The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-20
THE OLD AUDUBON HOUSE.
Efforts 10 Preserve This Historic
Manhattan Mansion.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir. Cam
not something be dom to save the pic
turesQue nome of the great American
naturalist John James Audubon, whose
greatest work. birds in America" Is
famous the world over? Unless aid
comes from the city authorities or pri-
vote individuals 1t IL obvious that Au-
dubon's home ~ doomed to go. thus re-
moving from the upper section Of the
city one more historical home which New
Workers. should endeavor To preserve.
OUTSIDE OF the Dyckman home, the Jumel
mansion and a few others. hardly any OF
the famous structures remain to mark
the spots where sue celebrated New
Workers once lived.
The history Of such a remarkable per-
sonage as John James Audubon should
be familiar TO every child IN the city. but
IL Isn't, and l doubt very much that
many adults know where the nome OF
the naturalist stands. However, IL the
number of those who know Is small. the
city must be blamed to a large extent,
for obviously care was taken when the
Riverside Drive extension was com
pleted to 15sth street 70 hide Audubon's
honc from the gaze Of the public.
The Audubon house. where the natur-
alist spent all his time surrounded by his
family. his drawings and his stuffed
birds, is situated at 156th street and
Riverside Drive in What Is known az
Audubon Park. The house is down in a
hollow In such a position that II easily
escapes the notice of passersby unless
such persons are especially seeking fol
the house. Far above II. o n a level with
the roof. Is the Riverside Drive extern
sion. and as the masonry Is built in close
TO the house Audubon's home Is almost
completely shut of.
There IL every indication that no care
has been devoted to the old building for
years. The elements have got in some
vital blows. and II liz doubtful whether
the building can hold together much
longer unless the city or some philan-
thopic persons come to the rescue. Al
though the building Is tenanted at the
present time. II Is In a dilapidated state.
Not much EFFORT. II any, has been made
TO preserve the surrounding lawns ir
fact the whole structure IL In a state OF
decay, But I understand the interior OF
the building Is In good condition, and II
preservative measures are taken imme.
diately the exterior could be redeemed
and put in fairly good condition. Thu
layout OF the rooms at present IL Jus
about the same as 1t was In the day:
when John James Audubon Inhabited
them. The exterior OF the building un.
derwent a change some years ago wher
a mansard roof was added. otherwise
the exterior to-day Is the same rs II was
when Audubon lived there.
From time TO time efforts have beer
made by interested persons living In Tho
vicinity to save the historical building
The city authorities have been appealed
to and promises were made that nevei
matcrialized. When Mr. Stover wa,
Park Commissioner he became interested
in the project. but whatever efforts h,
made proved u%navailing and the matter
was dropped. II is understood that thu
National Association of Audubon So
cieties was appealed to, but answer wa,
made that the society concerns itselI
only with the protection OF bird life AM
Uannot devote its funds to any othe
purpose. although the members declared
they would very much like to save thu
home of the man from whom the %societ,
takes it's name.
The Rev. Dr. NJ. II. Gates. rector o
the Church of the Intercession, 1854
street and Broadway, which Is on tn
border Of the original Audubon estate. L
one Of the prominent men Interested II
the effort TO save Audubon's hom", Or
Gates thinks IL would be n shame IL th'
city authorities permit the amous struc
ture TO be torn down. The clergyman
is stanchly supported by Mr., REGINALD
u. i'ollol. a lIusNfo VI 'iN ~ 'N''
Scenic and Historic Preservation So
ciety and ex-president OF the New Yorl
Historical Society. MIR. Bolton has de
voted a great deal Of time TO trying I
arouse interest for the purpose of saw
ing A%udubon's home, but like man,
others Mr.. Bolton is of the opinion tina
IL the structure Is saved IL should b
permitted TO stand in its present ~locatioI
instead of being moved to "A public park
AS somebody has suggested.
That New York Is far chino Penn
sylvania in recognizing Audubon's abil
ity IL evidenced 10y the fact that In III
village of Audubon, MONTGOMERY county
Pa. the ndturalist's home still stands
and when the buildings came int" III
possession of the Wetherill family all tn
treasured landmarks were put in a splef
did state of preservation. New Nor
should follow suit. ID.
NEW YORK, November -.