Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-05-23
SAILORS SNUG HARBOR.

J. SAILORS SNUG HARBOR.
!" Staten Island located FIVE miles from
Y New York City, Is separated from
: Long Island on the East by The Mar
Q rows, on the North by the channel of
= Kill von Kull and on the West by Stat.
en- Island Sound. The island is triar.
: guar in shape, i3i miles long, great
part OF the island is covered BY ranges
OF hills. Many beautiful homes are
built on the precipitous eastern slopes
where the busy people of New York
may find rest and quiet.
The main point of interest on Staten
Island is the Sailors Snug Harbor. a
. nome for retired sailors. June l, 1901.
Capt. Robert Richard Randall. a re-
tired sea captain executed his las,
VIII AMI testament, drawn by Alex
anoer Hamilton, bequeathing prac-
ucaily his entire estate for the estab-
hshmens and maintenance of a Home
for Aged. Decrepit and WORKOUT
Sailors, 10 be known as the Sailors
Snug Har5or. The estate consisted
chiefly OF farm of twenty acres To-
Gated on Manhattan Island. The will
provided that the administration of /
mis- trust be committed 10 the follow
ing persons, viz /: The Chancellor of |
the State of New York The Mayor Of |
the City of New York The Recorder
OF the City OF New York; The Presi.
dent OF the Chamber of Commerce oil
the State OF New York; The Presi.
dent OF the Marine Society; The First
V. president of the Marine Society
Rector OF Trinity Church and Minis
ter OF the First Presbyterian Church
of the City Of New York.
Owing to litigation and other
causes, the site for the home was not
purchased until June, 1881. The first
building was erected in 1872 and the
following year fifty sailors were adj.
mitted. k
The unfsrtile farm valued at about
go. 600 now situated in the heart of
the busiest city in the world is bound
ed by 4th and 9Th AYES. and 9th and
10th streets. On ground leased from
the Trustees of Sailors Snug Harbor'
is built John Wanamaker's DsDars-t
mens Stores, Daniels i Sons Depart
ment Stores, the celebrated Brevoort
House, large number of stores, bus
mess houses and dwellings, of which
the present home of General Daniel
Sickles. is one
The income is so large that it +,
becomes a problem to the Trus
tees OF the Snug Hsrbor to know how
to dispose OF the funds. Instead OF .
accommodating so sailors, 1000 find
beautiful home at Snug Harbor.
Forty-two handsome buildings. sur :,
rounded by perfectly kept lawns and
flower gardens, where the sailors have
every liberty and advantage. A IL
brary with $500 volumes is at their
disposal, smoking compartments,
card rooms, work rooms, where the
industriously inclined are busilv att
work making from ship riggings dish
mops which are offered for sale. the
proceeds of which are the private
funds of the individual. The church
is handsome building made OF seven
varieties of Italian marble, at cost
OF $40, 900, a pipe organ valued at
81. 900, a paid choir of II voices sing
at every service, five pews are fitted
with individual telephones for each
deaf sailor. The church was built as
an Episcopel church while the pulpit
is filled by minister of the Presby-l
terrain church.
A modern theatre with a weekly perl
formarce is one of the attractions of
the home, the drop curtain is paint
ing of the original farm house of the
Vanderbuilt family which was situ-
ated on Staten Island.
The hospital is thoroughly equip
ped, q surgeon, resident physicians
and an able corps Of nurses care for
the ill. Atpresent lis inmates are pa
tlents In the hospital.
Captain Randsll's body was remov-
ed to the grounds in 1884 and buried
under marble monument and life
sized statue of him by Augustus Saint
Gaudens was placed in front of the
main building.
The entrance requirements are that
the individual has sailed years un-
der the American flag and has reached
the age of 60 years unless physically
disabled.
The Oldest inmate is 101 years of
age and the youngest %, the latter
having lost leg while on his ship.
The old sailors are the soul of
courtesy to visitors and take great
pride IN acting as guides and showing
one through the beautiful home that
has been given to them where the twi-
light hours of their lives may be spent
in peace and HAPPINESS,