The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-07
Bonaparte Park To Get
New Life

parte Park, which afforded one of the
few homes of royalty in America and
which gave to New Jersey the sobri.
quet of "Spain" and has made all
Jerseymen familiar to the iunnyman as
"Spaniards," is to be restored with the
sale OF the famous piece of property,
residence from 1877 to I842 of JOS
eph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, a
prince of France, conqueror of Naples,
and from 1903 to 1873 King of Span.
The purchase Of the beautiful park,
now but a small acreage compared
with its early expansiveness, was con-
summated recnetly by Harris Hammond
son OF John Hayes Hammond, of New
York, jurist ard friend Of President
Taft, and John V. Rice, Jr, a mech
anical inventor and engineer, of Borden
town, who secured this last remnant of
the Bonaparte estate from the St Vim
cent de Paul Society, of Germantown,
Pa, which for over a decade has used
the property for a consistory for the
young priests under tutelage. The pur-
chase price Tor the park on which its
royal owner spent $3oo, 900, and Thom-
as Beckett, wealthy Englishman, lat
er expended an equal sum, was $5o, 900
Sentiment, not unmixed with specula-
tive acuman, is said to have actuated
the purchase. When a cadet in the
Bordentown Military Academy years
ago, Mr. Rice was thrilled with de-
sire to own this historic old property and
preserve the royal relics. The oppor-
tunlty was never presented Tor real
i3ation of this boyhood fancy until few
weeks ago, when the former cadet learn
ed that the place was Tor sale. He in
terested Mr.. Hammond and few DAYS
ago Mr.. Rice had the satisfaction of
slowing carefully away in his safe the
deeds to the property, included among
which IS Joseph Bonaparte,s personal
indenture
In addition to the sentimental side OF
the transaction, friends of the two seem
to think that they have anticipated the
construction ofthe proposed deep water
way across New Jersey which must I'll.
timately pass throug hCrosswicks Creek
and tap the Delaware River at point
where the park is located In such an
event the marsh which Joseph Bona
parte coverted into an artificial lake
where white swan once swan and
boating parties of princes and court lad
les glided, will be required as basin
Tor the Government canal, and adjacent
property will soar in value.
The new owners declared their in
tenllon of restoring the estate as far as
possible TO the condition in which il
was left by the former King Work has
allrady begun in altering the mansion
built by Thomas Beckett, known as
"the destroyer since he tore down the
old Bonaparte house to erect for him
self more elegant and commodious
residence. All that was saved from
the wreck of the other mension were
two mantelpieces of Italian marble,
which were sent as gift to Joseph
from Italy by his uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
These were placed in the new building
and are still well preserved.
When the alterations to the Beckett
mansion are complete it will be occu-
pied by Mr.. Rice, who will gather there
as much OF the old furniture and fur.
nishings of the Bonaparte period as he
can recover. Negotiations are being
made for the purchase OF the former
Kings bedstead, a massive affair of ma
hogany and heavy brass, which was
purchased at the time the Bonapartes
effects were auctioned off by the late
Miss Maria Mutt. 1t is now at her
home, Bellevue" in New York, and is
the property of her nephew and nieces
of the Glider family, to whom her es-
tate was bequeathed 1t is said that
the price asked for the royal cough is
$1,000.