Residence Park (New Rochelle, New York)

Last updated
Residence Park
Residence Park development map, 1885 New Rochelle, New York.jpg
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of New York.svg  New York
County Westchester
City New Rochelle
Time zone UTC-5:00 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4:00 (Eastern)
Area code 914

Residence Park is a historic community located in the city of New Rochelle, in Westchester County, New York. It is one of the first planned residential parks, and garden city communities, in the United States. It is located in the southern section of the city, bordered by Neptune Park on the west, Shore Road and Long Island Sound on the south, and Downtown New Rochelle on the north.

Contents

History

Residence Park is situated on the former country estate of the wealthy 19th century New York City hotelier Simeon Leland. Leland, having traveled extensively throughout Europe studying the various hotel systems there, returned with a knowledge and experience that knowledge back to experience effected important changes in American hotel-keeping. The firm Simeon Leland & Company soon grew from a small scale family business with his brothers to a large financial enterprise, with such trophy properties as the Metropolitan Hotel in Manhattan. Smart entrepreneurs capitalized on the need for large, well-staffed and capably managed hotels. The Lelands were partially responsible for initiating and improving this minor revolution in American hotel operation. The sons of the Leland brothers continued the family trade and built a nationwide reputation.

Leland purchased 40 acres overlooking New Rochelle Harbor as the site for his country home, eventually commissioning the architect William Thomas Beers to design a gothic revival castle in 1855. Actual construction of “Castle View” did not begin until 1856, when Leland’s increasing success as proprietor of the Metropolitan enabled him to afford the enormous cost of building and decorating his mansion. The sixty room residence Castleview took three years to complete (1856–1859).

Leland apparently was also interested in building up New Rochelle’s resort trade, for in 1861 he purchased Davids Island in Echo Bay, intending to build a hotel there. However, the Civil War intervened, and he leased the island to the Union Army for use as a military hospital. After the war the Lelands sold Davids Island to the government; later it became Fort Slocum.

The Castle was Leland’s vacation home until 1872, when his lease on the Metropolitan Hotel expired. At that time the hotel’s new owner gave its lease to “Boss” William A. Tweed. Leland then retired permanently to New Rochelle and died shortly thereafter on August 3, 1872. Upon his death, Leland was deep in debt. His Castle had reportedly cost $35,000 to erect and was at one time valued at over $100,000. Sometime before his death he was forced to mortgage the entire property, and he died before the mortgage could be paid. Leland supposedly had requested that his wife use his $35,000 insurance policy to settle the mortgage, but for some reason she failed to do so, and the mortgage was foreclosed. Although the Castle was then owned by the Manhattan Life Insurance Company, Mrs. Leland continued to live there until March 1880. [1]

In 1884, Adrian Iselin, Jr., the son of millionaire businessman Charles Oliver Iselin, bought Leland Castle, its 40 acres, and an adjacent farm with the purpose of developing the land into a residential park. [2]

Planning

The Garden City Movement arose in England during the 19th century as a reaction to the crowding and pollution of cities as a result of its Industrial Revolution. [3] While the movement had spread to United States by the 1920s, early residential developers had begun experimenting with the 'Garden City' concept way before it gained the title, including Adrian G Iselin, who planned "Residence Park" in 1885. The neighborhood can be viewed as the grandfather to suburban living in the modern American city. Prior to its existence, residential settings were limited to either very rural or very urban design extremes. Lots were fronted by no more than a ditch or a dirt road when not immediately in the urban environment, and when in the city, there was little to no natural space except for public parks. [4] In Residence Park, specific attention to public spaces, natural settings and visual beauty helped distinguish it from most other suburban developments.

When creating the community, Iselin paid considerable attention to the layout and measurements of streets, the parkways, sidewalks, lighting, greenways, parks, and the overall landscape plan of the community. One of his fundamental goals was to create a community that blended in with the natural topography, designed around large garden areas, landscaped islands and traffic medians, and winding streets. [5]

The community had a strict set of conditions, covenants and restrictions that set minimum property costs, controlled what was built and established property setbacks. The residential architecture reflects several distinct styles popular around the turn of the twentieth century such as Queen Anne Style, Colonial Revival and Tudor. The neighborhood is largely intact today as its layout has not been altered, the landscaping of the common areas has matured, and virtually all the original residences remain. [6]

Landmarks, sites and attractions

Several historically significant structures are located within the area including the former country home of the American patriot and Huguenot Lewis Pintard, a National Historic Landmark. The First Presbyterian Church of New Rochelle is built at the site of the Pintard House, which has been incorporated into the church property as the priory. [7] Pintard founded the Chamber of Commerce of New York and also served General George Washington as Commissary for the prisoners in New York City. His son founded the New York Historical Society, served as secretary of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and was elected first Sagamore of the Tammany Society. [8]

The College of New Rochelle is another significant fixture of the neighborhood. The college's campus encompasses much of the former Leland country estate, and includes the original family residence, "Castleview", a National Historic Landmark. [9]

Additional notable sites include the home of baseball legend Lou Gehrig which is located on Meadow Lane. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Rochelle, New York</span> City in New York, United States

New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the seventh-largest in the state of New York. Some residents refer to the city as New Ro or New Roc City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Boldt</span> American hotelier

George Charles Boldt Sr. was a Prussian-born American hotelier. A self-made millionaire, he influenced the development of the urban hotel as a civic social center and luxury destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hope Goddard Iselin</span> American sportswoman

Edith Hope Goddard Iselin was an American heiress and sportswoman who was the first American woman to compete as a crew member in the America's Cup yacht race. She also owned thoroughbred racehorses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Presbyterian Church and Lewis Pintard House</span> Historic church in New York, United States

The First Presbyterian Church and Lewis Pintard House is a pair of adjacent historic buildings in downtown New Rochelle, New York, United States. The church and its adjoining manse, the Pintard House, are on a 3-acre (1.2 ha) lot. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Leland Castle is a building in New Rochelle, New York. It was constructed during the years in 1855 - 1859 in the Gothic Revival style, and was the country residence of Simeon Leland, a wealthy New York City hotel proprietor. Leland began to assemble an estate as early as 1848, and in 1855, began the erection of this palatial 60-room mansion. The home was designed by New York City architect William Thomas Beers. A north and south wing were added to the castle in 1899 and 1902 respectively.

Rochelle Park is a historic residential neighborhood in the city of New Rochelle, in Westchester County, New York. The area is bordered by Rochelle Heights on the east, Interstate 95 on the south, New Rochelle City Hall and civic center on the west and Iona College on the north. The Rochelle Heights and Rochelle Park neighborhoods together create the Rochelle Park-Rochelle Heights Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochelle Park–Rochelle Heights Historic District</span> Historic district in New York, United States

The Rochelle Park–Rochelle Heights Historic District is a historic residential district located in the city of New Rochelle in Westchester, New York. The district is historically and architecturally significant as an intact and distinctive example of residential park development at the turn of the Twentieth Century. It includes the historic Rochelle Park development, and the later Rochelle Heights subdivision. Within the district are 555 contributing properties, including 513 buildings, 38 structures, and 4 sites. Only 24 buildings and 1 site separately identified within its area are non-contributing. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 6, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lispenard–Rodman–Davenport House</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The Lispenard–Rodman–Davenport House is a historic residence dating back to the early 18th century located on the Davenport Neck peninsula in New Rochelle, New York. The house is the oldest residential structure in New Rochelle. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Neptune Island is an island in Long Island Sound and part of the City of New Rochelle, New York. It is connected to the mainland by a stone causeway topped by Neptune Road. A dam at the peninsula's east end creates a small pond, and its west shore edges the Neptune Basin inlet.

New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing Catholic pogroms in France. Many of the settlers were artisans and craftsmen from the city of La Rochelle, France, thus influencing the choice of the name of "New Rochelle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie Avenue</span> Thoroughfare in Chicago, United States

Prairie Avenue is a north–south street on the South Side of Chicago, which historically extended from 16th Street in the Near South Side to the city's southern limits and beyond. The street has a rich history from its origins as a major trail for horseback riders and carriages. During the last three decades of the 19th century, a six-block section of the street served as the residence of many of Chicago's elite families and an additional four-block section was also known for grand homes. The upper six-block section includes part of the historic Prairie Avenue District, which was declared a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser Mansion</span> Building in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., United States

The Fraser Mansion is a building at 1701 20th Street NW, at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, 20th Street, and R Street in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Since its construction in 1890, the mansion has served as a private residence, a restaurant, a boarding house, the home of the Founding Church of Scientology, and—currently—the location of Scientology's National Affairs office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Franklin Barrett</span> American landscape architect

Nathan Franklin Barrett was an American landscape architect. He is best known for his designs for company town of Pullman, Illinois, the Hotel Ponce de Leon in Florida and Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Barrett was a founding member and president of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He also maintained a long working relationship with many noted architects and firms of the time including those of McKim, Mead & White, Carrère and Hastings and Horace Trumbauer.

Sutton Manor is a distinctive early 20th century suburban residential district in the city of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York. The neighborhood is located off the northern shore of Long Island Sound on Echo Bay. It was developed as an upper middle class enclave for families with heads of households employed in New York City and served as a model for the ideal suburban setting; harmonious architecture and exclusive amenities. The development appears to have been modeled on neighboring Larchmont Manor in the Town of Mamaroneck, yet on a smaller scale. That subdivision was conceived originally as an exclusive and convenient seasonal playground for New York’s wealthy upper classes, with its 6-acre waterfront park.

Adrian Georg Iselin was a New York financier who invested in and developed real estate, railroads, and mining operations. For many years during his early business career he was engaged in importing with his brother, William Iselin, being one of the most successful merchants of New York in the middle of the century. After retiring from the importing trade, he established the banking house of Adrian Iselin & Co. He is considered the founder of the Iselin family in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport Neck</span>

Davenport Neck is a peninsula in New Rochelle, New York, extending southwesterly from the mainland into Long Island Sound, and running parallel to the main shore. It divides the city's waterfront into two, with New Rochelle Harbor to the south and southwest, and Echo Bay, to the north and northeast. Glen Island and Neptune Island lie just to the west of the Neck, and Davids and Huckleberry islands lie to the south.

Pelham Road, known as Shore Road within the Bronx, is a historic 4.1-mile (6.6 km) east-west arterial road that runs along the Long Island Sound shoreline from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx through the southern Westchester County, New York communities of New Rochelle and Pelham Manor. The thoroughfare had its beginning as a Native American trail linking the important villages on Davenport Neck to those on Pelham Neck in Pelham. Between these points along the shore line there was an almost continuous chain of small Indian villages and camps. This waterfront area was especially advantageous, with many small coves in secure harbors and protected by adjacent islands and many small streams of water and abundant springs.

Simeon Leland was a prominent New York businessman and hotelier during the late 1800s. He made his wealth while operating the Metropolitan Hotel located on fashionable Broadway in lower Manhattan. Opened in 1852 to cater to travelers and residents who wanted to enjoy luxuries like bathrooms, running water, elevators, and fine dining, the Metropolitan attracted many Southern businessmen and their families who often came to New York in the summer to escape the extreme heat of the South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12 West 56th Street</span> Building in Manhattan, New York

12 West 56th Street is a consular building in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, housing the Consulate General of Argentina in New York City. It is along 56th Street's southern sidewalk between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. The four-and-a-half story building was designed by McKim, Mead & White in the Georgian Revival style. It was constructed between 1899 and 1901 as a private residence, one of several on 56th Street's "Bankers' Row".

References

  1. M. Justin McKiernan and L.E. Gobrecht (April 27, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: "Castle View" / Leland Castle" . Retrieved 2008-02-13. (includes map) and Accompanying three photos, exterior and interior, from 1967, 1975, and 1970s
  2. Historical and Landmarks Review Board - City of New Rochelle "Application for Nomination as a Local Historic District"
  3. The Garden City Movement Archived 2014-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. The Residence Park: Defining the "American Dream", by Michael Borbely
  5. New Rochelle, Barbara Davis
  6. Historical and Landmarks Review Board - City of New Rochelle "Application for Nomination as a Local Historic District"
  7. National Register of Historic Places Nomination - First Presbyterian Church and Lewis Pintard House
  8. Encyclopedia of biography of New York: Volume 1
  9. Leland Castle; College of New Rochelle. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1976
  10. "Lou Gehrig: A Biography", Page. 63

See also

Coordinates: 40°54′04″N73°46′59″W / 40.901°N 73.783°W / 40.901; -73.783