302.) On this property, lying on the eastern side of Fort Washington avenue, Mr. Billings built his famous stables.

On April 29, 1903, Sarah V. Baker conveyed to Mr. Billings lots 42, 49 and 50, adjacent to the Libbey property, fronting 215 feet on Fort Washington avenue and 234.76 feet on Riverside Drive, and containing 53.59 city lots. (Section 8, liber 20, p. 405.) Lot 42 is the old Chittenden mansion lot.

On July 2, 1903, William Rankin conveyed to Mr. Billings lots Nos. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 fronting 243 feet on Broadway and extending back 125 feet. (Section 8, liber 18, p. 99.)

On June 6, 1904, Mr. Billings purchased from John Connolly lot No. 30 fronting 25 feet on Broadway and extending back 125 feet. (Section 8, liber 20, p. 404.)

On June 7, 1904, Mr. Billings purchased lots Nos. 31, 43 and 51 and the southern half of 37 from Mrs. Ignatius Radley, Jr. (born Emma Muschenheim). The adjoining lots 43 and 51 extend from Fort Washington avenue to Riverside Drive, No. 43 fronting 114.22 feet on the avenue and No. 51 fronting 98.17 on the drive. (Section 8, liber 20, p. 401.)

The two lots 43 and 51, have especial interest on account of the Muschenheim ownership. On January 14, 1896, Elliott Sanford as referee conveyed them to Henry W. Schmidt. (Sec. 8, liber 6, p. 375.) On November 30, 1896, Schmidt sold them to William C. Muschenheim for $32,000. (Sec. 8, liber 8, p. 138.) Mr. Muschenheim is the proprietor of the Hotel Astor and well-known for his public spirit. His membership in the Municipal Art Society and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society are indications of his interest in civic affairs. He took a particular interest in the history of Fort Tryon and did much to make its fame known. During the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909 he inspired Mr. Billings to erect the Fort Tryon

monument.

On April 17, 1902, Mr. Muschenheim conveyed lots 43 and 51 to his daughter Emma, who had recently married Mr. Ignatius Radley, Jr. (Sec. 8, liber 17, p. 372.) Mrs. Radley, as Emma Muschenheim, had bought the southern half of lot No. 37 from Frederick Beck and others on January 20, 1897, and near dates

(sec. 8, liber 8, pp. 258, 280, 282), and on January 23 1897, had bought lot 31 from Francis P. Bassett (sec. 8, liber 8, page 405).

On December 19, 1903, the Muschenheim house was destroyed by fire and on June 7, 1904, Mrs. Radley conveyed the two lots 43 and 51 and half of 37 to Mr. Billings as before stated. Mr. Muschenheim then moved to another historic site, Fort No. 1, on Spuyten Duyvil Hill, and Mr. Billings built his pergola on the commanding site of Mr. Muschenheim's house.

On December 6, 1904, George O. Knapp sold to Mr. Billings lot 36, being the southernmost of the big lots on the east side of Fort Washington avenue. (Sec. 8, liber 25, p. 464.)

On September 15, 1905, Emma Muschenheim Radley sold lots 47 and 48 to Mr. Billings. (Sec. 8, liber 24, p. 459.) On these lots Mr. Billings built his swimming pool. The principal ramparts of Fort Tryon were located on lots 45, 46 and 47, and there is a substantial portion of them still preserved on lot 46.

On November 11, 1907, Frederick J. Middlebrook sold lot 55 to Mr. Billings. (Sec. 8, liber 28, p. 259.)

On July 22, 1908, Eugene L. Bushe as executor, and Eugene L. Bushe and Stephen Fiske as trustees, of the estate of the late Frederick Bedford, sold lots 52 and 56 to Mr. Billings for $25,000. (Sec. 8, liber 24, p. 397.)

On March 18, 1911, Bushe and Fiske above-mentioned, representing the Bedford estate, sold lots 39, 40 and 41 to Mr. Billings for $63,000. (Sec. 8, liber 40, p. 4.)*

Mr. Billing's total acquisitions on Fort Tryon were about 25

acres.

Mr. Billings developed this property with consummate art. His residence, which he named Tryon Hall, is set upon the highest elevation of the tract 250 feet above the river on the very site of Fort Tryon. It was designed by Mr. Guy Lowell, the celebrated architect of Boston, Mass., in the style of the period of Louis XIV, and with its towers and steep roofs looks like veritable chateau transported by magic from the heart of France. North

*

In 1910, the Bedford holdings of the former Chittenden lots were surveyed and plotted on a "map of 33 lots, property of the Bedford estate," etc., by Geo. C. Hollerith, dated June 21, 1910, and filed July 20, 1910, being map No. 1436 in the Register's Office. Lots 39, 40 and 41 of the Chittenden map appears as lots 20 to 27 inclusive of the Bedford map.

of the house is a long swimming pool, enclosed and roofed, while south of it, on the site of the Muschenheim house, is a pergola from which, as from the house itself, superb views can be had of the Palisades and of the river both northward and southward. The surrounding grounds are laid out with paths and drives and are planted in the height of the landscape architect's art. The bronze electroliers are ornamented with the Billings coat-of-arms. (See sketch in corner of plate 26.) Burke's "General Armory gives the following heraldic description of the arms of Billings of Bedforsdhire: "Gules a cross between four crosses crosslet fitchée argent. Crest: An arm embowed vested holding a covered cup." Which means that upon a red shield is a white or silver cross of St. George, dividing the shield into four compartments. In each compartment or quarter is a white cross with three short arms and one long arm. The three short arms are crossed near their ends, and the longer arm is pointed. The crest is an upraised bent arm in a coat sleeve, the hand holding a covered cup which represents the grail.

The entrances to the grounds from Fort Washington avenue are two monumental gateways of masonry with ponderous wrought iron and oak gates. Just inside the northern gateway, up against the picturesque rocks, is the artistic bronze monument, designed by Mr. Charles R. Lamb, and erected by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society through Mr. Billings' generosity at the time of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909, marking the site of Fort Tryon. (See plate 29.)

The approach from the Riverside Drive is by a wonderful winding driveway 2000 feet long beginning at lot 49, by means of which a pedestrian or vehicle can easily ascend to the heights upon which the chateau stands 125 feet above Riverside Drive. This private driveway, just after it leaves the Riverside Drive, passes through a lofty arcade of ponderous masonry, which has tiled vaulted ceiling, and openings between the piers on the western side toward the river and in its circuitous upward course comes around upon the top of the arcade, giving the beholder another superb prospect in all directions. The roadway itself a work of engineering highly suggestive of Roman work, and sometimes called the "Roman Road"-- has a deeply laid foundation

and is paved with specially made hard brick. It cost Mr. Billings a small fortune. He wanted a road of not more than 10 per cent grade that he might be able to drive his automobile over it at high speed. Engineers spent much time studying the project before they reached a decision. They thought the cost of the improvement would prevent its being built, but though it cost upward of $100,000 Mr. Billings did not hesitate.

On the east side of Fort Washington avenue opposite Tryon Hall is the remarkable stable in which Mr. Billings kept his fine horses.

It is said that Mr. Billings spent $2,000,000 purchase and improvement of this property. premises in 1915.

altogether in the

He vacated the

VII

MR. ROCKEFELLER'S ACQUISITIONS AND GIFT

As stated at the beginning of this paper, in January, 1917, it was reported in the newspapers that Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., had purchased not only the 25 acres of the Billings property, before described, but also the Hays and Sheafer tracts lying to the northward comprising 25 acres more, and this report has since proved true. The latter two tracts, formerly owned by William Henry Hays and Walter S. Sheafer, comprised old lots Nos. 11 to 18 inclusive of the Fourth Division of Harlem of 1712.

The Hays tract, lying next north of the Billings tract, comprises about 290 city lots of 2500 square feet each. It was acquired by Mr. Hays about seventy-five years ago and for a long time the building known as the Abbey Inn was occupied by him and his family as their country residence. In January, 1917, Mr. Rockefeller acquired this tract from the children and grandchildren of William Henry Hays, namely, Ella II. Meyers, Mary L. Hays, Kate F. Hays and F. Bianchi Tompkins. The Hays family did not spend much time on their property. The old mansion was rented out some time ago and has latterly been used as a road-house and restaurant.

The Sheafer plot was acquired about twenty-five years ago by Walter S. Sheafer, State Geologist of Pennsylvania, who at that time believed so strongly in Manhattan real estate as to come here and invest the proceeds of some large tracts of Pennsylvania coal lands. It comprises 238 lots, and is bounded on the north and west by Riverside Drive and on the east by Broadway including the point at which Riverside Drive unites with Broadway just below Dyckman street. About two years ago Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont contracted to purchase a portion of this property, but the transaction was never consummated. Mr. Rockefeller also acquired the Sheafer property in January, 1917, the seller being Henry Sheafer of Pottsville, Pa., son of the original owner and was represented in the transaction by the J. Romaine Brown Company.