Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-11
BACK TO THE EAST SIDE

Revolutionary war. was appointed sur
veyor OF the Port OF New York duriHs
the administration OF the first pres
dent at which time he bought tract
OF land along the East River aul
built himself spacious frame housT
Tho present stone house was original
ly tho stable OF this dwelling.
story of n House
smith. however. soon fell into flnar-
oial straits, his property had to be ss.-
rific.d at auction, and his house wl-
turned into fashionable school,
while the stable became Il popuEr
road house, run by William Nib.
There is an old advertisement of tbs
carly inn, which speaks OF IL as H
superb mansion, four and "a half mill
from the city. furnished in handsoue
style. and beautifully situated on tha
banks of tho East River. Dinners and
tea parties. clubs and societies. can
be furnished with all tho delicaC.rr
OF the season. Turtle clubs will find
this an agreeable resort"
Later. the rcmodeled stable passrl
into the hands OF a city surveyr-
whose family lived in it until 20 years
ago. Then, as the nciEhborhood n'-
came crowded with immigrants, Tho
surveyor was compelled to move. and
reluctantly sold the old place to a gas
hGht company. The gas company lrn
mcdiatcly ruined the landscape and
view 10y building n huge gas tank. h.L
otherwise let the house alone. Accord
ing to tho Greek grocer. who keeps 70
store on the corner OF the block, an
Italian family OF largo pruporti0HF
iNed IN II for n number of years until
recently when it was turned, quito
appropriately. Into an antique shop.
Not FAR from this sturdy old strur-
ture Is another large house OF Colonial
frame architecture which clearly
shows its affiliations with a bygonn
period when wide veraudas and lawns
and four-horse coaches were familiar
features OF the East Side.
RemodeiinT n Neixhborhood
II is within short walking distance
OF these two historic landmarks that
thc Vanderbilt colony Is to start it1
development Sutton Place runs for
only two blocks on Avenue a between
flity-seNcnth and Fffty-ninth street.
as quiet and secluded "A little thoru-
tarc as anyone could desire. The bach
windows OF its tall. narrow, old-fash
iened houses look directly out on the
East River from the shadow OF the
beautiful and massive Queensboro
Bridsc. which stretches across the
water ike a huge gate shutting out
INC rest OF the world. The houses
most OF which have been taken over
py Mrs. Nandcrbilt's friends, and rel
atiNes, arc TO be remodeled at an OK
pensc OF thousands OF dollars and
tneir back yards are to be converted
INTO single long garden. with foun-
tain In the center.
several other Developments have al
rehdy started in the same ncighbcr-
mood, while at least two have been in
existence long enough to prove tho
merits OF the East Side as an cN-
ciuslNc residential district Ono Of
thcse is known as. the Turtle Bay
Gardens and consists of 81 houses, all
newly painted mud nj In nod -
iioorod, with new French windows,
and spacious Italian court, planted
with shrubs, and flowers. for a back
yard; In addition to number of
thors: Including Winston Churchill
and Earnest Poole, live here. Tho
colony gets Its name from the river,
which. curving abruptly in at this
point. was known as Turtle Bay in tho
old DAYS when the suburbanitcs had
bathing beach and series OF pri-
ratc wharves on its banks.
Thus. Mrs. Nanderbilt's flight from
Fifth Avenue. becoming more and moro
center of commercial activity. is not
AS startling as It seems. Sutton
Place is an emincntly desirable homo
site. oven though 1T is a bit faded and
In direct line with the criminal colony
across the river at Blackwells Island
Indeed. there is n certain advantage
IN having the island so close at hand,
-Nilu hHpWh - II Irhuo keeps up Its
horrible pursuit. tho four hundred may
yet be forced to take over n prison in
order to achieve their desired seclusion.
Tho pearl industry has taken up
the N-ray as a money saver. The
oysters are photographed without tho
shells being opened, and those con-
tanning no pearls are not considered.
! Those showing signs Of small pearls
are put back to give tho jewcl a
chance TO grow up.