New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

Home of the EmerSons on Staten
Island.

Rack IN .the sos Of the last century. after
william Emerson had attained a reputation as
LAWYER Of considerable ability. he left his home n
Concord Mass and settled in this city one day
he wandered down to Staten Island for brief OUT
inc He was so pleased with what he that he
decided to make Staten Island his home He ar
ranged to stop with his family for time At little
hotel at Dutch Farms NOW Coneord). which Is st-4
standing on the Richmond Road and has been
occupied for many years the private residence OF
Thomas Foley This house was also the first home
of Erastus Brooks Staten Island While stop
ping in this little hotel Mr. Emerson purchased a
property. part Of the Cuger estate. and on
which stood plain, old fashioned cottage. He SET
TO work repafrfng and identifying the building
which during the first summer OF its occupancy 81
its new owner cfTistened BY his brother. Ralph
Waldo Emerson. The SnUgsery-
William Emerson appointed county fudge of
Richmond County in 1871 while residing IN Ths
Suuggery and many old Staten Islander can
well remember the genial gentleman OF the Old
school, riding down Richmond in his gig. or.
ACCOMPANIED by his dogs. strOHng along the road
between his home and the county seat AS soon 80
guests one Of the first to enter his brother.
the windows Of which overlooked me Wiz
ing nignway and the 0road STlIi HeIS "i-i. .lt
beautifed the surroundings The judge H0lai$
was one OF the largest ana Gollat.e4 o' ., -
finest selections Of rare and useful books 70 ra
found the country Added TO this was the pre-
reau the philosopher and author The letters Vhien
Mr. Thoreau wrote from staten Islaad 70 ~ L-
Concord, are preserved in MS volume or core
spondence- ..
Judge Emerson, Ralph waldo Emerson ard
Thoreau gave TIE name of Concord (which e SIN
bears Dutch Farms. the little village situated 2
the junction of the Glove and Richmond roaCs
where The SnUggery was located. Some OF t1e-r
neighbors stir reside there, and recall with Tfa-
enthusiasm the Judge ard his friends used 70
plan for the future Of Concord They hoped sons
make il the county seat
In those old days little Baptist church stood On
the steep hillside adjoining the Emerson property.
at the junction OF the Glove and Richmond roads
It was there that the down Casters as they
were not unkindy called, attended divine service
and there, too, in the little graveyard, that
William and Ralph Waldo laid brother 10 rest
after years OF suffering. legal question arose
come time afterward. however, and the body was
removed to the family buryins ground in AasSa-
chusetts.
The little church-the first home OF the Baptist
on Staten Island-was demolished about a tElrd or
a century ago, and the moss covered slabs that
mark the neglected graves are gradually disap-
pearing-
Here and there little souvenir Of the En1srsor >
ts treasured BY old friend on the Island
without price IN it's value, save to the owner, u
whom il recalls by its presence scenes ana n
cdenrs that reaWaken thoughts OF dellghtful hours
IN the long ago One has old ARMCHAIR. sirpl >
and plain IN its makeup: another has a rOuS d
walking stick which Ralph Waldo cut from nedse
on Todt Hill: another stin has knife almost
bIadeless but II matters not about that so long a.
It once belonged 10 the Emersons- one Old Wonaa 4
has letter. written by Ralph Waldo, in which ne
accepted an invitation 20 dine with her on her