New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-09
JOSEPH RICHARDSON DEAD.
TIE WEALTHY CONTRACTOR EMPIRES IN
HIS FIVE-FOOT HOUSE AFTER
rrNGEnING ILLNESS.

Joseph Rlchardgon the eccentric and wealthy con-
tractor who lived for years In the house ~ NO l-
Lexington-avc which Is one OF the cufostcs % ''ic
city. died in the house Yesterday, aiter "''eV,'"
Illness He was unconscious FOR two days before
he ecd His body will be buried In a colin "hicA
he caused 20 lie made thrty-two years ago. when nc
owned large uac. ~ and near Bridgeport, conn.,
and lived on the .l-m lie caused the largest tree
on the place to be GU: W into pianks. and ne mad
carpenter take he best " the parks ana construct
a coffin. which has been stored in the barn on the
Bridgeport pace since. He often said; ! wahi
no fuss either In lie IN death. II the coffin IS too
large when die. fill in the space with sawdust.
Mr. Richardson vas about clrhty-four years DID,
tall and spare, and bore a striking resemblance 10
Russell Sage RE W. born in England and came
to this country when ne young man. He be-
came a builder and then a contractor, but he lad
the foundation Of his wealth when he buzz inc
waterworks In bridgeport. in which he afierwarG
he'd controlling interest.
With the money he accumulated from the build
ing Of the wa:orwor;s he embarked In railroad
building and in this work he became associated
with the Gouds He &C ls;ructcd section of the
Union Pacific. and also built large portions OF the
Missouri Pacific the Iron Mountain and the Next
can Central railroads. lie had holdings in the
Manhattan Railway, the New-York, New-Haven
and Hartford. and one Of the owners OF line
Of boats running from this city to Bridgeport Al
the time Of his death he owned large interest IN
negotlatinC with the United states Government TO
supply the buoys marking the harbors and othcr
waters of the country with ,he light. -,
In the first week OF his illness he sold short rail-
road running out Of Santa Cruz Mexico. receiving
for IL sN0eD lie built the annex 70 the Grand
Central Station in this city, and had done great
deal of other work for the vanderbilt interests;
When the car stables at ThlTty- second-st. ana
Fourth-ave. were burned down years ago, Mr.
Richardson rebuilt them in five days. He OFTEN
boosted that other contractor could nave COM
peted the work in such short time
The house at No. l. 2i6 Leyington-GV" Is kSneraIIy
known the spite" house. 1t Is r.markape as
being built upon a plot OF hand only five feet wide.
The front of the house. facing Le%ingtoh-aVe.' ~
sixty feet in length. and the building appears at
first sight an ordinary handsome New-fork home.
But as soon as the corner OF Eighty secord-st is
reached the remarkable narrowness OF me rouse
is discovered. and people find 1t difficult TO believe
that a family live in the building IN whch
It is difficult for two people TO pass each other,
longed TO Mrs. Richardson. Heyman Sarhei ABOUT
sixteen years ago, was about 10 build row OF
houses in Eighty-second-st. and desired 20 pur-
chase Mrs. Richardson's land. Mr.. Sarner thought
Richardson thought otherwise. and asked to"U
Mr. Sarner would only offer $i(I0. and began 10
build thinking that the Richardson's would DE
forced TO sell or let the plot remain useless ne
was wrong Inside. the house Is well furnlshed ana
decorated and declared by its inhabitants TO DC
entirely comfortable. Each piece OF furniture was
specially designed TO meet the exSencieS or space,
and the Richardson family has lived In the house
since its erection Mr. Richardson leaves Woo"
and two children a son, Edward who Is super1n-
tendent Of the Bridgeport waterworhs' ana Il
daughter. - ,,, ,,,,
morning, the Central Park baptist Ghurcn, IN
EIChty-third-st between Second and Third ayes.
The Rev. William VI. Warren, the pastor, VIII con-
duct the services.