New-York tribune., 1906-12-10
4 COBBLER'S MANSION.
TO LEAVE HUMBLE HOUSE
italian, Former WOOdhaUen Shoe
maker, Builds S75 900 Home.

Michael Petite. who came TO this country from
Italy penniless and started as a cohber in Wood
haven. Long Island twenty years ago, has
started for Europe. He retired from business
and moved from the humble little home in
RockaWay road jamaica. In which he had lived
with his family while he was amassing for
tune. Petite approved plans drawn by Walter
I. Halliday from suggestions made by the erst-
while cobbler for marble-fnished house. TO
cost approximately $4,000.
Petite thinks the long leap from the cObbler's
bench to the occupancy of $4,000 house is
none too far He has stinted himself and saved
so that every penny of available capital might
= usesu.y emplrEed and now he means to
enjoy the fruits of his years of labor. Nothing
that be bought with money is too good for
Petite and the members of his family. The house
is be furnished and decorated in the style
most pleasing to its owner, regardless of eX-
pense His present European trip is for the
double purpose of starting his sons education in
Germany and collecting decorative mantels and
statuary for his new home.
No one i'm Jamaica besides Petite and the
architect who drew the plans knows that Petite
means to leap from Of the poorest houses to
the most snowy one for miles around
Petite has been retlCent regarding his affairs,
and locally he is known merely a man who
had heen steadily forging ahead.
Pette's work as cobbler in Woodhaven was
so we'll done that it attracted the attention Of
some of his customers who, learning that he
was studying English literature at night after
his long days work finished, decided to
help him He was appointed court interpreter
The salary of that Office served to maintain
him and enabled him 10 start a bank account
Intercourse with men in court taught the cob
bier some of the possibilities in the real estate
business and he launched out independently
eight or nine years ago, buying and building
houses and selling at large profits His money
has been exceedingly busy while Petite. who
studied law but was never admitted to the bar.
added much TO his hoard by semi-legal services
rendered to his less learned countrymen.
Several months ago Petite returned to Italy.
and while there and in Southern France fell in
love with some of the Roman COrnthian style
of architecture He determined that he would
have house that embodied the best features of
those he most admired, and made sketches for
the use of the architect. When ne returned he
gave the sketches to Mr. Halliday. and gave
him the most minute details regarding the
rangement of the house
The structure, which will rest on the crest of
the backbone of Long Island" will face south
Its front will he conspicuous from long dis
tance, as the hill upon which il win he erected
is a high one and visible for miles around.
Large high marble pillars will flank the en-
trance. Access To the front porch will he had
by a Roman stairway finished in marble Within
there viii be a gallery all around the entrance
hall. which is to he arranged with inches for
statuary. The gallery will be supported by
handsome columns Mural paintings are to he
executed by experts.
The library. which viii be in the southwest
corner of the first floor will be the owners
choicest room. Bookcases are to he built into
the walls while busts of the cobber-student's
favorite authors, sculptors and painters Will
look down from above them.
ParkhaH, Petite will call his new home
will be at Jeffry and Petite avenues. and will
sit we'll back so that the sloping front of the
estate NAV be transformed into an Italian gar
den with a pergola and garden furniture
Petite is not VET forty years old.