The Portland daily press., 1893-06-06
dows. The front door Is never open, not
even to admit or let out visitor. The

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ed, with the Stats partially turned to adj
NIT the light. In the rear is large con-
servatory, but as empty and desolate al
most as the old stable across the yard.
All it contains is three chairs, straight
backed, plain and comfortless in appear
ance.
The house has received no attention
no repairs, paint or cleaning years,
andits whole appearance suggests the
real condition of things namely, that the
owners think it would be money wasted
In repairs which may not be needed
year hence.
The residence sets back almost in the
center Of the large lot, which is slightly
conical in shape. 1t has frontage OF
about so feet on Broadway and nearly
$50 on Nineteenth street, which gives
the ground value hard to be estimated.
It is safe to say, however, that if the in
terest upon the ground rent which the
property would command is considered
Miss Goelet's lonely home is more ex-
pensive than many Of the palatial resi-
dences in the vicinity of Central park.
Several years ago the Goelet house had
a companion as Broadway curiosity in
the Coddington homestead nearly oppo-
site the New York hotel mile farther
south. The quaint Grecian architecture
of this house, with its marble columns
running from foundation to roof, at
tracted much attention. 1t was de-
stroyed several years ago.
I'D chs hafxuaoyr
Broadway and Sixth avenue, are two
more residences which are most inter-
esting. They are the last Of the stately
houses of once wealthy neighborhood
which not many years ago lined both
sides Of the street where now stand great
business beehives. refer to what are
known as the Schermerhorn houses. They
stand side by side and abut upon the
sidewalk, with only pretense of ayard
in front. The larger and more conspic-
nous has lost its owner, an eccentric oc-
cupant, by death and is now being torn
down.
Edwin Schermerhorn, the story goes,
built the house as home for a chosen
bride, who at the last moment disap-
pointed him Then he almost immured
himself in the immense building, and
with no companions but his books lived
veritable hermit's life for years right
in the heart of New York's commercial
center. During the years while he kept
himself shut up there, away from the So
ciety in which his family occupied high
position, the advance of business sue
ceeded in destroying all the other homes
except the home of a blighted life and
the home of his brother William next
door.
Now the heirs announce the approach
ing demolition of the quaint old build
ing and the erection on the site of an
imposing business warehouse running
through to Twenty-fourth street.
Among the houses which occupied this
street 25 years ago was the Nathan res
idence, in which about that time oc-
Cured the tragedy which shocked New
York society as it was never shocked be-
fore or since. Benjamin Nathan, a very
wealthy merchant, was one morning
found dead in his bedchamber. He had
been murdered, but his assassin was
never discovered. Suspicion fell upon
the younger of his three sons, the black
sheep of the family. No positive proof
could be found to convict him, however.
He died some time last year in Paris.
After the murder the house was va
Gated. A '.For Rent sign hung above
the front door for several years. Finally
the Adams Express company leased the
property, tore down the crime cursed
house and erected the handsome edifce
now occupied by them two doors from
Fifth avenue.
A gentleman who in his younger days
played with the Nathan boys at their
home visited a newly erected hotel ON
Staten Island few months ago and in
the hotel recognized two magnifcently
carved doors, which quarter of CEN
fury ago swung upon the hinges of the
Nathan house. The owner of the hotel
| bought the doors when the residence was
torn down and stored them away. They
are now historic objects of interest in his
new hotel.
The property between the site of the
old Nathan residence and Fifth avenue
has the distinction of bringing its own
ers the largest ground rent per square
foot Of any property on Manhattan
island. It is leased to the Western Union
Telegraph company at rental of $25. 900
a year, though only about SO by 100 feet
in area.
Another isolated home of wealth is the
Spingler residence on Fourteenth street,
between Fifth and Sixth avenues. It is
occupied by Mrs. Van Buren,, who re-
fuses to surrender to the clamor of COM
merce. She will hold the fort while she
lives. The house is kept in modern touch,
and the handsome lawn and gardens west
of the residence are veritable GASES in
this residential desert. The tens of thou
sands Of retail shoppers who daily swarm
along this greatest retail street in the
United States admire the woman who
can resist the temptation from capital
lists willing to give several millions of
dollars to gain possession of her home
and her pleasure grounds and turn them
| into %Lao+a,. froda