New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-08
Influence Welded by Ken
nelly, Sr. and Jr., Ex-
tends Over so Years.
AMONG FOREMOST
IN SHAPING PROGRESS
MANY of the Most Important Pub
lie and Private Sales
Made by Them.

Two generations OF Kernellys nave
welded a dominant hand over New York
zeal estate. Father and son for more
than half a century have exerted more
influence than any other two men. prob
ably. upon the development and progress
OF metropolitan realty when considered
rom a broad, general viewpoint.
William Kennedy. the father became
q leading broker and appraiser during the
,ari,er DAYS when New York was begin
ming 10 establish itself as one Of the
worlds most remarkable fields for large
realty investment He was one Of the
foremost experts OF his generation. HIS
ADVICE was followed in scores of great
operations outside OF the mass OF trans
actions in which he was personally con-
Injected. Bryan l. Kennedy, the son.
Learned ell details OF the business under
bfhe long. watchful tutelage Of the father
tand he was fully equipped 10 advance
with the Kennedy activities continually
in the very front rank Of progress
throughout the greatest era OF expansion
IN the history Of metropolitan real estate
The elder Kennedy. after substantial
college education, started in 1874 at the
age Of sixteen. IN the law offices or
Thomas Adds Emmet and Richard Ems
met at No. As Cedar street. Three years
later. with a son OF Thomas Adds En-
met, he opened a real estate office in
Pine street under the firm name of Ken
nelly & Emmett.
The Office Just east OF the Broadway
corner became a familiar landmark In the
financial district and there the senior
PARTNER was recognized for nearly forty
wears as the oracle and mentor OF the
realty market
Aside from conducting many OF the
leading brokerage transactions, he was IN
charge OF all OF the real estate business
of City Controllers Green. Kelly and
Campbell. and he presided at such epoch
making auction distributions as that OF
the Jumel estate offering He made all
real estate sales for the Sheriff of New
York County at a time when all legal
sales were by order of the Sheriff
Many years ago, when Broadway from
the Battery 10 seth street was widened
Mr.. Kennedy. ST., sold the property ac-
quired for this purpose. This was one
Of the most important OF the early auc-
ton sales Mr. Kennedy. sr.. sold at
private sale for the trustees Of st. Pat
rick's Cathedral the entire block on Madi-
son avenue between Goth and 5lst street
for $4,000, a record price in 1880
Bryan j. Kennedy was graduated from
Manhattan College in 1884. and entered at
once with characteristic energy into the
huge business that had been established
by his father. During the excited boom
years from 1901 to 1906, he made the Ken
nelly Building on Pine street as much a
centre ofsmarket activity as it had been
during the long regime Of the elder Ken
nelly With the great expansion in the
business, he moved to more convenient
quarters at No. 156 Broadway. in the then
home Of the Board of Brokers. close to
the big title and lending institutions.
Bryan L. Kennedy has maintained with
consistent strength the dominant position
attained by his father in all branches OF
the market. He continued as real estate
appraiser for the city under Controllers
Grout Metz and Prendergast Mr. Ken
nelly acted as appraiser for the city in
apprasng the bed of the streets for the
new Pennsylvania Station and also for
the Grand Central Station. Also in the
easement OF the Astor House and for the
Public Service Commission IN appraising
the Grand Union Hotel and numerous
other important works for the city. In the
recent appraisal Of the new Cou., House
site and Civic Centre Mr. Kennelly's APP
praisals were accepted and the proper
ties purchased at his figures.
Last spring Mr.. Kennedy organized
among tho downtown real estate brokers
a movement 20 protest against the pas
sage OF a stock transfer tax OF 81, pro-
posed by Governor Sulzer. and he sue
ceeded IN sending a committee 10 Albany
and had this bill killed.
In the auction market his prestige was
perpetuated by the most substantial and
memorable class Of operations. such as the
.Aldr1ch estate sale OF office skyscrapers
on lower Broadway, with which he estab-
ashed the worlds record for the largest
sum ever realized in one day by auction
offerings Of real estate--nearly $4,000, 600
Other big real estate auction sales by
him embrace the holdings Of Albert J.
Adams. the Osborne Hotel. the Herald
Square Hotel, the Empire Hotel, Wallack's
Theatre. Bijou Theatre, tho Casino
Empire Brewery. the famous Empire State
racetrack. the Fort Lee Ferry. the New
lOIh q NbIlItil JNdIibdls tilt lDuld0dpO-
IFS, Decatur & Springfield Railroad. Auto
mobile club Of America, Colonial Club.
Tilden Club the Hotel Rector, Gouverneur
Morris estate, Hutchings estate, Dickinson
estate and many others too numerous 10
mention. lie has made scores OF impor-
tant lot auction sales on Long Island.
In the private sales market he has sold
such parcels as the Union Club site, on
the northeast corner OF Fifth avenue and
5lst street. also most OF the remaining
block front on the north side Of 51st street
from Fifth 20 Madison avenue several
holdings IN the Fifth avenue business dis
irict and high class Investment properties
In all parts OF the city. lie has been
steadily active In the mortgage loan
branch Of the business. Mr.. Kennedy IS
now engaged IN q successful effort 10 have
the restrictions taken OF the Columbia
University leoseholds from 47th % 5lst
street on Fifth and Sixth avenues. and
has about accomplished this important
change for the lcasehOldcrs.
lie In "a valued member OF tho executive
committee Of the Real Estate Board Of
Broker. tho Real Estate Auctioneers' AS
soclation. the Real Estate Exchange OF
Long Island and also Of the Allied Real
Estate Interests.
lntereGts under tho faithful stewardship