The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-10
FOR A new HIGH SCHOOL
A Genuine Surprise at the
Keenan, Real Estate
Sale.
PARAMOUNT AVENUE PLOT.
$16,5OO Paid for II by Mr.. Mad
den After spirited Bidding
Private Purchasers.
FAIRMoUNT AVENUE PLOT.


most eventful occurrences of the year in
real estate circles.
Daniel Keenan,, who died in the sixties
was engaged in the bluestone aud con-
tracing business, apd by careful invest
ments acquired large amount Of real
estate. Since his death. his executors
have carefully guarded the interests of
his heirs. until now the estate is quite
valuable. A partition suit for the divis-
lou of the real estate among the heirs
was begun in Chancery some time ago
and the Chancellor directed Mr.. William
G. E. See, Special Master
in Chancery, TO sell the prop
erty. The sale was extensively
advertised and brought together large
number of prominent real estate Cpe r.
ators. There were 306 persons IN the room
by actual count. among them being Isaac
Romaine, Daniel Cleary, H. Van Wrinkle,
Cornelius j. Cronan. Z. NJ. Shannon.
James Hunt, ex-Mayor Traphagen of
Jersey City and ex-Mayor Oliver of Bay.
onne. Frank Earle. Fred G. Wolbert,
George w. Young, City Hall Commits
sioner Pierson, Commissioners Maiden
and Dugan OF the Street and Water
Board, w. j. Montgomery, Thomas M.
Gopsil. Mungo j. Currie aud ex-Assem-
blyman Byrne. There were several ladies
present who bid on the property. Messrs.
Emmons & Co., the well known real
estnte agents, had charge of the sale. The
competition was at times spirited, and it
was generally conceded that the prices
realized were good.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
The most noticeable feature of the
sale WAS the announcement that two
OF the plots offered for sale were pur-
oh aCsdF r. .n h hatnn .f ~s%,
of these was the triangular plot at f ir-
| mount and Bergen avenues. which it was
announced, was purchased for a site FOR a
new High Scnool. This is one of the most
desirable pieces of corner property in the
city, being situated at the intersection of
two important thoroughtares in the i'm
mediate vicinity of car lines from all
parts of the city. 1t comprises about
eiaht city lots win frontage of
1851 feet on Fairmount avenue
and 150.45 on Bergen avenue.
1t is 114.3 ieet across at its greatest width.
The city has long felt the need of in
creased facilities for its High School
which the Bay street building Is entirely
inadequate to provide. The authorities
began some time ago to look about for
new site, and were much impressed
with the advantages which this plot pre-
seHted. There were some eomplicatious
about the tiile however, and it was moi
| thought best to purchase it. When this
| partition sale, by order of the Chancellor,
was advertised. Corporation Counsel
Edwards saw that it would afford an ex-
cellent opportunity for the city to secure
an absolute title aud ne suggested to the
Board OF Street and Water Co mssion-
ers that it would be good move to Sc
cure the property. The Board agreed
| with Mr.. Edwards. and Commissioner
Madden was delegated to purchase the
property.
l..
longing for some time past by people on
the Heights. There was scheme on
foot TO erect there a casino. but when the
Jersey CITY Athletic Club decided to en-
large It's present clubhouse SO as
to inclute new and modernly
project was abandoned. Several
Masonic bodies organized scheme for
building upon the property masonic
temple. This project was nearer real "a
tion than the otner, and subscriptions for
stock had been received. Then there
were several men who wanted to purchase
separate lots of the plot for business
purpose aud still Others wanted to get
hold OF the property for speculation
purposes.
All these tended to enhance the value
of the plot and after a con n-ultation the
Master agreed to offer 1t in bulk.
When Lewis Il. Woo |, the auctioneer
property, Mr.. See announced that he
would offer that plot In bulk If it was
started NJ $4,000 aud brought a fair sum.
otherwise ue.wOuld sell it in lots. Mr..
Wood then asked for bids. Frank Earle
started it with SIS 600. Commissioner
Maiden advanced the price $500, and the
competition between the 9 Two gentle
men was lively 1t advanced rapidly from
$4,000 TO $4,000 by bids of $3.50, ana from
sl60OO 10 $l6,5u0 Ia bids of 500, until the
property was tina ly Knocked down to Mr..
Madden for Sl6.500 Mr. Ma den was
necessary. When MIR. Wood announced
that the plot had been purchased for
High School site the announcement was
greeted W tn applause.
IT WILL BE A FINE BUILDING
1t Is SAID tnaL the Commissioners will
wait until there Is enough money on hand
TO erect one of the nandsomest buildings
of public instruction In the State and one
worthy of the city.
The otner piece of pronerty purchased
by the city was the lot on the southwest
corner OF Henderson and Mercer streets.
There Is on II two-story basement and
attic frame house with y two-story exten-
sion. II Is situated upon one of the cor
perS of the plot selected for City Hal,
and City Hall Commissioner Pierson pur-
chased the piot for SC. $40 A lot on Greg
ory street, 81 feet east of Henderson
SeANSt3 Ndo OutShrScNt Wy Js q. w Wltipcu,
I he grocerymau, for Sl.S00 Ex-Mayor
Oliver of Bayonne houynt two lots on
Communipaw avenue, near the Central
Railroad station, and 307 80 feet east of
Wilson avenue Each ioL has unon it y
twu-story frame mouse containing six
rooms The Mayor paid 81, 900 for one lot
aud 1,SC0 for the other. One of the
heaviest purchasers at the sale was
James L. HUT He bought plot at the
northwest corner OF Bergen aud Com
munipaw avenues. So 56 feet ou Bergen
avenue aud 109 81 OH Communipaw av-
euue. for $500. He also bought the
house and lot. No. IA Mer er street, for
s, 400 and No. 1917 Mercer street for
S2275 a lot Oh Be- gen avenue, next to
the corner prouerty bought by Mr.. Hunt,
weur to Mrs. Mary A. Noonan for
Sl,950, ana Daniel f. Cleary bonght
a plot adjoining Mr.. HuDt's
purchase on Communipaw avenue for
$1.y2i Mrs. Noouan's lot has frontage
on Bergen avenue OF 80 feet, and is 81. 26
feet ueen. while Mr.. Cleary gets trout
ge of 43 43 ieet on Communipaw avenue
aud deptn of 4S feet.
A full city LOT with two story and cell
lar frame house on Belmont avenue
about halfway between Monticello aud
Crescent avenues. was bought by Rosa
A. Mnlfnrd TO 50 200. and the full vacant
lot adjoining went TO John Coughlin for
81 0G0
Two three-story brick houses contain
ing twelve rooms opposite the new City