Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-09
MUTATIONS OF A loan.
A New York Suburb where Mi''lona@e'
DeIisat 10 Dwell.

mower 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. lie was looking for an attrac
tive place within easy distance of the city
of which he was dictator where he might
build a summer residence to his liking, and
he fell in love with Greenwich at first sight.
Further acquaintance with the place con-
firmed 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 on It's
purely provincial characteristics.
The Greenwich of today is largely place
of suburban residences. The homes oi
s,;ores of New York business men. many OF
whom are among the city's financial mag
mates and some of national repute, are 10
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 o!
the Milbank estate, property created by
jeremiah Mlbank. deceased. Mr.. Mil
banks fortune Was enormous at the time
of his death, and he accumulated it in the
consumption. Twced's 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 E'an
named Mead, IL member of Il very numer-
Gus family in Greenwich, and it had been
owned by II Mead almost ever since it first
came into the possession of Awhile man. 1t
was valued ut about 200 an acre, but Mead
Il l.,tt l-o1
selling price that he didn't want to sell at
all.
.'Now, Mr.. Mead" said Tweed, suppose
YOU would sell; how much would you
wants''
"A good deal morcn you or any one else
would be willing to pay-more n it's worth
by long chalk"
But how much:" persisted the boss"
maybe you'd get your price. Besides, Ia
like TO know your figure rs matter of Gu
riosity.'
"Waal," said Mead, 'say 81 600 an acre.
That would be $50 coo, but no one would
pay that for it.
Just rs matter of curiosity" said
Tweed, lets make memorandum of that,
Mr. Mead
Then he drew up a few lines TO the effect
the farm at any time during the next three
months. Mead signed the paper, and to
his amazement Tweed gave him Il check
for the s63,O00 $4,000 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
witch.
More interest is nowadays shown IT, 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 il or near
New York, Mr. Rockefeller was chosen to
come east, and Greenwich looked as good
to him as it had some years before 80
Tweed He built fine residence here, ana
being fond of horses laid out the track OF
which | have spoken. Every morning be-
fore breakfast the petroleum magnate used
to devote half hour or so to speeding his
most promising horses, and his place and
his manner of amusing himself attracted
a good deal of attention, which was dou bled
when he established his deer park. Mr..
Rockefeller determined a year or two ago
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 q. Havemeyer. president of the
Sugar trust, is another prominent resident
Of Greenwich! Mr.. lIayemeyer has been
most open handed ever since he settled
down here Mr. Havemeyer's most NUM-
yI,E i,h &c hn
new schoolhouse that is being erected at
cost of over 100000 The smaller taxpay-
ers Of the place agree that it is Il mighty
fine schoolhouse, bit 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 II
lasting rupture between f. 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 off
his view Of the sound. There was very
earnest conference between Mr.. Benedict
and Mr.. Havemeyer, and 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 IL resident
here, and his house is one of the marvel, of
the town by reason of the numerous and
expensive electric appliances with which it
is fitted up. Its system OF burglar alarms
is SO perfect that cracksmen are said to
steer quite clear Of the town for fear OF be-
ing shocked to death, and its lighting is so
elaborate and so brilliant that il il an OBJ
ject of rare beauty at night. 1t may be
seen for miles up and down the sound and
is Landmark to all who navigate these