New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
DESTROYING 4 UELL-KNOWN HOUSE.
THE OLD COLT MANSION IN PATTERSON BEING
TORN DOWN.

THE OLD COLT MANSION IN PATTERSON BllN"
TORN DOWN.
wokmen will begin in few days n pull down one
~ the most famous private houses in NewJcr-cy'
This is the Cot mansion. on the Top 81 mli d'f "
Maln-st from the Court House, in Paterson '''' u
u,as thc hand some home Of wealth and fashion, sr
roundcd by The dense shubbcy and trees OF Wei ia'
out parI, that screened the house TOm the cys view"
Lately its spacious have been the lodging Oh "
motley crowd Of chattering dusky Italian abociS ana
NOW even these have deserted IT, They were Us la''
human Inhabitants, and ON the rats too WIZ S'"''
ont a. the massive Stones tumble ab"n' t'er ca ,.
The house was built about sixty years ago bN ho"o'
I Colt governor Of the Society for Establishing 'e
Manufactures This is the society that ipnnded Fef
con in 1902. Alexander Han ItOn lci1g the prime
,,over Mr. Colt was one Of the famous iaIlN |"
(which Peter and Samuel Colt belonged. ana II was ~
Paterson in the old factory still known a' TIC "u
Mill that Colonel Samuel Colt made his lrs' repeating
arms. ,, a.,
1874 until his death in 1856 lie transformed barren
and ucv sandhill into a large domain, finely piahted
and laid ont and erected the browiNt"ne d"cllhe'
sixtysix feet square and four st"ics hlHl' i"Io"A
tbc centre runs hall wide enough to drive 'oa' ana
team through The rooms are Of the od-tlme generous
dimensions, and were furnished with cosby h"hS'h6'
and works OF art. Daniel Webster was Oitch guest
there and on than one night he ana MI Ton
t,Ytced their legs under the mahogany ana discussed
the rare old wines from the hosts cellars.
Paterson was small place then, ana the atfNd'
~ a stranger in town something OF an incident
II IS said that Mr.. Colt used 10 stand with MS held
glass when ar occasional train came III at the stalio
which stood at the eastern boundary OF Ms grounds
and when a man aghted whose appearance showed
him TO be n person Of consequence, the fora OF inc
manor would send man servant down 10 ask TIE
stranger up 10 dinner The grounds were incloNed
by a stone wall. and within were winding drives ana
walks conservatories parterres hshponds' and other
Accomplishments OF q park II was the ONLY one The
city had then, and for many years the people were
free 10 stray among IFS beauties After Roswell Colts
death his son, Morgan G.. and hi, sOn-in-aw. DE
Grassc Il. Fowler, succc,slvoY Occlplcd H. Mean
Willie the hungry jaws OF improvement gradually bit
of slices OF the hill ard finally The place passed into
the hands company Of land spccuatOr,. Al
Iemps 70 sell II 10 the city fDr public park, aud
TO the county for Court House. failed, and Few
months ago the doom OF the Hill and mansion were
sealed by the determination 10 level the emnencc
into building lots.
The house was sold TO brewer for the value Of IL
stone and he will cart away the huge blocks. II Is
moi known what will be the exact fate OF these frg
mcnts Of a once lOrdly mansion. \ pulhng cXcavafOF
which the boys call steam dago' IS working away
daily at the HILL and has cut nearly 70 the foundations
Of fhe house 4 railroad track has been built up 20
The scene and fat arc carrying away the sand
The mansion stands dsmantled bare and ugly on the