Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-07
MUTATIONS OF \ TOWN.
A New York suburb Where millionaire
Delight to Dwell.

A New York suburb Where NiIIionaIrCr
Delight to Dwell.
Especial CorrcSpundcnce.l
GREENWICH. Conn. Dec. Sit WAS when
William NJ. Tweed WAS in the zenith Of his
power a. boss Of the city Of New York
that he discovered this pretty town on the
shore of Long Island sound from the deck
of his yacht. He was looking for an attrac-
tive place within easy distance Of the city
of which he WAS dictator where he might
build summer residence to his liking and
he fell in love with Greenwich al first sight
Further acquaintance with the place con
firmed his first Impressions and a. soon a.
possible he located himself within its bor-
ders, to the great advantage vi the town,
which straightway brs,an to shake of its
purely provincial characteristics.
The Greenwich Of to-day i largely place
of suburban residences The homes of
scores Of New York business men, many of
whom are among the cjty's financial mag
mates and some Of national repute, are To-
Gated here. Although the evolution OF the
suburban idea would have included Green
witch eventually without Tweed's help.
there is no doubt that his influence set its
development ahead by many years
The old Tweed place now forms part Of
the Milhdnk estate. property created by
Jeremiah Milbank, deceased Mr.. Mil
hank fortune was enormous at the time
of his death, and he accumulated il in the
manufacture and sale Of articles Of table
consumption. TweSd'S purchase Of the
farm now known ~ the Milbank place came
about in a curious way. The farm WAS, he
fore Tweed got it. the property of a man
named Mead. a member Of very numer-
Gus family in Greenwich, and it had been
owned by Mead almost ever since it first
came into the possession Of a white man Il
was valued al about $40 an acre, hut Mead
told Tweed when the latter asked about a
selling price JESt be didn't want To sell n
all.
Now, Mr.. Mead. sc said Tweed. suppose
You would sell. how much would YOU
want
~ good deal moron yOu or ANY uuc else
would be willing to ply-morc'n it : worth
by a long chalk"
But how much'" persisted the ''b,,>>;''
maybe you'd get Your price. Besides, I'D
like To know your figure u matter Of GU
rio~ity.
.'WaaI.'' sud Mead, Say 81 90 an acrv
That would he - uOO, hut no one would
pay that for il.
Just as a matter Of curiosity. >.iid
Tweed, lets make Il memorandum ut hat,
Mr. Mead
Then he drew up few lines To the effect
that for $4,000 the undersigned would sell
the farm Al any time during the next three
months. Mead >isucd the paper and 10
his amaErIucnt Tweed gave him a check
| for the SSS,rn tS3pO mur' than Mead
asked the next day, and the farm passed
| from the possession II the family that had
| held il for - many years. The place was
| at once put in good order, and has cyez
! since been one OF the show places Of tirccu-
| wich
Mon. interest l. nowadays shown in the
! deer park and truttins track that were laid
/ out 10y William Rockefeller than in the old
| Tweed place. When the standard Oil
| company decided that it would be be>t hat
! one Of its founders should live in OF near
! New York Mr. Rockefeller was chosen Il
CONF. east. and Greenwich looked a. ,oo<l
to him ~ 1t had ~omc years before Il
Tweed lie built a line residence here. and
being fond Of horses laid out the track OF
/ which | have spoken Every morning he
/ fore breakfast the petroleum magnate used
/ to devote a half hour or 80 10 speeding hi.
most promising horses. and his place and
/ his manner Of amusing himself attracted
a good deal OF attention, which was dou ble,l
| when he established his deer park Mr.
| Rockefeller determined ! year or two az,
| tomake his pcrmaucDt home in Tarrvtuyvu
y. Y. where he still rrsilcs. bllt he retained
his summer home here and his deer. W mich
| last ar, th. admiration Of Tho. ,,,1ir,. town
| and its many visitors
Henry q Uovrnev,r ur,-sid.pt of III,
@,f-ar fr,st j. ,DntI,.r ,,,,,,,,i,,,.,,, ri,l,.r,
/ ~ t;r,.nvrirh Mr. Uay,n,,vtr has f,,,.r
! most omen handed ever sine, he, Srttl,,I
! down her, Mr. IIrvrn,,v,.r.. r,n>t mimi
| ficenr a-ift TO Greenwich i The. han,>om,
new s,,hoolhous,. that l. I,,jn-. erected NJ .