The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-31
OLD SHIPBUILDERS
They Now Have a COM
Portable Home.
Combined With the Institution VIII
Be an Academy Where Boys +:
May Learn to Build Ships.

On the picturesque bluff between Sedg-
wick avenus and the old Fordham Land
ing road. overlooking the Harlem River,
castle with its turrets aud towers. 1t
stands in the midst of fourteen acres of the
old Morris property. and was erected by
William II. Webb, the shipbuilder, who
began it four years ago for the purpose of
creating home for aged and impoverished
shipbuilders. and an academy where boys
may be taught free OF charge the art of
draughting ana building ships and ships
engines.
The building. says the New York Sun.
is an admirably designed and imposing
structure of buff brick, terra Gotta TRIM
mings, and granite base. It is 100 feet
long by % feet wide. four stories in height
In the main portion and six stories at the
north end. and it cost. with fairgrounds.
$500, 900. At the northwest end is a to wer
of ten stories. 172 feet in height, repre-
senting the shaft and lantern of light
house. with terra Gotta models Of ships
surrounding it. AT the southwest corner
Is another tower, seven stories high.
There is a magnificent entrance hall with a
staircase of noble proportions on the first floor.
where are parlors, receptlon-rooms, ulnlng-hal
md the supern endent's office and suite. The
hall Is flushed Ia highly polished cypress and
buttonball wood. A large $500 clock registers
the time hat tue night Waterman Is at certain
parts OF the house. aud under IL are four push
buttons, which ring in the four corners OF the
building to announce that NAL Is being
served. The woodwork OF the dlning-room is
the same as that in the hail. There are ten
tables-1ve on one side OF the room 10 be used
BY the OLD people and five on the other side TO
be used by the boys.
Two handsome drawing-rooms are In the
| northwestern end OF this floor. One is circu-
lar. in the tower, and the other adjoining II, is
| square. Both are furnished In carved rose.
| wood, upholstered in rich brocaded silk
| There are passenger and freight elevators; the
| building Is lighted by electricity and heated
| by steam. All of the north and west windows
| are double. Above The first floor the south end
OF the building Is for the old people; the north
| end is given over 10 the boys. Ii Is the only
| place IN America where shipbutlding Is taught
| practically as we'll as technically.
| In an Interview with Mr.. Webb he said thai
| as he started his home the thought came e
him that we have few good marine draughts
men and when the old ones shall have dice
| OF doing good work for our navy. This caused
him TO enlarge his plans and provide a place
where boys between the ages OF 16 and 20, WHIT
| shall prove that they are unable TO pay 70
| tuition, VIII be instructed. They must frs
pass an examination In the ordinary branches
| OF common-schoot education anu must have
| certain insight into algebra aud the rudimen ut
| OF geometry. 1t will require three or fou
1 years lime to graduate there, according to tn
ability Of the student, ana those found TO b.
not fitted for this particular line OF life will b.
welded out.
|: Iii would be waste OF his life to keep bo
at in that event." said Mr.. Webb, land
would also be keeping the place from auotne
| with talent in that direction
Ihlrty-hve or forty boys can be cared foI
and the applicants number more than hun