Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-08
SELL HOME FOR s325,000
NEW USE FOR FAMED
OLD AST0R LIBRARY
Historic and Architecturaiiy Beautiful
building 10 Become shelter
for Immigrants.
NY MADGE ARTHUR.

NJ 7" fOttN, rep. L. mat do you
,hinls Of that said an old gentleman
AT our table, the other morning. as
he laid down his newspaper: The Aston
Library Building has been sold for
1925. 900 to the Hebrew Shcltering and
Immigrant Aid Society"
There was something SO tragic In his
tonc-3omething so almost approach
| ing to tho amazement he NIGH, have
felt had the announcement been the
sale Of the Statue OF Liberty.that /
waylaid him when the meal was con-
cludcd and asked him 10 explain his
aStonishment.
MY DEAR" no said Che had lovely
silvory hair and walked with a gold
tlon, the names of Washington irv-
ms, Fitz-Grccnc' uallock. Daniel Lord
! or Henry Brovoort mean nothing. but
can imagine tho condemnation with
which they might read this item Of
news wore they alive today. do you
know where tho Astor Library ISL" he
asked
Haven't the taintest idea" replied.
Didn't know there was any other Ii
mary than the ono at Fifth Avenue
IN New York six years."
That Seau,ifui building down A on
Lafayette Place was cmptied OF its
treasures longer ago than that and
they, together with tho contents or the
old Lenox Library and the samuel J.
Tldcn collection, were placed in the
new Public Library Building, OF which
sou speak. and which the city. after
a great deal OF hammering finally de-
cided to erect for their reception. But
tho ediftco which houses the Astor
Library still s,anda near the northerly
end of what was famous street be-
fore Fifth Avenue or Riverside Drive
were ever heard OF. And now IL is 10
be shelter for immigrants!
Il wa3 down in that neigh borhood
recently" he continued, NOT much OF
it's old-time stateliness is left. It ~as
originally laid out and named in honor
o! our Revolutionary hero. the Mar
1u!a dc Lafayette. soon after the street
was erected, to which was given tho
name Of La Grange Terrace, that be-
einS the title OF Lafayette's country
seat in France. Later, they became
their beautiful corinth!an columns the
thief society functions Of the period
took place.
'Coionnade Row has given way to
tho encroachnents OF business. but IL
sheltered in It's time, families than
whose names none we're more iilustri:
stones. the Charles O'ConIors. Tie
Jays. the Livings,ons. the iseiins. the
i.arg donS and many others,
From among the bellies OF Colon.
Made Row, "a President OF the United
states selected his bride, at tho same
time giving the city genuine sur
prise The cngag ement OF President
Tylcr 10 Miss julia Gardiner. vino
lived at No. i3, had been kept 4 pro-
lTeakfasi, which followed a ceremony
., nearby church only her family
and fey intimate friends were
present. Tho pu5..c knew nothing OF
the Presidents romance, until a Salvo
81 artillery from the forts in the
newly welded pair on u man-of-war
TOT Washington.
library to bear his name, but the first
. building waS not completed and open
ca n nrasid isIS' wita MashinEten Irving
William l.. Aston subsequently, donated
ana and money. enapl!ps the edince
son. john Jacob Astor. who perlshed
IN the loss OF the Titanic. also made
!.:ss s:f's, And now this splendid
housing OF Hebrew immigrants TOO
bad: too bad
Bat. according to the charitable
i.nc Md Society. II is not TOO bad" At
al. Said the treasurer OF that organ
:"atl"n 70 me: The purpose or our
education, !nto an American OF the
ht aatGsr ,lPe' Wv, ere TO move our
tne East Side, which was virtually a
y. nEe.rap. 70 building facing colonial
homes ln2t AT one time sheltered the
greatest literary men OF America and
Europe. as we'll as scveral Presidents
OF the United states. IT Is q build
'ng reP!cte with historic rccoIlcctions,
aud il is only proper that rooms from
which rAd;atcd knowledge shall hence
iDsth be devoted TO the task TO which
cur society IS pledged. Its beau,ifu;
architecture commands the rcspec, and
attention OF the passer. and its in
terror ~ calculated 10 NJ! those who
enter, with sense OF welcome and a
spirit FOR appreciation OF true broth
crhood."
The main use Of the building, Il
Has explained to me, will be for adj
m:nistratiye purposes, but there will
ne dormitories in which arriving,
ir!endicss Immigrants can DO eheltercj
Tor such time as is necessary.
That tho society got This handsome
monument OF old-time Ney York very
cneap, is proved by the fact that al,
cHer OF 100000 more than vas paid
Tor H., was made To 1ne society tho
day after its purchase.