Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-29
TELLS TRAGIC TALE
OF A BLEAK HOUSE
DENIED FLAT, MAN WITH CHILL
pREN BUILDS IN DESPAIR
Suit in Court Reveals Story Of Earnest
Toll to Shelter Flock-De-
fends Freak in His
Testimony

NEW YORK. Dec. 2S.--Because he has
eight small children Howard E. Wheeler.
an architect and builder, is unable to
ers in Brooklyn. His youngsters. he
says. seem to call for an increase in rent
every time and more than half OF them
cry out for pop" together or come run
ming up the stairs.
At many places the janitor said, mo
children taken," after Wheeler owned to
eight So he began building a house
with his own hands in East Thirty-fifth
street, near Avenue Il. Flatbush. SO far
away from any other dwelling he is sure
the little flock will bother no neighbors
He didn't build it right according to the
building department. and Wheeler apr
peared before Justice Crane of the SUI
preme court as defendant 'in the matter
of the alleged unsafe building in East
Thirty-tifth street." as the title of the
action reads
Ordered to Rebuild or Raze
The corporation counsel appeared
against Wheeler, and the building de-
partment through superintendent David
b. Moore, eontended the house should
be rebuilt or razed. Although Tlatbush
folk called the house freak" and are
much annoyed thereby, Justice Crane
told Mr.. Wheeler his rights would be
protected, so the builder left court In
good spirits.
When Wheeler planned to build last
summer he was confronted by the high
cost of materials, and decided to adopt
economy from the start. Aggrieved Flat
bush men allege that the house now
about half completed is made Of sticks
stones and mud" but such is not the
case. A solid railroad tie forms the
Threshold; several wooden for sale"
signs, which were wearing their lives
away in vacant lots, were Incorporated
| into the walls and neatly covered with
| tar paper; an old door, cut to fit. makes
q paneed wainscoting along the stair
case, and some smoke begrimed ti1nbers
salvage from fire. give the dining room
an old English effect of Smoke stained
rafters." Wheeler thought the idea
combined art with economy.
! Tt was hard work getting a roof to-
gether but two or three old sections of
a shingle roof have been trimmed and
fitted as a covering for part Of the house
The foundations, of every known ma
terial, appear strong. but irregular.
Some Changes Demanded
The building department requires new
concrete piers under the front OF the
house, the completion Of a retaining wall
in front and rear. bay window plumbed
up, the roof slowed around and the sec
ond story bay window straightened. This
means, Wheeler says, ito tear down and
rebuild" Walter #. Clayton, Brooklyn
builder. testified before Justice Crane
today that the building, in the main. was
safe.
Wheeler built his house under difficul-
ties. His days wori: over. he tackled
the job for three or four hours each
evening. carrying most of the materials
to the site in his arms. His family oc-
cupies temporarily basement in row
of brick houses near. The expense Of
the delayed building operations has fallen
heavily on ine family Mrs. Wheeler
said today;
at seems we can't rent a flat and keep
our children, too. Three are sick. II tho
inspectors had only given my husband q
chance he would have had the house nr-
ished and painted. and II would look the
Same as any other house, We can't
same as any other house."