New-York tribune., 1903-02-02
T4TERN KEEPER DEAD.
Michael KIEan. Host Of OkUc Tree,
Helpedfkc Young Richard Croker.

For tho second time in nearly half century the
front door of The old Olive Tree Tavern. at the
southwest corner or Tltirty-second-st- and Third
ave bore d Bit of card board Saturday night
on Nhich written
Closed on account Of death.
The first time was when Katie Killian. the aged
sister Of the proprietor. lay dead; and SATURDAY
night the card gave notice to the patrons OF the
tavern that old Michael kilan, the proprietor hau
srlccumbed to the cold he contracted on "Wednesday
that the old tavern. with its quaint low par. It's
,orEebbed ceilings sandel floor and worn tahieS
would probably never again he opened. and mat
hi1all-s old wines would disappear.
And 50 feeling that void had been creates IN
,ber lives t7e pa4rons Of the tavern. most Of them
gray haired mon tiptoed mp the rickety stairs yes
terday 10 where Michael killian. eightN-t"o yea
old lay in his coffin. Ills Sreat-gTandniece toI'
-be-o reauiem mass would he celebrated Al ~
Sterhens Roman Catholic church to-day Ior 'i'e
refose Of the SOU or The old tavern keeper ah'
that he would he buried at Calvary Cemetery
The natrons went sadly AWAY. and soon after
1brir dersrrure sreat pieces of flowers began 10
arrive ,,nfil TIE little where the cofiln S'ooa
overhoHed.
The dead tavern keeper was one of inc mos
familiar characters in the neighborhood 't ms
,,s+lar,. which was three story brick house OF
ancient construction
"a la,,e .. America with his sister Kate about
7r,,.7,-a Years ago and together they made their
home in Connecticut. on a small pa'ch .. ,"''-
which they cultivated, once mohth Nina"
,,,rl,- load Of
inrr,,ey two or three days In passing the oiiNe
---.o --,,-er, then stuateG the broad country
road known as Thrd-ave-. the inviting shade OF d
willow tree Of great Eirth caused nm 1" STOP anu
,,p-cl,ase refrcshment for himself and horse II
became = habit as the years went by, and he began
Ia 1an and save to establish another such tavern
4so had S2a received from the sale of early June
meas when he stopped one day, and in the shade
,r the bC willow he told his ambitions 10 'he
tavern Keeper
II viii sell YOU this place for $50 said the pun
lt-ap for he was ambitious to so West h1lah
,,,,-1,. ,r, ,,'a,e on the spot. In a week he had
Installed his sister the tavern. and presided a'
Tho little low bar like a grocery counter IMAM
liGuor bar behind which he Would aIio" l'o oie
hut himself 10 go
-, ,re tir7e he became proprietor Of the tav-
or, he voted the Tammany ticket with answering
LOYALTY and it Is said that when Richaro 'roheF
,5-apr,ed into the barroom one day in his younger
,-o.rs killian urged that the Tamnany ticket was
- ,1,- ,icl,et Ia vote He became Croker's back
= md as the prosperity of the Olive Tree Tavern
increased helped Croker, it is said. in his carry
ambitions. -
II. z,o,5l6 never allow a customer to see bottle
IF liouor In serving drink he would pour 'ie
dram into a large tumber and then hand the Gus
ton7er = small glass: the customer was expected 10
,,lenish tho smaller glass from the tumhler. he
U-ould open the tavern winter and summer at
o.,locb and wait until the last Of his patrons
80 for t1,efr raornins, drink When the last had
bean served up went the nars on the barroorh
door and Killian LED his customers TO the dining
room 1!rstairs where Katie had laid the nre4Alas'
After The dea1h of Katie, several years ago
r;7,, los, heart in his tavern and took little care
of The placa Dust collected on the old demlJohhs
behind The bar and the corpuent cast iron stove
that eovyed IN the barroom in the Wlnter1llhe pe-
,.sr7e hare Of polish. But he would permit no one
;, ,,ro,, ,,,, tho nlace rreferring 70 browse away
IN his chair hy the stove until awakened by some
gray haired patron.