New-York tribune., 1906-12-19
N. Y. i. TAKES TITLE.
ACQUIRES SCHWAB FARM
Mass Helen Gould Thought To Be
GiUer-4nnOuncement DeLaued.

Spanceilor MacCracken yesterday announced
that unnamed friends of New York University
mao handed TO the university deeds for the en-
ure Schwab farm of fourteen acres as a Christ
mas snt extending its grounds to 1SOth street.
Last May The Tribune announced exclusively
mat the university negotiating with the
Schwao estate for the acquisition of the prop
erty under authorization of its council. and at
mat time officers Of the institution denied the
STORY III was .ascertained yesterday that the
price paid for the propery was S295,0O0.
While some inclined to attribute the
gift to Mrs. Russell Sage. the general impress
Sion at the university yesterday was that the
unnamed giver, or. at least. the chief giver,
was Miss Helen Miller Gould, giver of
the library building and the fine Gould
Hall dormitory building. When the latter build
ing was erected, the Identity OF its giver
kept secret, though it distinctly an open
one, and il long time before Miss Gould
would allow her name to be attached to the
building, which at first known East
Hall. It is well known among New York Uni
versity men that Miss Gould is desirous Of great
privacy IN her gifts TO educational institutions,
and they feel that they know who is respon-
sibe for the latest gift
The announcement that New York University
was to have the entire Schwab farm. with its
buildings free of all lien and incunbrance,
without any call on the treasury of the institu-
ton, made by Chancellor MacCracken in an
address at the closing of the University Grad
uate School and the School of Pedagogy, in
Washington Square. He said:
A few hours ago deeds We're received. giving
10 New York University the entire Schwab
farm. adjoining the south line of the college
grounds and carrying that line TO 1S0th street.
This gift of over two hundred city lots. costing
about 100000. is the most valuable single gift
ever received by New York University with the
exception of the library edifice. which Miss
Helen Miller Gould gave twelve years ago.
Friends OF the university have secured the entire
means for the purchase without any call upon
the treasury. The property comes free Of all
lien and incumbrance as splendid Christmas
gift
It has been the preference Of the Schwab
family that the university should acquire this
historic site. where the revolutionary Fort
Number Eight stood for many years, and is
now commemorated by an inscription on large
boWlder and by bronze tablet set in wall
fine forest covers much Of the ground, which
rises $50 feet above the Harlem and affords
noble view. Academic shades will be more than
a figure of speech in the next summer school
Two spacious mansions will be converted soon
10 educational uses The north and south di-
mensionS OF the campus from IepJh street 10
University avenue will approximate 11OO feet;
from Aqueduct avenue on the east TO Sedgwick
avenue on the west will be over 1900 feet. The
entire campus Will comprise over thirty-seven
acres.
The magnificent Christmas gift the Chancellor
said favored the educational plan which he men
toned in his address at the opening Of the pres
ent college year Where there two
small colleges al University Heights, he said. he
would favor. each faculty had more
than three hundred students under its care, the
organizing of third college, with It's faculty
and residence halls, somewhat on the plan of
those in English universities.
The Schwab farm has been in the possession
OF only three or four families since the original
Dutch purchase, about two hundred and fifty
years ago. Il was bought by Gustav Schwab.
father of Gustav II. Schwab. in 1887. from a
farmer named Archer. Il is in section OF the
city which is rich IN Revolutionary relics and
landmarks. The old Gustav Schwab mansion
was erected on part of the site OF old Fort No. d
from which a line of intrenchments extended TO
Fort Independence. al Kingsbridge- When eX-
cavations were being made for the cellar Of that
and nearby buildings. the workmen unearthed
cannon balls guns and other paraphernalia Of
the Revolutionary War.
When Gustav Schwab died. the property was
held in the name of his widow, Mrs Catherine
Elizabeth Schwab. Gustav H Schwab said yesteT-
dav: "On behalf of my brothers and sisters l
want 10 say that I deeply gratifled TO know
that the property has been purchased for the
New York University It means that the prop
ertz- will be preserved. Nothing could please US
better than TO know that II will be used for uni
pflTIOSeS