New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-21
John D. Buys Fifth Avenue Home
of Mrs. W. Seward Webb,
Next to His Own. to
Keep Trade Away.
RECENT GIFT TO DAUGHTER
Oil Mans Real Estate Holdings
in West SD Street Now
Said To Be Worth
More than Two
Million Dollars.

John d. Rockefeller bought from Mrs.
W Seward Webb yesterday the four
story and basement dwelling house No.
$50 Fifth avenue. on the west side of
the thoroughfare. between I'D and 18th
streets. which DR.. and Mrs. Webb have
occupied for many years. The asking
price for the fine property. which has a
frontage Of J21i2 feet and depth Of
1226 feet was S1.2J0.000 The sale
price was somewhat less than that
figure This transaction was negoti-
ated by Pease & Gilman and William
A. White & Sons.
Or and Mrs Webb live the large
part of the year ont of own. and it
vas that fact. it is said. that led them
soir weeks ago 20 offer the premises
10 lease al 100000 net a year. the lessee
10 improve the property for retail bust
ness use az his own expense and 10 pay
incidental carrying charges. 1t was
soon afterward learned that overtures
TO purchase the house ard land had
been received by the owner.
The late William r. Vanderbilt.
fathef~of Mrs. Webb. bought the prop
erty about thirty wears ago. and gave
il later 10 Mrs. Webb IS wedding
present. lust north Of the premises IS
the home Of .irs. II. Mex. Twombly,
sister Of Mrs Webb.
Mr. Rockefeller bought the property
primarily TO protect the light and air of
his home and that Of his son in the
rear OF the Webb house. The Webb
property has an outlet TO oath street
between the garage AT the easterly side
Of the Rockefeller grounds and the
TV ombly house. and thai strip IS also
included in the purchase.
1t was announced last night that MI
Rockefeller will get possession OF the
Webb property on May l, and that II
hc does not change his present plans
he intends soon afterward 10 replace
the Webb house with low mercantile
structure. II. ;his way Mr. RocHefeller
will be able TO conserve IN large de-
gree the air and light on the easterly
side Of his premises and The adjoining
new home site Of his son.
Last Tuesday he gave 10 his daugh-
Ter Mrs. Z. Parmalee Prentice. VINO
lives AT No. ) West sd street. the
dwelling house No. West 53d street
ard an easement for light and sir dur
ing the tenancy OF No. TO vacant
lot Al No. . West 53d street. MIS-
Prentice will have the two houses NOS.
!. md made into a modern dwelling.
70 nroyide his daughter with IA more
spacious home. Mr. Rockefeller pous"'
the houses Nos and West o5d street
from BENJAMIN Stern several years ago.
yyb.r the houses werc vacated he tore
d.,n "a. . To- increase The source 'i
light ana air for his sons new nous
and 20 make it possible TO put WINDOWS
:n The westerly wall Oi No. =
For several years Mr.. Rockefeller
has been watching the business inFa-
sion In upper Fifth avenue. ano WOih
ine diligently 10 keep trade from IN
truding on SD and 54th streets espe-
c.a!y the latter street. For the Francis
s. kinney estate house, No. ls west
5.th street. he paid last year ABOUT
$4,000. and for two houses on IN"
southerlv side Of oath street. covering
a plot about 40 feet, he was reported
10 have paid about $4,000 front loot
lie Was said TO have got the Stern
houses al the same front foot rate.
crneo..,,antly his total realty invest
mos ~ the 54th street block IN recent
voa,. are about 100000.