Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-01
JOHN c. wendell,
REALTY KING, DIES
He and Sisters Held Broadway
Property Estimated to Be
Worth $4,000 900.

los ANGELES, Cal, Dec John
G. Wendell, one of the largest owners
of real estate on Broadway, New
York city, died yesterday at the home
of his nephew, H c. Holwedel, at
Santa Monica. Mr.. Wendell, who was
seventy-five years old, was stricken
with paralysis two weeks ago after q
trip West in his private car.
NEW YORK, Dec. with the
possible exception of the Astor estate,
John G. Wendell, who died yesterday
in Los Angeles, was reputed to own
more real estate In Broadway than
any other person, and his property
holdings in the city are said to have
been greater than those of any other
Individual Mr.. Wendell inherited
the property.
The Wendell fortune, estimated at
upwards of $50 10000 accrued from
Investments in New York real estate,
and 1t was one of Wendels policies
never to Sc any land. Another of
WendePs characteristics was that no
hotel or amusement place of any kind
was allowed to exist on his property.
Call 1t sentiment IL you like" he
is reported to have said. Perhaps 1t
Is, but want to keep the little build
ings as they were when they came to
me. There are also moral and legal
reasons. In the first place, l will not
be responsible for the Vaccinations
of the evil one. I have plenty to do
swithout being responsible for i'm
mortal souls"
A vacant lot next to Mr.. Wenders
brownstone house at Fifth avenue
and Thirty-ninth street he always re-
fused to sell or build upon. My dog
must have a place to romp," he ex-
planned. This home and lot have been
valued at 100000.
1.-THE recluse of Fifth avenue he
was often called, and it was true.
His big. square brownstone and red
brick residence on the northwest
corner of Thirty-ninth street was
Characteristic of the man. No one
lever saw the windows open to let
in the sunshine and fresh air; the
shades were invariably drawn, and
even when occupied by the owner
and his two elderly sisters, its au-
pearance always suggested that the
place had been closed for the season
and left in charge of a caretaker
When the McAdoo tunnel interests
purchased their extensive properties
minal buildings they began a long
legal struggle with Mr.. Wendell to
acquire the plot at 40 Dey street.
Mr.. Wendell had purchased it sew
eral years before for his sister for
$50, 900. Every possible inducement
was made to buy the parcel, but Mr..
Wendels invariable reply was to
point to the sign in his office, which
read mo property for SALE"
sFinally condemnation proceedings
were brought and an award of $4,000
was made. Wendell carried the case
to the Court of Appeals, which OIL
lowed the railroad easement in the
property, but minus the fee. Mr-
Wendell never collected his award,
and every year his agent proffered
the money to pay it's taxes, but 1t
has been declined, as the railroad
pays the taxes on the entire terminal
plot. To maintain his sentiment
against selling his real estate, MT
Wendell spent about $4,000 in legal
fees fighting this case.
Within recent years Mr.. Wende
had transferred many parcels of his
holdings to his two sisters, Mary e
A. Wendell and Eisen Van G. Wen
del, and his niece. Rebecca A. D.
Wendell Swope, who owns a large
place at Irvington -on-the- HUDSON:
The grandfather of the late Mr
wendell, who bore. the same name,
John G. Wendell, started the fur
business from which the family for
tune sprang, over a century ago. He
was a close friend of the original
John Jacob Astor, and, like the lat
ter. invested heavily in real estate,
and which the family has persistent
ly held to the present time.