretty villa at Cannes. Tbs old
Croghan mansion on stantona ave, in the east end OF
pittsburg stands romantic reminder of the family
C.rous Pittsburgers frequently secure peXiits TO
gaze upon llfesze family portraits and the nagnlt-
haIir l. As
II bedrooms and all and Wis tor to the house is i'm
pressed with dreams Of Ohfash0nod arst0crscy OF
half century ago.
speculation in property adjoining the new park al
most monoLozes the attention of soma real estate
brokers An offer of $4,000 has since been maio
for the property mentioned above as having been
org nally purchased for $500. Haymakcr Brothers
signed an agreement TO purchase thirty six acres AMI
were tho next day offered 81 900 for transfer or
The option They refused TO accept Wood st.
saddle purchased forty five acres for $4,000 ana has
since declined offer of S22o,OOO.