New-York tribune., 1899-06-09
BROOKLYN NEWS.
HOMEWOOD.
A DISTRICT WHERE HAPPINESS rs THE
RULE.

THE DESIRE OF MAN TO OWN HIS OWN HOME
CATERED TO BY A COMPANY WHICH AFFORDS
MANY ADVANTAGES TO BUYERS.
One OF the wiseacres has said blood VIII
tell" II js immaterial whether it is blue
blood or not. for in the millions who have emil
grated n these shores the spirit of segregation
is as intense as 1t is among the descendants OF
the Knickerbockers or in the gided circles of
that complex and indefinite thing called So
cietv or the Four Hundred OF course 1t is not
the idea of exclusiveness that inspires the for
mer 1t is the old human desire for sympatheuc
company, for companionship with the chliureh
Of the same race and tongue and distrust OF
the stranger who is unfamiliar with BOTH EVIL
dence of this is shown in the various colonies
that exist in New-York City. and especially
Manhattan, which has been and still Is the mag
net OF emigration to the Western world Ihe
Italian, the Russian the Hebrew the Bohemiah'
the Chinese and other races still have their own
little towns within the boundaries OF the great
town where they speak their own language
and in large measure follow the habits. GUS
toms and pecuarities of their native countries.
and in al least two cases practically follow the
laws of their old homes. The passage OF time
and contact with American civilization, ana a
growing Kn0Wleuge OF &IneIiCdH iHottu'"ho
and government, are gradually bringing about
desirable assimilation. but the fact remains
that men of the same standing, means and So
cial condition. without regard to race or Ian
guage, will. through the peculiar organism Of
modern society, become members OF the same
clubs. If not of the same church, and usually
flock together in a residential district. which
practically soon takes on the same general ap-
nd ic striking expression
the average of their means or income and
standing in society and business.
Take. for instance, that part Of Brooklyn ly-
ing between Borough Park and West Brooklyn,
in the old town Of New Utrecht, bounded by
New-Utrecht and Eighteenth aves. and Owing
ton-ave. and Seventy-fourth-st., popularity
known as Homewood While 1t resembles in
general topography those other suburban dis
tricts In Brooklyn which have recently been de-
scribed in The Tribune for the benefit Of home
makers 1t has certain distinctive features in
It's management which are worthy Of attention.
The company that directs its affairs boasts
that It is the only suburban district that is thor
oughly equipped with macadamized streets
sewerage and water systems and practically all
the features and advantages Of an ideal town
All such improvements have been made by the
company, and Police Sergeant James Keenan,
who has one OF the finest homes in Homewood
said yesterday that their cost by an equitable
distribution has been added to the purchase
money on which 10 per cent has to be paid in
the first place. with the unusual advantage in
time Of the payment of instalments covering a
period Of from ten to twenty years. according
TO the preference Of the purchaser of the land
and houses, all Of which have been built by the
company.
Insurance policies must also be drawn In favor
Of the company. which pays the premiums, and
adds them to the amount of the investment
When the purchase money mas Deen palo the
contract is turned to the purchaser and
also the policy or its equivalent in cash on It's
value at the time Of the closing OF the con-
tract. .
tages and seems to favor the company, yet
those who have made their homes In Homewood
state from experience that 1t Is perfectly salts
factory, and that as the purchase amount or
the property with the additional cost of I'M
provements and insurance premiums. Is paid
In easy nstalments, covering long PERIOD or
time the burden is light and does not materi-
ally affect the resources Of men OF moderate
means income
Two years ago Homewood was a great stretch
of wilderness Vegetation bloomed and with
cred as the seasons passed, and the trees shaded
not single home. But all that has been
changed through the inherent desire in man to
own his own home.
The foundations Of the first house to be built
In Homewood were laid In July or early In Au-
gust 1897. Now there are 106 houses, mostly
frame buildings, with here and there a few
brick structures. Most Of the houses have brick
foundations. with stucco and slate ROOTS. Ihey
are generally Of two and half stories, and are
almost invariably in the Queen Anne style OF
architecture, with suggestions In some places OF
the touch OF a modern hand.
The houses are built on lots having a frontage
Of from forty to sixty feet, and depth OF one
hundred feet. Everybody is happy in Home
wood because everybody is a landowner and
AndN la thor ri her
nor poorer and probably neither better nor
worse than his neighbor There may be class or
social distinctions of course. as there are every
where where any considerable NUMBER or people
nave founded a hamlet. a village town, or 3
city but the lines blend together rather har>
moniously in Homewood. and as its people are
too busy to bother about society. and flnd their
greatest happiness and interests in their homes,
4ha.. aro odonted a sustern Of nhllosOphY which