New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-05
Tract of 33 Acres Bought
bv Unnamed Purchaser
Has 528 Lots
ADJOlNS BILLINGS
ESTATE, JUST SOLD
May Be Site for PreSby-
terrain Hospital or Col
lege of p. & S.

The purchase for an unnamed client
OF thirty-three acres Of vacant land on
Washington Heights, probably the
largest plot Of Manhattan land to be
sold in n generation, was announced ny
William A. White & Sons yesterday.
The property consists Of OBS city lots
adjoining the &. X G.. Billings prop
ertv. the sale Of which was announced
on Wednesday. and involves the invest
ment of approximately S5,OOO,OOO.
Report had it yesterday that the
property. with that transferred by Mr..
Billings, would eventually become the
site OF q large institution. Among
those mentioned as possible owners
were the Presbyterian Hospital, when
has often bcen named as the possible
purchaser Of large tracts for new build
ings. and the College Of Physicians ana
Surgeons, said 90 be iu The market Tor
a location that will not only be large
enough for present needs but provide
ample room Tor expansion.
The dealers. however. declined 90
give anv hint as 10 the person or IN
tcrests for whom they acted or the pur-
pose for which the property was &C
ouired. j. Romano Brown & Co., who
also figured in the transaction as brok-
ers for one Of the sellers, also refused
any information.
Composed of Two Plots
The property is made up of the two
plots known as the Sheafer and Hays
estates and forms the northernmost
loop Of Fort Washington Avenue. II
has a frontage Of half a mile on River
side Drive and one-third OF mile on
Broadway. IL marks the site Of the
earthworke known as Fort Tryon,
which. with Fort Washington, formed
part Of the defences Of New York IN
the early days Of the Revolution. The
remains Of these earthworks are stu
visible. and relics Of the struggle IN
the form of cannon balls, bayonets and
other equipment have frequently oeen
found on the property.
The summit Of the property rs the
highest point OF land on the island.
From it q view can be had extending
beyond the Statue Of Liberty and for
twenty miles on the north. On the /
east il overlooks the grounds Of New
York University and the Harlem River,
with Long Island Sound in the distance.
Because OF ITS picturesqueness II has
long been q resort Of nature lovers.
The Hays plot includes the site OF
the Ola ADDeE INN anu lllf rLttV Nibh-
way known as the Abbey Hill Road.
terror TO drivers who frequented the
old roadhouse. and more recently in
favor as afording an excellent auto
mobile testing ground for Hill climb
ing. In the plot are 200 city lots. The
estate was formerly the home Of Will
lam II. Hays, the mansion house having
later been converted into the inn. It's
owners were children and grandchil-
dren Of Mr.. Hays.
Acquired by Pennsylvania Man
The Sheafer plot was acquired
quarter Of a century ago by the late
Walter S. Sheafer, who saw a greater
future in Manhattan realty than in
Pennsylvania coal lands, which he sold
10 buy this property. In ii are 230
city lots abutting on Riverside Drive
and Broadway where the Drive unites
with il just south of Dyckman Street.
Henry Sheafer, Of Pottsville, Penn,
who sold the property, years ago con-
tracted 90 sell part Of the estate TO
Mrs. O. II. p. Belmont, but the deal
was not completed.
Previously proceedings were begun
by the city for the condemnation Of
part of this plot for park purposes. but
the DrOiect was abandoned