New-York tribune., 1905-07-16

ness and having married the brothers decided 70
build the hill. AS they had always liveo
under one roof they decided to continue 20 DO
so, and this was how the idea of a twin house
was evolved. The land was purchased, ana the
houses built exactly in the centre Of the plot II
was agreed that the houses should De exacSlg
alike, and the question OF which brother would
have which house left for settlement arter
they were completed. Then 1t was settled IN
peculiar way. Molly, the old family nurse
Tipped a coin. Samuel won the Vanderbilt-ave-
half OF the property. Then 1t was thought 70
be the choicer half on account Of its proximity
to Ciinton-ave, but now there is little to choose.
On each ground floor there was a big hail, a
large drawing room, back of which was dining
room, sitting room and a library. IN each
house there were forty closets, which is hard for
persons familiar only with modern houses 70
believe. Vast coal bins extended out under the
lawns. The houses did not open one into the
other at any point except on the top door, where
a bowling alley, owned Jointly by the brothers,
were so deadened that the rolling OF the balls
was not noticeable in any other part Of the
houses The alley remained in commission until
a few years ago, when partition was put up
and the space remodeIled into bedrooms There
was theatre built in the attic, and It is re-
corded that many interesting entertainments
were seen there. This latter was sacrificed for
a water tank.
Thomas Vernon was fond Of gardening and
took much pride in his fruit and vegetables 1t
is related that he had the best heets for miles
around. Although the boys of the neighborhoed
used to make frequent raids in the Vernon
orchard, the owner was too tender hearted TO
deal severely with them One day he caught two
youngsters with their spoils. With assumed Sc
verify he took the fruit away from them. After
sending them flying out into the street he picked
up the fruit and hurled 1t after them. Another
hobby over which he devoted considerable time
was the breeding Of game chickens. story
told of him says that it was his great ambition
to breed a Ave-toed chicken Of a certain variety.
The nearest he came to 1t was when he raised
a chicken with four toes on one foot and six
the other. There some legends OF famous
cock fights, which the Vernon boys pulled off
for the benefit of their young friends in the
neighbOrhOod They We're held, Of course, with
the greatest secrecy in the big attic.
II was a lively collection Of boys and girls that
grew up together in the Vernon houses. AS they
grew to manhood and wOmanhOod they took
prominent place in the social and business life OF
the borough Thomas Vernon had four
and three daughters, namely, T. Alfred Harold,
In the house next door the family Of Samuel
3. Vernon consisted OF three sons and three
daughters. The sons were s. Edward, Frederick
r. and +. Joseph, and the daughters Elizabeth.
Marion and Fannie. In addition to these Yer
mons there were George r. Vernon and Miles
Vernon in Brooklyn They were Of an older
brother, who had settled in Western New-York.
Samuel Vernon died twenty years ago, and
Thomas Vernon has been dead for five years.
1t may we'll be imagined that with all these
young people growing up together there was
much merriment and gayety around the Vernon
houses. Teas, garden parties, dances. dinners
all contributed their share TO the entertainment
of the thirteen children and their friends. For
years the Vernon houses were the centre OF the
social life on the Hill, and it will be with pang
that many a we'll known BrOOklynite viii see
the ruthless hand Of the destroyer laid on the
old fashioned structure.