New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-23
DISPUTE OVER NUMBERS.
FOR 5TH-4VE. BUILDINGS.
Woman Cings to One Held for
-Four Generations.

Because the old Union Club site. at the north
west corner of 5th-ave. and 21st-st.. had 9TH
ave- number. Borough President Ahearn and the
Murray Hill Local Improvement Board have
been asked to decide whether the building on the
southwest the one on the northwest corner
Of the two streets shall be known as No. 100
E. H. Van Ingen & Co. own the building on
the southwest corner. which is occupied by such
firms as McKim. Mead & White Leon Rheims
Company. Robertson & Potter and Fritz & La
Rue The other building is owned by the Hud-
son Realty Company, which wants the old Union
Club site to be known No 160. Neither side
will give in
To the north of the Hudson Realty Company's
building is the home of Miss Martha A Andrew
VINO refuses to give up her number, which is
lo2 Miss Andrews cngs to this number out OF
sentiment. The house has been in her family
four generations and has always been desig-
mated as No 162.
The hearing on the matter was held yesterday
before Borough President Ahearn and Aldermen
Ware. Sturges and Robinson members of the
Murray Hill Local Board.
The Hudson Realty Companys representative
said his firm did not care a copper cent whether
their building was No. l or 1,OOo. but the,- did
want whole number, and not number with a
letter or fraction tackled on His suggestion
that one Of the three numbers now possessed by
the Presbyterian Building. Nos. 154 156 and
1oS 5th-ave., be given the present No 100,
was vigorously protested by John E. Parsons
who appeared a member of the Board of
Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church,
which has interest in the Presbyterian Build
ing.
Counsel for Miss Andrew, who owns the 25-
foot front dwelling north of the unabelled
building, said that Miss Andrew would not
sent to lose No 162. Because of the length of
time the house has been in her family. number
and house have come to be regarded one and
irseparab BILE.
Requests and protests, suggestions and coun-
ter suggestions, followed in rapid order. Out OF
the maze of discussion the entire history of the
numbering of 5th-ave. was finally evolved. Be-
fore 1904 the Board of Aldermen has only twice
acted on the subject-in 1853 and 1868
In 1891 E. H. Van Ingen & Co. erected the
building on the southwest corner of 5th-ave
and 21st-st, which now bears the coveted No
160. The building occupies the last four lots in
the block. just north of the Presbyterian Build
ing.
When the Hudson Realty Company finished
its big building last year there was not single
number remaining. Not wishing the distinction
of being the only building without number in
oth-aVe.. the owners demanded that they be
given either No. 100, pre-empted several years
BEFORE or else No. 162 in which Miss Andrew
has vested rights Miss Andrew refuses TO
have her house known as 1921 or 162a, and the
Hudson Realty Company just vigorously
fuses to be designated in similar manner.
At present there appears to be only two solu-
tions to the problem. One is to have the Hud-
son company assume the old 21st-st. number of
the Union Club, else receive a fractional
alphabetical designation until some of the dwell
ings 10 the north made into Office buildings
and they can be known No 162 or any other
number above 160 which the Van Ingen Com
pany intends to keep.