Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-22
MUTATIONS OF A TOWN.
A New York Suburb Where NIillionaires
Delight to Dwell

Especial Correspondence
GREENWICH, Conn, Dec. 5.-It was when
William M. Tweed was in the zenith of his
power as 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 at first sight
Further acquaintance with the place CON
frmed his first impressions and as soon as
possible he located himself within its Dor
ders, to the great advantage of the town,
which straightway began to shake off its
purely provincial characteristics.
The Greenwich of today is largely place
of suburban residences. The homes of
scores of New York business men, many of
whom are among the city'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 it's
development ahead by many years.
The old Tweed place now forms part of
the Milbank estate, a property created by
jeremiah Milbank, deceased. Mr.. Mil
DdIlh ; fortune was enormous at U0e Ulll6
of his death, and he accumulated it in the
manufacture and sale of articles of table
consumption. Tweeds purchase of the
farm now known asthe Milbank place came
about in curious way. The farm was, be-
fore Tweed got it, the property of a man
named Mead, member of a very numer-
Gus family in Greenwich, and it had been
owned by Mead almost ever since it first
came into the possession of white man. 1t
was valued at about 5000 an acre, but Mead
told Tweed when the latter asked about
selling price that he didn't want to sell at
ALL
Now, Mr.. Mead" said Tweed, suppose
you would sell; how much would you
want?"
"A good deal more'n you or any one else
would be willing to pay-moren it's worth
by long chalk"
But how muchS" persisted the boss"
may be you'd get your price. Besides, I'd
like to know your figure as a matter of Gu
riosity."
! WAL" said Mead, SAY 81 900 an acre.
That would be $4,000, but no one would
pay that for it"
Just as a matter of curiosity" said
Tweed, lets make memorandum of that,
Mr. Mead"
that for S63, 600 the undersigned would sell
the farm at any time during the next three
months Mead signed the paper, and to
his amazement Tweed gave him check
for the 1858 600 (S3, 900 more than Mead
asked the next day, and the farm passed
from the possession of the family that had
held it for so many years. The place was
at once put in good order, and has ever
since been one of the show places of Green
wich
More interest is nowadays shown in the
deer park and trotting track that were laid
out by William Rockefeller than in the old
Tweed place When the Standard Oil
company decided that it would be best that
one of its founders should live in or near
New York. Mr. Rockefeller was chosen to
come east, and Greenwich looked as good
to him as it had some years before to
Tweed. He built fine residence here, and
being fond of horses laid out the track of
which l have spoken. Every morning be-
fore breakfast he petroleum magnate used
to devote a half hour or so to speeding his
most promising horses, and his place and
his manner of amusing himself attracted
good deal of attention, which was doubled
when he established his deer park. Mr..
Rockefeller determined year or two ago
to make his permanent home in Tarrytown,
n. y, where he still resides, but he retained
his summer home here and his deer, which
last are the admiration of the entire town
and its many visitors.
Henry o. Havemeyer, president of the
Sugar trust, is another prominent resident
of Greenwich. Mr. Havemeyer has been
most open handed ever since he settled
down here Mr. Havemeyer's most NUM-
ficent gift to Greenwich is the handsome
new schoolhouse that is being erected at a
cost of over 100000. The smaller taXpay-
ers of the place agree that it is a mighty
fine schoolhouse, but they are worrying a
good deal about how they are going to pay
the taxes when the educational machinery
of the district is enlarged to meet the re-
quirements of the house, AMI its expenses
are correspondingly keyed up The school
house at one time threatened TO cause a
lasting rupture between +. c. Benedict
1.-THE presidents friend" and Mr.. Have
meyer. Mr.. Benedict discovered one morn
ing to his surprise that the roof of the new
building when completed would shut of
his view of he sound. There was very
, earnest conference between Mr.. Benedict
, and Mr.. Havemeyer and "A compromise by
, which the roof will be built six or eight feet
lower than was intended.
: e. ii. johnson, eX-president of the Ed
+ ison Electric company, is also a resident
) here, and his house is one of the marvels OF
t the town by reason of the numerous and
. expensive electric appliances with which il
. is fitted up. Its system of burglar alarms
1 is so perfect that cracksmen are said Il
steer quite clear of the town for fear VI be
ing shocked to death, and its lighting is Sc
r elaborate and so brilliant that it is an OBJ
ject of rare beauty at night. 1t may b'
/, seen for miles up and down the sound anC
e is landmark TO all who navigate thes'