Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

DYCKMAN PARK AND HOUSE DEDICATED

In our last Report, at pages 195-201, we gave an account of the generous giving of the Dyckman House at Broadway and 204th street to the City of New York by Mrs. Mary Alice Dyckman Dean, wife of Professor Bashford Dean, curator of Armor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and her sister Mrs. Fanny Fredericka Dyckman Welch, wife of Mr. Alexander McMillan Welch, the architect. During the past year, the donors have added to their original gift by donating to the city two adjoining lots, thus making it possible to enlarge the garden which has been made in the old Dutch style. The house has been entirely renovated with excellent judgment under the supervision of Mr. Welch, the appearance and "atmosphere" of the Dutch farm-house being carefully preserved. An interesting museum of old-time objects has been installed in the house, a military dug-out hut reconstructed under the direction of Mr. Reginald P. Bolton as elsewhere described, a curator placed in charge, and many thousands of people have visited it in the nine months which have elapsed since it was opened to the public. (See plates 11-15.)

The formal ceremony of opening took place under the auspices of the Commissioner of Parks for Manhattan and Richmond, Hon. Cabot Ward, on Tuesday, July 11, 1916, beginning at 4.30 p. m. The order of exercises was as follows:

I. Invocation, by Rev. George S. Payson, D.D.

II.

Transferring to the City of New York the Custody of the
Property and the Keys, on behalf of the Donors, Mrs.
Mary Alice Dyckman Dean, and Mrs. Fannie Fredericka
Dyckman Welch, by Bashford Dean and Alexander Mc-
Millan Welch, Honorary Curators.

III. Acceptance on behalf of the City of New York by the
President of the Park Board, Hon. Cabot Ward.

IV. The locality and its historical interest, Mr. Reginald Pelham Bolton.

V. Benediction, Rev. Henry M. Dyckman.

VI. Unfurling the flag of the Revolutionary Period by Miss Dorothy Dean (assisting the Curators).

In accepting the gift, Commissioner Ward said:

"It is with a great deal of satisfaction that I take this opportunity of accepting the Dyckman House and Park in behalf of the City of New York.

"I believe that in the future annals of the City this will be considered an important mile-stone in the history of New York, and I know that the inspiration provided by the splendid generosity of Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Welch, will prove a fine example to others of our noble minded citizens.

"New York is in the forefront in great public benefactions, but it must be admitted that as far as park and recreation facilities are concerned, other municipalities in the country, such as Boston and Baltimore, have been more fortunate in securing splendid foundations to provide parks, playgrounds and recreation for the inhabitants of the congested regions for all time. But New York is waking up to its task in this respect. There was the incomparable gift of the Isham family and the recreation plant donated from the Betsy Head fund, and now come these patriotic citizens, making possible the preservation to the City of one of its most prized land-marks to remain in the years to come a center of civic instruction regarding our splendid past a guide post to the early times of New York, and last but not least, a monument to the generosity of our citizens.

"We can never be too grateful to those unselfish citizens, including the officers of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, the City History Club and others, who have often single handed secured the preservation and care of the historical places and objects in this City, so that to-day every section of New York is replete with valuable possessions. Dwellers in a modern city frequently lack that patriotic affection for one's dwelling place that provided such a fountain of civic spirit and action. Ī am sure that the children now growing up in our City will be imbued with such a spirit through this work of our historical societies.

"What has so remarkably impressed me is the wonderful spirit with which this Dyckman gift has been made. The donors have imposed no conditions on the City. They have helped the City authorities in a generous manner. They have shown nothing but a breadth of view and a single-hearted purpose to make this gift as perfect of its kind as anything that can be found.

"I cannot speak too strongly of the delightful relations formed in connection with this matter between the donors and the department, and at this time I wish to express the great appreciation that is felt by all at the unselfish acceptance of the post of curators by Prof. Dean and Mr. Welch, whose wonderful work you have had an opportunity to see to-day.

"The distinguished company assembled here bears testimony to the importance of this gift but I doubt whether any of you have so much cause for rejoicing as I have to-day, both as a citizen and a city representative.

"All I can promise in return is a ceaseless endeavor by the Park Department to maintain this splendid gift in a manner befitting its worth."

In Appendix B we give a delightful description of the Dyckman House and its occupants, by the Honorary Curators of the property, Prof. Bashford Dean and Mr. Alexander McMillan Welch.

INWOOD HILL PARK

It is gratifying to report recent progress in the creation of Inwood Hill Park in New York City. The establishment of a park on this sightly eminence at the northern end of Manhattan Island was one of the earliest suggestions of the late Andrew H. Green after he founded this Society in 1895. In 1898, when the top of the hill was difficult of access, he took the Secretary of the Society to the summit, in a carriage ride rendered perilous by the dangerous conditions of the rude roadway, and pointing out the prospect which expanded in all directions, spoke earnestly of the desirability of acquiring the hill for a park. The Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission in 1908 and 1909, under the leadership of the late John E. Parsons, strove earnestly to forward the project, in connection with the proposed Hudson Memorial Bridge across the Spuyten Duyvil creek between Inwood and Spuyten Duyvil hills. Later, the subject was urged in connection with the West Side railroad relocation, referred to hereafter, and has had the favorable consideration of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. The park is now on the city map, and already 101 city lots have been acquired by exchange of property with Mr. Mitchell A. C. Levy. We are informed that appraisers have been appointed in the proceedings to acquire the Francis B. Riggs property, consisting of 336 city lots and the Salem Land property comprising 641⁄2 city lots.

GIFT OF A PARK BY ELIZA M. EWEN

On May 5, 1916, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of New York City received from the Commissioner of Parks for the Borough of the Bronx, Hon. Thomas W. Whittle, a communication transmitting a letter from Miss Eliza M. Ewen, offering to convey to the City as a free gift the property known as lots 374

and 385, block 3408 on the tax maps of the City, covering an arca of nearly five acres, for a public park to be known as Ewen Park, in memory of her father, the late Gen. John Ewen, at one time Comptroller of the City of New York. The offer was made contingent upon the City's allowing the donor to use the buildings and grounds during the remainder of her life.

The matter was referred to a committee consisting of Hon. Douglas Mathewson, (President of the Borough of the Bronx), and the Chief Engineer of the Board, who, on July 27, 1916, reported in favor of accepting the offer. On that date, the Board had on its calendar a hearing “in the matter of changing the city map by laying out a public park within the area bounded by Johnson avenue, Oxford avenue, the northerly boundary line of the property of Eliza M. Ewen, West 232nd street, as now laid out, Riverdale avenue, and the southerly boundary line of the property of Eliza M. Ewen; by changing the lines and grades of West 232nd street, between Riverdale avenue and Cambridge avenue, and by changing grades of the high level section of Riverdale avenue, between West 231st street and a point about 400 feet north of West 232nd street, Borough of The Bronx."

The committee reported, in part, as follows:

The property covered by this offer has an assessed value of $83,600, and occupies the greater part of the block in which it is located, fronts upon Johnson avenue on the west and Riverdale avenue on the east, and contains Miss Ewen's home. The Committee believes that the park should be laid out without providing bounding streets on its northerly and southerly sides, as these streets would involve additional expense, and to use any part of Miss Ewen's property for bounding streets would be inconsistent with the offer of the entire tract for park purposes. On that portion of the proposed park fronting on West 232nd street are a number of fine trees, some of which are within the lines of West 232nd street, as now located, and in order to preserve these trees the President of the Borough of The Bronx has submitted a plan, approved by the Local Board of the District, slightly changing the lines of this street at its junction with Riverdale avenue. Inasmuch as title to the street has not been acquired, and as it is laid out at a width of only 30 feet, this change in line will involve no additional expense. The Committee recommends the approval of the plan submitted by the President of the Borough of The Bronx, placing this park upon the map and that Miss Ewen's

offer be accepted upon the condition mentioned. The Committee further recommends that the Board express its appreciation of the generous gift of Miss Ewen and the public spirit which prompted the gift.

At the close of the hearing the Board adopted three resolutions. The first approved the change in the map or plan of the City by laying out the park and changing the street lines and grades in the immediate vicinity. The second authorized the Corporation Counsel to accept the conveyance of the property. And the third was as follows:

Whereas, Miss Eliza M. Ewen has offered to convey to the City of New York for ultimate use as a Public Park, certain property with buildings thereon now owned and occupied by her between Riverdale and Johnson avenues, near West 231st street, in the Borough of The Bronx, to be called "Ewen Park," in memory of her father, the late General John Ewen, at one time Comptroller of The City of New York; and

Whereas, The City of New York, through the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, has accepted this offer; be it

Resolved, That the members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, on behalf of the citizens of the municipality, hereby tender to Miss Ewen their grateful thanks for this generous gift and an expression of their appreciation of the splendid public spirit which prompted it; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to have a copy of this resolution suitably engrossed for presentation to the donor on behalf of this Board.

SEA BEACHES PUBLIC PROPERTY

The decision handed down by the Court of Appeals on July 12, 1916, directing the Steeplechase Park Company to remove those portions of its structures which project beyond high water mark at Coney Island, gave great satisfaction to those who believe that the sea-beaches of the great City of New York should be accessible to the public. The decision was secured by the diligent efforts of the Attorney Generals of the State, beginning with Attorney General Carmody, and confirms the judgments of the trial and appellate courts which held such projections to be an encroachment on the public right, and therefore a nuisance.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »