davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

The first great change came In 1897
when Tom Davis, an Irishman, con.
ceived the idea of founding a fashion
able colony in New Brunswick, N. j
At that time neither Saratoga nor New
port was in existence. and he thought
IL would be a nice trip for the prospec-
tive colonists to go by boat from New
York. across the bay and Staten Island
Sound up the Raritan River to New
Brunswick. a comfortable sail of two or
three hours.
"The scheme, however, did not prove
financial success. but 1t served the
purpose of turning the eyes of fashion
to Staten Island. and from 1897 to 1870
society flocked there. and it became the
fashionable resort Of this section. Among
those who settled there at that time
were the Cunards, August Belmont. But
Ter Duncan, Baron Won Hoffman, Rich
ard Bonner. the Proudf1ts and old Gen.
Grymes. The Pavilion Hotel was built
at New Brighton TO accommodate the
throngs who flocked there In summer.
and many handsome estates were laid
out.
Then the slump came. What hap
pened was this. When the New York
Central Railroad and the Boston road
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

over the giant He'll Gate Bridge to the
New York Central and New Haven
railroads In The Bronx. This scheme
would not be complete without plans,
which are already being developed. to
link up the Jamaica Bay pier and fac
tory development. This will be accom-
plished either by extending the present
Long Island tracks to jamaica Bay or
by building q new marginal railroad
through the Gravesend Bay section
around Bay Ridge to the present Bay
Ridge terminal at sixty-fifth street
These enterprises should not be con-
fused with the plan proposed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad interests some
time ago to build a tunnel from Bay
Ridge across the upper bay to Green
Vile and thence under Newark Bay
to the mainland. a distance of five
miles This would eliminate the direct
connections with the Staten Island wa
ter front development
1t Is believed that the steam and pas
senger tunnel from Brooklyn to Staten
Island will extend from Sixty-fifth
street to Tompldnsville- The present
B. and o. tracks around the north shore
of Staten Island probably will be util-
ized In making the connection with the
trunk lines in New Jersey. Should the
additional rights OF way prove too ex-
pensve the alternative plan would utii-
ize the valley Of the Fresh Kills
through the heart OF Staten Island and
thence over the Arthur XIII to Eliza
beth, N. j.. making connections with
all the Southern trunk lines and the
Erie and Laclcawanna roads also.
The result of this new development
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
Old Throggs Neck Estate Doomed

In less than week the people OF New
York and vicinity are to have their first
opportunity to buy separate lots on the
waterfront of Throggs Neck. richly
endowed peninsula on Long Island
Sound which since Colonial days has
been held in its entirety and jealousy
guarded by families prominent in the
military and social history OF New York
After nearly three centuries OF such
occupation and ownership, the extension
OF the Lexington avenue subway along
Westchester avenue to Westchester
square and Pelham Bay Park, has cre-
ated demand for Throgg's Neck lots
that not even the ultra
owners there have been able to with
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
INVESTOR BUYS BIG
DRIVE APARTMENT

Presbyterian Church. the three story
dwelling at sos West End avenue. COX
81. Charles s. Kohler, Inc, was the
broker.
william B. May & Co. sold for Mrs.
Emily T.. Lesher East Seventy-sixth
street, a FIVE story dwelling with extern
sions. 22x1o0. recently occupied by Joel
Thorne and held at 100000. The new
owner will occupy after making extern
slve alterations.
St Thomas Church has purchased the
dwelling at 234 East Sixtieth street to
be used as the vicarage for the East
Side chapel George D. EberTnayer was
the broker.
OIL Man Leases suite ON Fifth
Avenue.
Pease & Gilman have leased an apart
ment OF eighteen rooms and Ave baths In
927 Fifth avenue to Henry Clay Pierce
Of the Pierce Oil Company. who has been
occupying the r. T. Wilson residence at
10 East Fffty-seventh street.
Bronx Apartment Houses Sold.
Charles w. wynne and Louis II. Low
purchased from May William and Kath-
eryn Mullin of Belle Island. Conn. two
I'VE story apartment houses on the
northwest corner OF 179th street and
Crotona avenue; also the southeast cor
ner OF 17Sth street and Clinton avenue,
each 25x100.
Brooklyn Deals Reported.
McInerney KIinck Realty Company
sold the three story business and apart
ment building. 20x100. at 1854 Flatbush
avenue. for Anna NJ. Zmmerling.
Bulkley g. Horton Company sold 432
Coney Island avenue, three story fat
and store, for Charles II. Van Siyck to
A. Anken.
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

title to portion Of these lands at least
is likely eventually to pass into the
hands of the municipality as the work
of developing the waterfront progresses
and the ancient dwellings now standing
pass away to mako room for new
order.
For the Staten Island OF Capt. David's
day. or Of Gregory de- Guyon. John
Staats, Pierre Hilliou. Cornelius van
Santvoord, Cornelius Vanderbilt. the
Townsends, Aspinwalls, Appletons. AL
exandres or even of that omniscient
civic promoter, Erasmus Wyman. Is gone
beyond the hope OF resurrection. To-
morrow a new life and different one
will rise and though the ghosts OF the
past may roam through its low lying
hills and fertile valleys. few IL any OF
the familiar landmarks will be seen.
In place Of cosey homesteads OF the
past. where the smoke from the hearth
stone curled iazily upward from the
wide mouthed chimneys, great ware
houses and busy docks will be seen. The
quiet somnolence Of those days will give
place to shrieks from ocean steamships.
the laboring Of freight boats bound for
the corners of tho globe. the chug chug
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
PELHAM PARK
AROUSES INTEREST
Builders and Investors Await
Auction of 600 Lots Near
Subway Terminal.

One OF the most important and slgnin-
cant sales OF vacant land In Bronx
county since tho great Claflin, Van cort-
landt and stern estates were sold of in
1919 win occur next Saturday when
Bryan L. Kennedy will auction 600 lots
adjoining the subway terminal at Pel-
ham Bay Park. Tho extension OF the
Lexington avenue subway into this at
tractive scrni-wooded section on Pelham
Bay has focused the attention OF build
ers. and investors on this property.
which has been In conservative private
ownership for generations.
Builders and investors have already
invaded the Pelham Parkway section
along the highway connecting the three
great playground OF The Bronx. The
residents OF the Pelhams In Westches-
ter county just above Pelham Bay Park
utilize the recreational facilities which
the park affordR
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
EAST ORANGE TRACT
OPENS TO BUILDERS
Many Lots In Ampere Park
way to Be Sold at Auction
Tomorrow Night.

That part OF East Orange known as
tho Ampere Parkway tract in Ampcre.
n. J., which has been highly improved
In recent years by the East Orange and
Anpere Land Company. is to be sold off
In separate lots TO the highest bidder at
an auction to be held on the premises
beginning tomorrow night Gerths Real
" Experts of New York and New Or
lacus viii conduct the sale.
In many respects this sale will be a
memorable one In tho auction history
OF northern New Jersey. The tract Is
one of the most valuable subdivisions
OF realty ever offered In that section
OF the state. 1t Is within easy dis
tance from the East Orange railroad
station. and is also reached b. the Rose
Vile and Bloomfield trolley lines and
the Market street jitney line from New
ark and the Ampere jitney line.
The owners acquired the property In
1906 from the Orange Water Company
and tho Dodd and Frelinghuysen es-
tates After taking title the owners
began n series OF improvements which
have continued over period of four
teen years. The storm water sewer eye-
tenn alone cost about 100000. Macadam
streets gas. electric light water and
other city improvements were Installed.
The owners, realizing that the mar
ket for vacant suburban land has
reached a decidedly healthful state,
have decided to throw the tract open
to homeseekers and investors and they
have selected Gerth's Realty Experts to
conduct the sale. Charles s. Gerth, the
general manager, is known as the BILL
ly Sunday" of the real estate field In
some respects his sales resemble the Ia
|nouS rsvtvals al tha4 powuaAx prsaohar.
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

Ing house system. In other words, the
broker who Ia . member Of tho board
has to play fair or run the risk Of being
severely disciplined.
Every Ono II BeneAtsd By Plan.
Tho dement's to the seller are clear cut.
When no turns his property over TO ono
broker he sets In motion the combined
| sailing activities Of the boards entire
personnel. Tho benefits to the buyer
are quite a. we'll defined II his de-
mands are exacting he q assured OF
| much quicker results than under the or
| dinary system. He IN also prevented
from falling into the rather common
crror OF boosting the price Of a piece of
property he wants to purchase by going
about from one broker to another in an
| attempt to get IL cheaper. Frequently
the inexperienced buyer will place his
order with several different real estate
men, who in turn will get in touch with
| the owner Of the property. The latter,
| thinking he has several prospects on his
chain. Immediately raises his prioe and
the buyer. having bid himself up, pays
the piper.
| II an owner refuses to sell Just about
| as the contract ts to be signed. or II
he attempts to hold out for a higher
price his property oan thereafter be
blacklisted by the board. II the ap-
praisal of the property IL deemed too
high the board will also refuse TO sell
IL. II It Is too low the boards experts
will inform the owner of his error
Needless to say. no INSCRIPTIONS buyer
under this system could shave the COM
mission off the purchase price by get
ting in touch directly with the seller
and freezing the broker out.
The system will. of course. raise the
ethics of the business In the locality
where It is adopted. for the Real Estate
| Board will sec to IL that its members
adhere strictly to tho rules and regu-
lations governing the transaction OF
business This statement Is not in
tended as reflection on other real
estate boards, which always have an
uplifting Influence on the business. but
II does mean that board having once
adopted the multiple listing system has
an adequate scheme for checking up on
the conduct of its members.
/ With Its share of the commissions
earned from the sale OF property tho
Board OF Realtors of the Oranges and
Maplewood intends within a few years
TO build a fine home. And n business
keeps up at the present rate In the
Oranges II will be able TO carry out
It's plan within a few years. During
the last six weeks records show az
much business has been transacted In
this territory as In the course of 4
normal year. That applies to improved
property. In the vacant property mar
let more lots have changed hands In
the last six weeks than during the on
tire period preceding since the beginning
| of the war
Tho officers of the board OF the Or
snges are Raymond Connolly Of South
Orange, president; G. Elmer Rousek OF
East Orange, vios-presidsnt; James IL.
Muchmore of East Orange secretary.
and Marie l. pstsrrsn - Uast Orange
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

A. Fl. Levy sold for Louis e. Kleban
and associates the Langhorne. six
story elevator apartment house. 215x
100, at $50 Riverside Drive, between
15Sth and 160th streets. which has been
held at S450,000 and returns an annual
rental OF about $4,000. The structure
has been purchased for investment by
J. Bishop of Brooklyn. who conducts a
chain of cloak and suit stores.
Take Profit ON Broadway Flats.
August and Ferdinand H. Stellhorn.
who last month purchased from Mrs.
Margaret l.. Morris. the two five story
apartment buildings at 3604-3s10 Broad
way. 75x10o. between 14sth and 149th
streets, have resold the same at a sub
stantial profit to the Eisendrath Realty
Corporation, Simeon b. Eisendrath. pres
ident, who contemplates altering the frst
floors for street level stores.
Sth Avenue Corner I'm Long Lease.
After an ownership Of more than sixty
years, the property at the northeast cor
ner of Eighth avenue and Fifty-sixth
street. being so feet on the avenue and
90 feet on the street adjoining the new
Fisk building. has been leased with a
purchase option for twenty-one years
with privilege Of one renewal at a rental
OF approximately $4,000 per annum.
making an aggregate rental for the en-
tire period of more than 100000. The
lease was made by p. F. Rothermel OF
Philadelphia as trustee for the owners
to a client of Joseph G. Abramson. who
plans TO erect a seven story building at
an estimated cost OF 100000. Il. S.
willard g. Co. were the brokers.
In tho Dwelling Market.
BENJAMIN witer resold to the Rev. a.
Edwin Keigwin. pastor of the West End
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
SALES PLAN
ADOPTED IN ORANGES

story. but It does serve to show that the
organization is In the hands OF young
and progressive men. 1t Is these Same
men who have decided to adopt the
multiple listing system Tho multiple
listing system II not original with them
of course, but they deserve tho namc OF
pioneers for being the nrst to bring 1t
into this section of the country. The
system has been tried and found cffec-
tive in several other cities including
Kansas City, Madison. Wis. and Wheel
ing, w. Va
The multiple listing system works
somewhat in the following fashion' An
owner with a bit OF property to sell
visits a broker who Is a member OF
the local real estate board. lie gives all
the necessary information concerning
the property and then signs a con-
tract. not with the broker. but with the
real estate board, giving the latter or
ganizaion tho exclusive right TO cell his
property within a stated period. The
broker is nowhere mentioned in the con-
tract. although his name Is given In a
memorandum attached 10 the bottom
Of the instrument, and he IL thereafter
known as the listing broker. The con-
tract is then sent into the clearing Of
fice maintained by the board and q card
Is sent around TO all the other members
Of the board bearing all the data con-
cer1iing tho property. together with a
number identifying tho listing broker.
System Gives Broker Card Index
Through this system every member OF
the board has complete list of all the
properties placed for sale with every
other member of the board. and he can
pick from this list whenever II IS neces-
sary to satisfy a prospective buyer. II
the property Is sold by the listing broker
the latter gets 95 per cent Of the COM
mission and the board 8 per cent. under
the system adopted by the Board OF the
Oranges. II another than the iistlna
broker sells II, the latter gets rs pei
cent. the selling broker 20 per cent and
the board per cent. In other places
where the plan is IN force the division
provides for so per cent for tho selling
broker, As per cent for the listing broker
and per cent. for the board. In case
the listing broker sells the property the
division is the same as that adopted ir
the Oranges. Under no circumstances Il
q member Of the board allowed to handle
property that has not been listed with
the board under contract The contrac,
provides that all necessary advertising
shall be done by the board, but In reality
IL is done by the listing broker excepting
In special cases
Now as TO the advantages Of the sys-
tenn. To begin with. the broker In abb
soluteIy protected against any sharp or
unethical practices on the part OF the
seller, tho buyer or any ether broker. II
the property is sold by some ono else
outside the board or In another COM
munity he gets his e5 per cent. OF the
commission under the terms Of the con-
tract II In obvious also that no other
broker who was a member of the board
would attempt to cut In on the first
| brokers business, as his efforts would
irnmsdiakaly b ohso,rsd uD hy dc o1AaR-
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
b. HARRIET s1ssox GILLESPIE

When Gregory dc Guyon came to
Staten Island from France some $50
years ago his 17S acres on tho Great
XIII cost him . few bushsis Of wheat.
To-day land in the lsland sefls as high
rs $4,000 an acrA And In tho meta
morphosis OF ''ths dght utt1o isle" now
taking place with the Conversion OF It's
north shore waterfront into q great
network OF piers and docks. the valua-
ton Of its lands is likely to increase
still more. In fact, when the plan to
develop its entire twenty miles OF water
front II carried out there is no telling
to what heights II may soar. high
enough In all conscience to make that
sturdy old pioneer. Capt David Peter
sen de vries. turn In bis grave from
sheer envy.
Had the ancient Dutch mariner pos
sessed tho gift Of prophecy he might
have foreseen tho bright future before
the island and acquired title to some
of those famous crown lands granted
by Queen Anne apd her contemporaries.
the deeds of which are still held In
high honor by their descendants. The
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
STATEN ISLAND of lite FUTURE SECTION SE
rs IMEAMsEokr1sNG Fo he SAr SHORE Of he tSLAMR

remote section in the centre Of the ISL
and it can be bought for as little as $500
an acre.
in reading the story Of Staten ISL
and 1t must be borne in mind that the
land values. generally speaking, have
fiuctuated in harmony with the improve
ment OF transportation facilities. For
example. when the Brooklyn Bridge was
opened and better means of transporta-
ton was provided for Manhattan and
the Brooklyn district was opened up.
there came a slump In real estate In
Richmond
'"Then in 1896. when the troleys were
built on Staten Island. there came a
temporary revival. after which was a
long period of reaction when nothing
was done. When the municipal ferry
was opened there came another revival
To-day when the city Is spending be-
tween s20,000.000 and s30.000.0o0 for
municipal docks and piers there Ii q
corresponding rise in values.
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

were built Saratoga sprung up and
Newport was laid out. and fashion, ever
fckle. gave up the old love for the new,
so that many of the handsome estates
on the island were abandoned or left
in charge Of caretakers. The latter, often
the family coachmen, finding themselves
in possession of fine homes rent free and
hating to be disturbed. quite naturally
discouraged prospective buyers. and in
time the property began to deteriorate.
THE result of this migration away
from the island was disastrous. Prices
dropped, and soon these fine country
seats were being sold for what they
would bring. When first bought the
prices were higher than the property
would bring to-day.
I'm the early.spart Of 1900 land on
Staten Island could be bought for from
$50 to 500 an acre. To-day 1t brings
from $500 to $500 in the southern part
Of the island and as high as $4,000 an
acre in the northern part In the more
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

The 2:15 from New York Numbered
into the station of a well groomed
suburban town In the metropolitan
area. stayed Its impatient wheels while
a stranger anghted and then roared
its way out again. The stranger shifted
a pigskin brief case to his left hand.
drew a memorandum book from the
breast pocket of his tweeds. consulted
It, glanced sharply at his wrist watch
and then made his way across the
street to a real estate office opposite
the station. Inside he stated his busi-
ness briefly. He was an official OF an
oil company and he was about TO turn
his back on life in the expensive multi
family canyons of New York city for
good and all. He wanted q homo in
the suburbs. He wanted a big home
with billiard room in II and plenty
of ground around for his children to
play in.
The strangers demands were exact
ang, but they were we'll worth fulfilling.
for they meant fat commission and
n substantial citizen for the town. The
broker consulted his list but could find
nothing that would satisfy the new
client He had reason to believe, how
ever. that by consulting his fellow
brokers he could pick up the very
thing the stranger wanted. so he asked
for the latter's namc and telephone
number. The stranger shrugged Inn
patiently and flipped a card on the
desk bearing the desired information.
Some thirty-six hours later the broker
Gale. up the oil man and told him
gfeefully that the property had been
found. The oil man was apologetic
but abrupt. The very afternoon Of his
visit he had found the kind of house that
ne wanted in an adjoining town. He wae
n man of action. and he had sent his
wife out the following morning to look
the property over. She had approved
and the Ink was hardly dry on the con-
tract Of sale. The broker congratulated
him audibly and swore internally.
II Happens In All TownA.
Now the incident slketche1 above Is
purely allegorical so there is no need
OF giving the name of tho town, but
the story can be applied with a few
minor alterations to almost any subur-
ban community. Many a town has lost
a good resident through lack of coop
sration and unified selling system
among It's real estate mon. Beginning
next Wednesday. however. there will be
little likelihood OF such n thing happen
ing again In Maplcwood or In the
Oranges, for the organization represent.
Ing the real estate interests In that pros
porous and picturesque section OF New
Jersey has adopted a system designed
not only TO prevent the loss OF n pros.
pect" but to protect the broker and the
seller as well This system will &c
into effect on May IL.
The organization was christened the
Real Estate Board of the Oranges al
its birth In 1911. but the term ''realtor'
had scarcely been sanctioned in the
real estate world when the name was
changed to the Board OF Realtors of the
Oranges and Maplewood. This fact has
no particular bearing On the present
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

mont avenue and Long Island Sound,
Lafayette and Dewey avenues. just cast
OF the Coster estate.
Tho sale will be held at Ia o'clock on
Saturday, May IL. on the premises cor
ner Of East fremont and Philip avenues,
by order OF the Columbia Trust Com
panv. trustee. Eighty per cent. Of the
purchase price OF each lot may remain
on mortgage contract.
Mr.. Day will also soil at the same
time and place seventeen new single
family five room and bath houses CLOSE
10 xon6 lnlnaA Gcund. sAst II ths 0sergs
The New York herald., 1921-05-08
Good bargains ne Park Sale.

Although a large crowd attended the
opening OF tho Park estate auction eale
held In Astoria yesterday by Joseph r.
Day the lots sold cheapiy. averaging
about $1,000 for corners and $3.50 for In
side lots. The highest prices obtained
were for plots 100x100. at the southwest
and southeast corners OF Vandeventer
and Fourteenth and Fifteenth avenues
respectively, which brought $4,000 each.
The sale was held In o huge tent on
Grand avenue. which was flled 10 over
flowing and lines Of automobiles we're
drawn UP in the streets leading to the
tent. The sale will be continued Monday
At the saxra plAne ana hGmM
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

stand. 1t Is the old story OF the con-
stant northward growth of New York
and OF the auctioneer acting as the fore
runner of home seekers, building activ-
ity and population.
A large number OF new homes are now
being erected on the old Coster estate at
Throggs Neck which was sold last year
by Joseph p. Day, auctioneer, who VIII
also be the auctioneer In the sale OF the
second large property 10 be sold, that OF
the George Bruce Brown estate. consist
Ing Of est lots ON and near the water
boat md sftnnAsA bstvvsn East Trs-
The New York herald., 1921-05-08

Ing house system. In other words, the
broker who is . member Of tho board
has to play fair or run tho risk Of being
severely disciplined.