The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
WAS ]. ]. ASTOR'S VILLA ONCE
HOBOKEN HOUSE WITH A HIS.
TORY UP AGAINST A NEW Law.
Built by tho Founder Of the Aston Family
~ Summer Home--lryinE and Other
Distinguished Men Its Guests--Now
Its StOOp May he Cut on.

csvvp VSoy uV Wv VII.
An ordinance passed by the Hoboken
Councilmen prohibiting sidewalk obstruc-
tions may cause the removal of the sto y
steps in front OF the old villa Of John Jacob
Aston at tho southwest corner of Wash
ington and Second streets. - The building
is the oldest in Hoboken, with the excep-
ton Of the Stevens family residence at
Castle Point, which was built by Col John
Stevens In 1874.
John Jacob Astor was reputed to be tho
wealthiest man in the United States when
he became resident of Hoboken and
moved into his villa in 1923. While super
intending the building OF the villa he was
in the habit of stopping at the boarding
house of the Misses Van Buskirk on the
Hoboken waterfront.
THE old maid Van Busldrks. as they
were Familiarity called, conducted one Of
the best-known resorts on the Jersey side
OF the Hudson They we're gentlewomen
who were forced to shift for themselves
by the financial reverses Of their father.
Their skill in preserving fruit and making
pastries, the care they expended on their
garden and the trimness of their own bro
caded gowns and white caps were matters
Of wide fame.
Mr.. Astor's villa had a fine situation
The gardens which surrounded it were
filled with rare plants and foliage brought
home by the captains Of his merchant
men, and the front windows commanded
an unobstructed view of the Hoboken
river walk Here there WAS an ever
changing parade OF pleasure seekers and
Mr.. Aston, it is recorded, was very fond
OF mlnging with them.
Fitz-Greene Halleck spent much time
at Mr. Astors Hoboken villa. The open
ing lines Of Fanny" in which he describes
Manhattan's harbor. are said to have been
written on the porch OF the house.
Washington Irving and Martin Van Buren,
were also frequent guests at the villa. r.
wing was extremely fond Of the old Dutch
settlements on the Jersey shore. and 10
said to have obtained much Of the matter
for his -Knickerbocker History Of New
York" from the Van Horne family, who
lived In the House Of the Four Chimney
whicd is still standing at Communipaw.
quently be seen driving about Hoboken
about this time. Their favorite pursuit
was to stop at homesteads and collect old
Flemish plate. The author used to tell
his friends at the Salmagundi Club that
Of shs sf Kind T IL shs Sew s YorH ssops w S
such choice things could be picked up by
crossing the Stevens ferry.
Another favorite diversion Of 1rving's
in Hoboken was to walk through the Elysian
Fields and meet actors who used to 60 there
to study and rest A writer Of the time
says that 1t was q common thing to see
performers walking in the fields committing
their lines to memory.
1t was in the Elysian Fields that Irving
and Aston used to consort with the mem
bers Of the Turtle Club. which il still in
existence. The members OF tho original
club were epicures who gloried In their
avoirdupois. The story that Irving gave
the club its motto, AS we journey through
life let us live by the weigh is denied By
the present members of the organization,
who say that it was not adopted until long
after his death.
Mr.. Aston gave UP his life ut tho villa in
1881, when he went abroad. and tt passed
from the family estate shortly after his
death. Since that time It has had halt Q
dozen owners. A Hoboken drm bought h
eight years ago for S22 800 and turned this
been running on the ground floor for nearly
thirty years.
The villa was built OF pressed brick and
had one story and an attic. Another story
was added after 1t passed from the Aston
estate. and the iron fence which tnclosed
It was done away with and the bigger part
Of the surrounding ground was cut up
and sold for building lots.
The stone etoop. which is to be removed.
extends ten feet from the house line. The
new ordinance provides that tho sidewalk
shall not be INSTRUCTED four feet beyond the
house line.