New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
BRONXV1LLE ANDITS n AME
MAY BE CHANGED TO GRAMATAN-HOME
OF PERSONS WITH LITERARY AND
ARTISTIC TASTES UP THE
HARLEM ROAD.
HARLEM ROAD.

The attractive suburban settlement of Bronx
will is trying to change its name to ancient
AID honorable Indian one-Gramatan. move
mont in favor of the change has been well un-
der way for some time, especially among the
cottagers of Lawrence Park, which forms the
major part Of BronXville.
There are several reasons for the change
Bronxville is on the Harlem Division of the
NeW-York Central Railroad. few stations
nearer New-York is a station called Bronx
Park 1t causes no little confusion. If dinner
guest fails to arrive at Lawrence Park on time
his excuse usually is, We'll, the brakeman cried
Bronx something other, and got off 1t
III hour before another train came Why don't
you get a name that is all your own
The servants whom Bronxville residents hire
in the city generally get off, bag and baggage.
at Bronx Park and lose themselves. 1t is no
end of trouble hunting them up. Then there
are two other postottices in the State which
lave names similar to Bronxville, and mail mat
ter occasionally goes astray.
Gramatan seems to be the natural name for
the suburb, say the advocates Of the change
It is the name Of CID Indian chief who lived
there for many years and about whom there
some pretty legends. 1t is the name Of tn"
Lawrence Park club, and was the name Of the
big hotel which was burned there several years
BronxviIle a few years ago was sleepy little
crossroads town, like many another in West
chester County. Then came the overflow from
crowded New-York y rock ribbed. densely wood
ed hill was turned into park-Lawrcnce Park
and work on a score of cottages began almost
simultaneously. The natural beauty Of tn
rugged spot attracted many persons Of artistic
tendency, and a colony If authors, painters and
workers has grown up
The park is entered from the main highway
past pretty. vine covered keepers lodge. At
the first bend in the hill climbing road is the
house of the Gramatan Country Club, to which
most Of the cottagers belong. The clubhouse is
Il rambling, rustic structure with wide porches
overlooking the valley. The largest room has a
tiny stage, which several amateur perform
ances are set forth each year The most recent
one-a minstrel shOw-Was given at the club
house last Friday evening. 1t was followed by a
dance, after the theatre floor had been cleared
The social life of Lawrence Park centres around
the clubhouse, and it is almost as busy in sum
mer as in winter, for this is truly an all year
round settlement.
There stately villas in the park but
pretty modern cottages no two alike nesting
here in hollow perched there on a ledge of
rocks crowned with natural forestry rich and
varied, and beautified by bits Of picturesque
landscape gardening and winding drives that
curl around the cottages as the rugged nature of
the landscape permits. Many of the grounds
and drives are yet in the rough, but it requires
no stretch OF the imagination to the ample
possibilities open to the Landscape architect
The park regulations forbid the erection of =
cottage under a certain limit Of cost One who
thinks no landscape perfect without the sheen
or water IN Lake or stream or the roll of the surf