Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-12-03
NOW TO BE SOLD.
Catholic Orphan Asylum, the
Finest Residence Block in
New York.

1t can be said of few plots of land on
Manhattan Island that they have been
used for one purpose only ever since it
was settled by white people. But this is
true of the Roman Catholic Orphan
Asylum, which extends from Fifth to
Park avenue and from Fifty-frst to
Fifty-second street.
When the Dutch controlled the lower
end of the island no one paid any
attention to the lands lying as far
north as Fiftieth street. 1t was left to
Indians, to wolves, to bears, to panthers.
1t was good hunting ground.
In those days real estate speculation
was an unknown thing. There was
deal more land than any one wanted.
A man with $1,000 was looked upon as
richer than man with $500, 900 is now.
When the English took possession of
Manhattan and the Duke of York be-
came the lord, he claimed possession of
all unoccupied land on the island, and
in this was included the site of the Ro-
man Catholic Orphan Asylum and St.
Patrick Cathedral, together with nearly
all the territory in that vicinity.
When the Revolution ended the city
of New York succeeded to the owner
ship of all lands which the Duke of
York had not disposed of, and these
were known as they are to this day, as
the common land of the city. Robert
Lyburn bought the present site of ST.
Patrick's, but the site of the Roman
Catholic Orphan Asylum was never sold
by the city. The city later leased the
property to the church authorities. At
that time it was nothing but great mass
of forbidding rocks.
When the asylum was built great
jagged rocks had to be blasted away
and high hill cut down, and the big
structure and the smooth turf succeeded
them. But part of the playground is
artificial stone that is as smooth as the
primeval rocks were rough.
William H. Vanderbilt always resented
the presence of the orphSn asylum. So
did other rich men having houses in the
vicinity. Time and time again Mr.. Van
derbilt tried to buy the orphan asylum
He offered SUMS which the church author
tiles frankly admitted were more than
the property was worth.
But they would not sell. They held
that there were many advantages in
having the asylum next the church.
The Roman Catholic Orphan Asy um is
the only institution of the kind in the
city which does not receive the per
capita of s. a month from the municipal
treasury.
About three years ago Archbishop
Corrigan decided that the time had come
when it would be wise to think of re-
moving the asylum to the upper part
of the city, where there was more room.
The welfare of children is always associ-
ated with the country. OF course, if the
asylum were removed the old property
would be sold.
And then the question of title arose.
There was no doubt that the asylum
could retain the ground to the end OF
time, but it did not hold the land in fee
simple 1t could not give purchaser a
clear title, so that it was practically
worthless as an asset.
The church authorities went to the
Board of Aldermen with an ordinance
which was passed upon by the corpora.
ton counsel, and which was practically a
deed of sale, transferring the property
outright to the asylum for 81. The ordi
nance passed and was signed by Mayor
Strong.
Able lawyers said that this gave a per,
fectly clear and legal title. But the
church authorities wanted no possible
question. A bill was sent to the Legisla
ture in 1885, so framed that it gave the
asylum power to dispose of the property
as it saw fit, and made the title absolutely
valid. This became law.
Now the property can be sold with 6
clear title, and therefore can command
its normal value. How much this is i.
a matter of opinion. There are thirty
four lots in Que block and thirty-twC
in the other. 1t has been said that the
property is worth $500, 900, but expert,
say that this is low estimate, and tha
it will bring nearer s., 100000 The Fifth
auenue block is the most valuable resi-
dence property in New York