davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-04-06
NOTEDPIRATE'SHOME
is NOW RESTAURANT
Dishes to Chatter Where Capt. Kidd's
Sword Clanked---Old Documents
to Adorn Walls

One OF New York's keenest real estate
operators Is authority for the statement
that historic tradition never sold bit OF
property yet unless the buyer happened
to be an historical society. That state
ment may be n bit broad and cynical but
in the main 1t can be accepted Is true.
Certainly Vocational advantages and the
condition of the renting market have
more influence on the desirability OF a
piece of realty than the romantic
atmosphere surrounding It,
Nevertheless Charles Riemenechneider
and Richard Schur. the restanrateurs,
who leased tho four story building at 1l9
to l21 Pearl street through the Charles
F. Noyes Company yesterday did not
overlook the property's legendary back
ground. They may not have allowed it
to influence them when II came 10 decid-
Ing upon the rent they were to pay. but
they feel that customers will be at
tracted TO, rather than driven away
from their eating place by the fact that
1t is said to have once been the home OF
Capt. Kidd, the hero OF many tale of
haunted shore and phantom ship
There seems to be slight difference
OF opinion regarding the exact location
OF tho Kidd home in this city. but many
authorities are agreed that when the
dashing captain was not pursuing pirates
or pirating on his own behalf he was
playing the prosaic role OF householder
in little wooden cottage at what IS
now the corner OF Pearl and Hanover
streets, on the exact spot where Reimen-
schneider-Schur restaurant now stands.
In support OF this contention Frank B.
Kelly, superintendent OF the City His
tory Club OF New York, in a letter dated
December %, 1915, wrote;
Valentine in his Manual for 1858,
page SIS. says that Capt. Kidd lived
in Hanover Square, which would ac-
count for the Pearl street address. /
have an engraving from Gabelman, CIV
ing a picture of Capt. Kids house on
tho corner OF Hanover street and Han
over Square. This is tho northwest cor
ner and is l2l Pearl street"
Further on In his letter Mr.. Kelly
calls attention TO the fact that Kidd in
vested some OF his earnings" IN real
estate and that he owned more than
one bit of property in this city, which
undoubtedly gave rise to the confusion
over the LOCATION OF his home Hivs
STORY Of a Street is also cited as au-
thority for the statement that tho Can
tain lived in Hanover Square, Pictures
and documents also testifying TO that
fact and depicting various stages in the
Captains picturesque career have been
collected by the rcstaurateurs. and are
TO adorn the walls oC their new dining
rooms. One Of the pictures is a Teplo-
ducton OF a painting ShoWiur the Kidd
cottage on the bank OF the East River.
which in those days flowed further west
The sun., 1919-04-06

Die, art ,Iiu.NIduallty OF
their own. yet which were built for COM
paratively moderate sums. All of these
houses were built by Mrs. Clarence c. Mer-
rift of Larchmont Manor. and were de-
signed by Julius Gregory of Sc West
Forty-ffth street. New York.
Mrs. Merritt. who is the wife of New
York builder, has made hobby of small
home construction for some years, and
has erected about thirty homes in West
chester county chiefly in Pelham Manor
and Larchmont. The last few homes she
built have been sold even before the
foundations were laid.
Probably the most interesting of the
three houses pictured above Is the D. A.
Benedict home at Larchmont This
house, which was built about three years
ago. Is remarkable for its compactness.
Its charm. and for the fact that 1t was
constructed for a trlhe less than $4,000.
1t is only 25x25, yet upon entering It
tho visitor is impressed by the fact that
the rooms are apparently as spacious as
those in many houses three times its
size Not an inch of space has been
wasted.
The exterior OF tho house is con-
The sun., 1919-04-06
~ PARKE STEVENS.
Why is a title company


The question did not occur to US
at once. We went through the usual
preliminaries first-found the comfort
able old house in Brooklyn; hunted up
the agent looked It over many times !;
haggled a while and finally agreed
upon tho price.
We were going right ahead and sign
= contract to buy when a friend re-
marked casually. you'd better buy
through the title company"
why ia a title company? We de-
manded promptly. Does 1t take a
whole office building full of lawyers
and stenographers and clerks and rec
prds and paraphernalia TO close deal
when we like the house and the price?"
The answer is. 1t does.
For these are the things that hap
peBed:
But let's get set. We are a family OF
average intelligence. We fondly think.
Rt worst only little subnormaL We
have owned a couple of houses-three,
come to count up-but in a middle West
village, built by a great corporation on
acreage 1t bought from one man whose
grandfather had II from the Government
Titles are simple out there. We thought
we knew all about titles. We didn't
The vendors-thats the word. isn't
n?-were the executors OF the estate
IF rope manufacturer. representing
four heirs. They were most courteous
knd gatient and anxious to sell. But
they knew, II possible. less than we
aid. We figured on moving in to enjoy
Christmas in the new home. As
matter OF fact. We moved In last week
and the merry din of the carpenters
still IL heard In our halls. Four months
OF hard. Irritating work!
Nobody was trying to play trick
or gain an advantage but-well, we're
really started now; this is what hap
pened:
There were two mortgages on the
place. The second was falling due !;
the first was long overdue. II was,
30 the inexperienced executors believed,
me property OF Brooklyn bank. That
seemed all right-we were ready to
pay II or.
Enter the title company. The first
mortgage 1t quickly discovered, had
been the property of a German friend
OF the old rope maker The German
friend had gone back to Germany to
live. The Alien Property Custodian had
stepped in and confscated the mortgage
on behalf OF Uncle Sam. Was the Alien
Property Custodian ready to execute q
The sun., 1919-04-06
WILL OPEN BUREAU
TO AID HOMESEEKER
Queens Chamber of Commerce Also
Plans to Help Manufacturers
Secure Plant Sites

1T is imperative that homes be pro-
vided at once for the residents of New
York city. The shortage OF living ac-
commodations has caused large increases
in rents. The construction of new homes
will provide work for thousands of men
mo other section of New York city
possesses the advantages that Queens
offers for the construction of homes. It's
thousands OF undeveloped acres are
closer to the business centres of Man
haitian and Brooklyn. and have lower
land values in comparison, than any
other section OF the city. Queens now
has the rapid transit facilities OF the
marlborough Rapid Transit and the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit companies at a
five cent fare to all parts OF the city.
In addition. the electric trains OF the
Long Island Railroad from Pennsyl-
vania Station in Manhattan, from Flat
bush avenue station In Brooklyn, from
Long Island City and Woodside, provide
a rapid. modern and comfortable service
to every section of Queens which is
unequalled by any other borough OF New
York city.
These facts must be brought to the
attention of large financial institutions
which loan money for building opera
tions, and also to the builders and
brokers of New York. II is obvious that
before homes can be provided buildings
must be erected. and that before the
buildings can be erected aid In tho form
Of mortgage loans is necessary
While the Queens Chamber OF Com
merce has been active IN this respect
since its formation. the time has now
come for an extension OF this work
through the establishment OF a separate
bureau which will specialize on this
subject and devote the entire time and
energies OF its manager and. stan to
promoting the residential and Industrial
development Of Queens Borough"
The sun., 1919-04-06
MORAL: 1T PAYS TO
CONSULT A TITLE CO
This Advice Applies Even If Holder
of Your First Mortgage Isn't
an Enemy Alien

satisfaction piece? Investigation proved
that he was. Would the title company
accept such a satisfaction of the mort
gage?
Yes, under usual circumstances, that IL,
production of the bond and mortgage.
More investigation. Which showed that
Mr.. Deutsch had taken the bond and
mortgage to Germany with him. And
died there. Who are his heirs? Well,
the malls to Berlin weren't working
and aren't yet.
now II a mortgage has been lost by
fire, or destroyed. an order of court
may be obtained ordering the registrar
to clear the title OF the incumbrance
upon affidavit setting forth the facts.
But how about IL when the nominal
| owner of the mortgage does not appear
to make affidavit and was an enemy
alien, as are, presumably, his heirs?
Would the title company guarantee such
| title? 1t took two weeks OF delibera-
ton by some of tho best lawyers in
New York to settle that question, a
board of five counsel voted yes to
?. somebody said.
Next.
Title to the house originally had been
in the name of Mrs. Rope Maker. She
died willing II to her husband, He
never took title. Also he refused to
pay bill fifteen years ago, and the
creditor sued and got Judgment. The
Judgment being unsatisied, he bid the
place in at Sherif's sale. But he never
took title, either. The heirs never had
heard of him.
Was he alive? He. was. After some
convincing arguments (prined by the
Bureau of Printing and Engraving.
washington, ID. c. had been presented,
he gracefully executed a quitclaim deed
But were there any judgments standing
on the records against him which MIGHT
invalidate his deed? Another long
search. There were not.
Next
Was Mr.. Rope Maker A. citizen or
was he, too, an enemy alien? No one
knew positively. More search, this time
through the records OF the Board Of
Elections. There It appeared that he
had made oath that he was naturalized
and had voted for twenty years Thai
was not absolute proof; hut II was pre-
sumptive. and 1t was accepted.
Next.
Mr.. Rope Maker during his later years
had borrowed $500 from a daughter
In his Will he stipulated that the eye
cutors should repay this sum before
other requests were satisfied. The law
yers, after looking the will over side
ways. upside down and oblquelv de-
cided that the language used made the
bequest lien against the property and
mat unless the daughter executed a
quit claim deed the sale was invalid
How this stubborn woman held out and
The sun., 1919-04-06
o.. BENEDICT HOME
at lARCHMONT ERECTED
for a TRlElE LESS THAN
8 5000. THIS HOUSE is
ONLY 25 4 Is YET is
ARTISTIC COMFORTABLE
.ano MODERN IN EVERY WAY.

and the ceiling OF plaster traversed by
beams which are rough hewn and un.
polished, but which lend themselves ad
mirably to the decorative scheme OF the
room.
Back OF the living room 10 tho sun par
lor. which is in keeping with the cheer
full atmosphere OF tho house. Adjoining
the sun parlor IS tho dining room. com
pact but sufficiently large for a small
family and for the entertainment OF oc
casional guests. The kitchen occupies
the remaining corner Of the house. I'm
der the sun parior In q small garage
which. as It Is a part of tho house itself
Is always we'll heated In winter. Tn,
second floor contains three well lighted
and fairly large bedrooms and a modern
tiled bathroom.
The sun., 1919-04-06
<LFUL PLANNING WILL MAKE THE SUBURBAN HOUSE
ATTRACTIVE AND SAVE BUILDER UNNECESSARY EXPENSE
Sele ction Of an
Architect Is One
of the Initial Prob
lens Which Con-
front the House
Builder

Many men and women have gone
through life vaguely hoping at some
future time to build or buy a home, Gre
ating in their idle moments dream pic
lures of the sort Of house that they
would like to call their own. but, lacking
either the initiative or the practical
knowledge which would enable them to
transform their castles in the air INTO
tangible structures OF brick and mortar,
have failed to realize their dreams
Others more impetuous but equally un-
familiar with the problems which con-
front the homo seeker have plunged
rashly into the venture only to meet
with discouragements which made them
wish that the idea of owning a home
had never occurred to them.
For the benefit Of the home seeker Of
lfnited experience and moderate means
u II proposed in this article to point
out some Of the fundamental principles
which should govern the selection Of a
house and to give general idea Of the
ttens which enter into the cost OF
home
In building house there are certain
items which always enter into the cost,
and 1t Is advisable that the would-bs
builder familiarize himself with these
items and their relation to the total cost
OF his project. The following list, II Is
believed, will cover every item OF expense
involved in tho erection of a house:
Factors to Be Considered.
/. The cost of the land.
4 Tho cost of insuring title 10 It.
.. Legal fees in connection with the
purchase.
I. A survey of tho property.
s. The cost OF the house without
lighting fixtures or decorating.
h. 30 a. a a
:. The architects fee.
.. The cost of grading and landscape
work.
.. Premiums on IRE insurance during
construction.
10. Accident insurance.
In regard to the cost of the land,
safe rule to follow is that the price
should never exceed one-quarter Of tho
total amount to be expended for the
home. If the cost OF the land is less
than one-Quarter of the total amount to
be spent, 30 much the better. An ex-
pensive house upon a cheap piece Of
land n generally poor investment, as
II Q cheap house upon an expensive
plot. as both will be difficult to dis
pose of should need arise.
In the selection of land two important
factors should be considered-the char
acter of the surrounding property and
the physical features of the land itself.
II the neighborhood Is already built up,
It is an easy matter to decide whether
or not the surrounding buildings will
harmonic with the one contemplated.
and whether or not the value Of real
estate IL apt to depreciate.
II tho building is to be in locality
sparsely built up, the character OF the
buildings already erected will be an in
dication OF the trend Of development and
of It's future desirability, as will the
building restrictions Incorporated in the
deed. Unforeseen events. however, are
The sun., 1919-04-06

In order to promote the residential
development of Queens Borough and at
tho same time aid in solving the present
housing question in New York city, the
Chamber of Commerce of the Borough
of Queens proposes to establish a real
estate bureau to aid real estate brokers'
home seekers. manufacturers and others
in finding desirable real estate in the
borough. It Is believed by the members
of the chamber that immediate relief OF
the housing shortage can be secured
through the construction OF thousands
of homes along the new rapid transit
lines in Long Island City. Elmhurst.
Corona, Woodhaven, Richmond HILL
Jamaica and other sections of the bor-
ough served by the Long Island Rail-
road.
A special meeting OF the chamber was
held last Thursday to consider the es-
tablishment of the proposed real estate
bureau, and the project received the ap-
prevail OF the board of directors, pro-
vided the necessary funds for the opera
ton OF the bureau for the first year are
subscribed by members OF tho chamber.
The committee on organization appointed
to take up the matter comprises Edward
A. MacDougall, chairman, Charles G.
Meyer. Stuard Hirschman, Ray Palmer
and Edward Roche.
Every member OF the Chamber will
agree. we are sure" said Mr.. Roche in
calling the meeting. that there Is no
more important problem before the bust
ness interests of Queens Borough to-
day than that OF providing homes. not
alone for the workingmen. but for mon
and women In every line of endeavor;
not alone for the Increasing thousands
OF employees within this borough, but
for the thousands OF home seekers from
other boroughs who have been attracted
to Queens by the operation c. the new
rapid transit Inca
The sun., 1919-04-06
BUILDING MANAGERS TO DINE.
VIII Hear Discussion of Modern
Construction Problems.

The New York Building Managers
Association will hold its monthly dinner
meeting at the Republican Club, "a West
Fortieth street. on Thursday, April 10,
at $3.50 p. NJ.
William Marshall Ellis OF Chicago,
president OF the National Association Of
Building Owners and Managers, will
come to New York for that occasion to
address the meeting on the subject OF
THE Convention 10 Re Held in Phila-
delpha June 10 TO L."
Francis S. Bancroft chairman OF the
apartment house committee. announces
that Leonard Schultze of Warren &
Wetmore, architects of the Grand Cen
trail Terminal and other large structures
will speak on THE Development of the
Grand Central Zone" and will contrast
the present difficulties attendant upon
the construction OF the modern apart
ment house with those built ten years
ago. In his address on THE Apartment
House of To-day" Mr.. Schultze will out
line the many new features which an
owner to-day has to install In order to
satisfy the whims OF the fastidious ten
ant
The sun., 1919-04-06
NEW ITALIAN CONSILATE.

The Duross Company has leased for
Herman f. Epple the five story brown
stone house, % East Twenty -sccord
street, for the Offices of the Consultation
eral Of the Italian Government. Tho
house is to h. rrdc'ora;rd throughout
and have electricity and steam heat IN
stalled. The lease is for ten years
The sun., 1919-04-06
Too Much Stress
Cannot Be Laid
Upon Importance
of Securing a Suit-
able Site for the
Home

chase OF the property. as may be grad
ing and landscape work.
Tho house In question Is to be Q frame
structure and will contain . living room,
dining room, pantry. kitchen and large
porch on the ground floor and a garage
to b built into the rear Of tho house.
adjoining the kitchen. On the second
floor there will be four bedrooms. The
attic 10 10 contain two maids rooms and
a bathroom. The total cost of the home.
exclusive of the price Of the hand, Is to
be $3.50.
Avoiding Added Expense.
II the prospective home builder will
architect reliable building contractors,
bonded by a sound bonding company,
and have competent legal advice in re-
gard to his title and his building con-
tracts. In addition to having his title
properly insured. the chance of his rum
ming into unexpected expense and dis
appointments will be very slight.
II may be said that these precautions
are 20 obvious that II Is unnecessary
to enumerate them. nevertheless in
nearly every case where the homo
builder has been displusioned and dis
appointed at the results of his efforts
to erect a nome. It will be found that
he has ignored one Of these fundamental
rules.
1t is the heishth Of folly to select an
architect merely because he Ii the friend
OF some member OF the family. or be-
longs to the same club or fraternal
organization, He should be selected be-
cause he has had experience in design
Ing dwellings similar to the one con-
templated and because Of his reputation
for taking a personal interest in his
clients affairs Tho architect should be
ono who will take as much interest in
the proposed house as the owner him
self and who will carefully supervise
the construction of the building. In the
same manner the building contractors
should be chosen because of their repu.
tation for reliability and financial re-
sponsibility, and because they have
shown themselves competent by their
previous work.
Afterthoughts Inadvfsable.
After tho site Is purchased. the archi-
tect and builders chosen and the WORK
| started or about TO start the owner
should refrain from making any sug-
gestions to change the original designs
or incorporating new features. II IL
| natural that when a man Is building q
home he will observe features in other
homes which he admires and which he
would like to have Incorporated In his
own, or his ambition will grow and he
will want TO enlarge various rooms a
trihe or add hitherto unthought OF i'm
provements to the house.
II. however, he allows himself TO make
radical changes after the work Is under
way he will upset not only the architects
plans and the estimates which have been
agreed upon by the contractors. but he
will open the door 10 innumerable
charges for extras, which will bring the
cost OF the house to a figure far higher
than he ever contemplated.
The sun., 1919-04-06

of native stone, blasted from
the building site itself. and the building.
comparatively simple in design.
by few delft touches has been made to
suggest a homelike atmosphere difficult
to define in words but apparent to the
observer. The shape OF the windows
The sun., 1919-04-06

and the roof AZ wen as the small hang
ing lamp at tho entrance contribute to
this effect.
On the ground floor the living room is
bright and cheerful and Is made addi-
tionally attractive by a large open Are
place. The walls are of rough plaster
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-09
SOMERvILLE

SOTTH-Mr. and Mrs r. j. Far
rington Of Augusta visited their sls-
tar, Mrs. Ella N. Brann Saturday
July 5th.
Cleo B. Bartlett VIM enlisted tyr
years ago in the LIST Maine Heavies
later the 56th Pioneer Infantry, has
received his discharge and arrived
hume July 4th.
Mr.. and Mrs. Perley Bartlett NJ
Augusta passed the eth with rela.
tives in this place.
Mr. and Mrs. z. P. Eewett ant
two SONS. Merritt and Donald ol
Augusta visited Mr. Hewett's moth.
er. Mrs. Eta Hewett. July eth.
Mrs. Ferdinand Day of Thomastp-
who mas been Tor two weeks visiting
relatives here and NJ West Washing
ton has returned to her home. She
was accompanied by her mother
Mrs. Ellen Day ana little sister
Dorothy, who will visit her for tw,
weeks.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-09
THE EX-KAISER
STILL PEEVISH

Amerungen, June 15-fCorrespun-
dence)-The former German Emper-
or displayed marked irritation after
reading the clause of the Peace
Treaty in which the Allies announced
their Intention of putting him on trial
on charges of violation Of lnterna-
Tional morality and Of the sancrity OF
treaties. For several hours after ne
mad read the clause no one at the
castle Of Amerongen had the courage
To approach him. He sat IN chair
before the main entrance TO the cas-
tie entirely alone and apparently IN
deep Thought while the former En-
press. Augusfe Victoria and the
members of his suite walked IN the
grounds occasionally CHANGING IN his
direction.
Next day he seemed to be in a
state of nervous agitation. for he
frequently ceased his saving and
walked away leaving those who as
sist him 10 continue the work alone.
Later, however. he resumed with in
creased enHrgy. so much so, that one
of his aHsiBfants WIS forced to take
10 i1is bed for some DAYS in order To
recover from a chill caught while
perspiring AT the other end of the
sew.
Subsequently the dull life at the
castle resumed it's ordinary duIiness
and since the first display of annoy
anre Count Hohenznllsrn has shown
$xxr, s.sx,. ~ F,ai,xcr rrzfIfsf <zffetfe.d nv
the conditions Of tiae Feace Treaty.
Tine forsnar Emparor has sRwn his
{ .00ofh lpg and Il b aannrtsd by same
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-09
MADISON
ROsebush- Wilson Wedding ON
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Build
ing Committee Agrees to Sch
House

Miss Maud Wilson and Mathew
Rosebush, both of this village. were
married IN SkuWhegan Monday aft
ernoun Miss Wilson has been a
popular clerk in the store OF j. III.
Spence & Co. for several years and
has a wide circle of friends here.
Mr. RosebuHh is a well known en-
pIoye Of the EollingEworrh & Whit
ney Co. Mr.. and Mrs. Rosebush 1eet
Madison ON the morning train amid
a shower of rice and confetti On
their honeymoon trip 10 MIR. Rose
bush's old home in New York.
DR.. and Mrs. J. l. Pepper have
returned from Belfast after a RESI-
dence of two months and will make
their home in Madison in the future.
Mrs. Elsie whipple uf Watervilie
lis visiting relatives and friends in
this vicinity for a few days.
Mr. and Mrs. George Martien re-
turned Sunday might from an auto
mobile trip To Bangor and Millinock-
ct.
nesting OF the school house
building COMMITTEES WAS held Mon
day evening Mt the High school
building. II was definitnly decided
10 sell the huose occupied by Mr..
0wnes To Mr.. Owens WIN viii move
II UUu0-