New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-29
CELEBRATE PARK GIFT
FROM WOMEN TO CITY
BenefaCtiOn, First of Its Kind in
1856 Years, Wholesome Prec-
edent, Slower Says.
WILLIAM B. ISHAM H0N0RED
Sister and Daughter Give Their
Shares of Estate with Old
Mansion on Historic Hill
to Perpetuate His Name.


On a hilltop made famous in the days
when this country was being born a
thousand persons met yesterday after
noon to celebrate the gift to the city OF
the first public park OF any magnitude
which 1t has received since that time. II
remained for two women to establish
what Park Commissioner Slower hopes
will form a wholesome precedent. after 13'
years of neglect Of the clty's need OF
breathing places on the part of her
wealthy sons. They were Mrs. julia
Isham Taylor and Miss Flora e. Isham.
The new park was part Of the estate OF
the late William b. Isham, father and
brother Of the glvers. 1t will be named
In honor Of him, Isham Park.
When the trustees Of the estate learned
Of Mrs. Taylor's intention to give her
share to the city, they assigned TO her
the hill on which yesterdays celebration
was held and the old family mansion
which surmounts It. This part Of the
park runs back from Broadway above
2l2th street.
Immediately upon the announcement OF
Mrs. Taylor's plan, Miss Isham pledged
her portion Of the estate to the same pur-
pose, and purchased out OF her own
pocket enough land to the northward to
extend the park TO Spuyten Duyvil Creek
This addition, to prevent any building
no
water, cost her in the neighborhood OF
$4,000.
The moving spirit of yesterdays cele-
bration was ex-Judge James p Daven-
port, president OF the North Manhattan
Taxpayers Association, which first sug-
gested this means of acknowledging the
city's gratitude for the generous gift
Judge Davenport. acting as master OF
ceremonies, introduced as the first speaker
Park Commissioner Slower whose open
ing words drew attention to the absence
OF the city's benefactors from the demon
stration I'm their behalf
Will Celebrate Again.
when the matter Of this celebration
was first preached" began the Commits
sioner. both Borough President Nc
Aneny and | were opposed to holding II II
the absence of the givers. but so long q
time has now passed since the gift was
made that | do not feel We can allow
another day to 20 by without some public
demonstration of our gratitude | should
not consent to this celebration even now,
though, II | did not know that there
would be another when Mrs. Taylor and
Miss Isham Will be present"
The Park Commissioner went on to say
that he had asked the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment for an appropriation
Of s25. Oco to make the property thoroughly
suitable for a public park. That was only
one Of the many requests he had made
since the beginning of the year for appro-
priation for park improvements, he said,
and so far he had received not a dollar.
The time was coming soon, he hoped.
when the board would awaken to the
needs OF the city, and when that time
came and Isham Park had been pruned
as Il playground for the populace the
second celebration. he said, would occur.
Recalling the fact that this was the
first time since the Revolution that an
individual had voluntarily given a tract OF
land to the city for park purposes. the
Commissioner appealed 10 the other
Owners Of large estates along Spuyten
Duyyll. some OF whom were In the audi
ence, 20 follow the public spirited ex-
ample set by the two women.
"A Connecting Link"
Il want this park" said the Commits
sloner Ito be a connecting link between
Central Park and lower Riverside Drive
and the foot Of Inwood Hill. | do not
believe It Will be long before you can ride
or drive or walk from Sheridan's statue
through Central Park, up the Seventh
avenue parkway and along the Speedway
to this park, and | ask your assistance to
put continuous park along the water 8
edge from that bend to West I'D street"
Reginald Pelham Bolton spoke on the
fitness of the place as public domain
through its historical associations. The
first white man TO settle upon IL was a
Dutch wool washer from New Amster-
dam. who built rude hut there In 1910.
Fifteen years later no met death at the
hands OF the Indians within stone 5
throw OF where the house now stands.
Borough President McAneny praised the
fine spirit behind such gft-a gift which
would provide thousands Of children with
the healthful, beautiful surroundings amid
which the givers themselves grew up.
Ex-Congressman William 5. Bennett and
the Rev. DR.. George S. Payson also spoke.
A series OF folk dances and games were
given by children from several play
grounds under the direction of William J..
Lee, supervisor Of the Bureau OF Recre-
alton.
A reception In the mansion closed the
celebration. Among the organizations
represented In the celebration were the
Mount Washington Mems Club. the Wash
ington Heights Taxpayers Association.
the American Scenic and Historic Preser-