The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-06-28
JOHN G. WENDELL Owns
More Of Broadway than
Any Other Man and WIN
Not Sell an Inch Of Il.
He 0noe Refused $4,000
for a Fifth Avenue Lot Be.
cause HE Dog Needed II
for. a Place to Exercise.


.AYEW YORK.-John Wendell 10
the name he signs in the old,
time signature New York real
estate men have come to know
we'll. He owns a. much II moi
more Of the land on which New
York is built than any other man In
the world.
He Is, perhaps. the most pictures.
que character in all Of this cosmopol.
itan city Of unusual people.
Little he is and old and a bachelor.
The Russell Sage Of Broadway"
scme call him: to others he is the
Rockefeller Of Real Estate" and once
more. THE Sentimental Millionaire"
Sometimes. too. he has been called
1.-THE Hermit of Fifth Avenue"
John g. Wendell is probably the
only nan alive today who can consci-
entiously lay claim to the title THE
Man Who Has Enough Money"
A younger man with a limited
amount Of money wanted to rent one
of the old mans stores on Broadway
In which to begin a modest business.
He went personally to the owner about
the rental. Wendell stated his price.
but don't you think, MI. Wendell"
asmurred the young man. that that
- pretty stiff rent? I'm only starting
u business and I don't want to use
the biggest part Of my capital for
rent"
Practical h Hls Business.
Young man." was the answer.
you're right. 1t Is high rent-too
high for you to pay. But l can't come
Gown. My rents are not high, az rents
80 on Broadway, but such az they are
cannot change them. The price has
been dxed-it's sentiment Of mine not
to change them."
Then l suppose I'll have to pay It."
sighed the prospective tenant.
Wendell went on as II without inter.
1uption.
Its my price, but ! can't rent to
you. I couldn't have 1t on my consct
snce that a young man starting bust
ness was running himself to pay me
rent. Hunt another store where the
rent Is right, is my advice. 1 reckon
that little store Of mine can stay with.
out a tenant for a time yet"
Nor would the offer of a full years
rent In advance move him.
John G. Wendell had proven again
that he did not care for money. but
that he did are for the sentiment
with which he has surrounded his
Qroperty-that that which 10. is. that
which has been cannot be changed.
Again a young a coveted a css-
tain store and went to Wendell with 4
proposition to rent.
But have q tenant on that prop.
srty." objected the old man.
Il know" was the reply. But I
understand his lease 10 about up. I'll
give you double the rent he 10 paying
you."
The Sentimental Millionaire paid a
visit to his tenant. "Your times al.
most up" he began. "%satisned!"
The tenant declared he was.
.All right" said Wendell.
The other man called again naxt
day.
Could Not Have the stors.
7 have a tenant" he was informed.
~You can't have the store"
But
T don't want your money" broke
l. the owner. What do l a for a
tbw more dollars! MY tenants salts.
aad-o a. L Good day"
He was getting his / per cent. above
taxes, which real estate men say John
z Wendell gathers q profit, and he
1lln't want any moro.
H never does. He emily wants to
1gnt to kssD his laad. and to add more
- It when hs can. instead Of pilins
- dollars In the bank representing
lind he ones owned-good. tangible
land. ,z~ .
The story Of John O.. Wendell be.
gins many years ago-two hundred.
70 be sxact-though he himself 10 q
mare youth Of ssventythree.
Then, when New York was young,
's1ksere were two pioneers who were
ilstanch friends and business allies.
We'll buy land" thsy agreed with
enc another, ''and some day ven have
the two higysst estates in the world"
They both had drm faith In the future
sf New York. (.
Ono Of those men was John Jacob
Aston (the ~orisinal), the other was
the grandfather Of the present John
a. Wendell.
we Cell No Properly"
! The slogan Of his family has come
- DO, We SCH no property" and q
Nc oiloloth sign In his old-fashioned
Aes-that odlce's chief decoration
q informs the public. T:
Almost might another name be add
10 to Nr. Wendell's collection. With
much stretch Of the imagination,
~ might b called ''The Man Who
-nS.PA-- ~.l..a-.- 50 $500 H-aAS~I