No. 35 Bond Street

The first occupant of No. 35 Bond street was George Sharp, a merchant of 186 Pearl street, who moved from 474 Broadway in 1827. In 1832 he went to 119 Spring street. Who lived at No. 35 Bond street for the five years succeeding has not been ascertained but in 1838 it was the residence of Michael Van Beuren, who in 1837 was at 303 Greenwich street. In 1840 he moved to 21 West Fourteenth street, where a few years later he built the imposing mansion still to be seen on that site, but now dilapidated and forlorn. This house is one of the last reminders of the social eminence of Fourteenth street. It has been shorn of its stoop, and its extensive grounds, stretching nearly two hundred feet toward the west, are neglected and overgrown with weeds where once a green lawn and well kept flower beds invited the eye.

The next occupant of No. 35 Bond street was William I. Robinson, a broker, of No. 50 Wall street, who resided in the house for about three years. In 1839 his home was at 634 Broadway. After his departure the house was occupied for a year by Isabella Arcularius. In 1844, and for eleven years following, it was occupied by Amos Johnson, a dentist, who in 1842 and 1843 was at No. 49 Bond street. In 1856 Dr. Johnson went to 73 East Twelfth street, 109 according to the present numbering.

No. 36 Bond Street

From 1834 to 1839 inclusive No. 36 Bond street was the home of Samuel B. Ruggles, one of New York's most prominent and public spirited citizens. He was a lawyer of marked ability, and was identified with numerous public and private corporations. He was a director of the New York & Harlem Railroad, the Erie Railroad the Equitable Insurance Company, and the Bank of Commerce, of which latter he was one of the founders. He was also a trustee of Columbia College, and, as we have already seen, one of the first trustees of the Astor Library. For many years he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and served on the executive committee. He established Gramercy Park, gave it its name, and gave the land in perpetuity to the use of the surrounding residents, as recorded by an inscription cut in a stone in the sidewalk in front of the west gate of the park. In 1834 he leased a tract of land on the east side of what is now Union Square, and built several blocks of brick houses, of which a few are still standing. Some of these were small and stood back from the street, serving later as extensions of the larger houses erected in front. The Erie Canal early became the subject of his zealous interest. In 1838, as chairman of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means he presented a "Report upon the Finances and Internal Improvements of the State of new York," which for many years shaped the policy of the state in its commercial development. He foresaw, as did few others, the necessity for early enlargement of the canal, and in the report referred to urged the immediate borrowing of money for the purpose. This proposal met strong opposition and was not adopted, but its wisdom became apparent in later years. He was one of the Canal commissioners from 1840 to 1842 inclusive, and again in 1858. In 1839 he left Bond street and made his home at 24 Union Place, in one of the houses he had built six years before. Here he resided until his death forty-one years later, at the age of eighty-one. Mrs. Ruggles was the only daughter of John Rathbone, one of New York's prosperous old merchants, who came to the city shortly after the Revolution.

Following Samuel B. Ruggles, No. 36 Bond street was taken by Abraham Schermerhorn, merchant, who in 1839, and as early as 1826, lived at No. 1 Greenwich street. For some years before 1826 he had resided in the house built by John W. Kearny about 1800, and still standing, at No. 2 Greenwich street. Abraham Schermerhorn and his older brother Peter were partners of their father "old Peter Schermerhorn" in the firm of P. Schermerhorn and Sons during the first quarter of the last century; and at the same time, and for many years after the death of their father, about 1825, they were in partnership in another firm under the name of P. & A. Schermerhorn, later Schermerhorn, Willis and Company. Abraham Schermerhorn's wife was Helen White, daughter of Henry White, who owned the old house at 9 and 11 Broadway, later known as Atlantic Garden. That house was also his residence for several years, and his widow was living there as late as 1812. Abraham's Schermerhorn's daughter Helen married John T. Irving, and another daughter, Caroline, was the famous Mrs. William Astor, who died in 1908, the "leader of New York society." She was the mother of Col. John Jacob Astor, who perished in the Titanic. Abraham Schermerhorn died about 1850, and shortly afterward his widow moved to 21 East Twenty-second street.

No. 37 Bond Street

No resident of No. 37 Bond street before 1834 has been ascertained. In that year it was occupied by James Hagarty, a merchant of 16 Broad street. A few years later it was the residence of William Austin, a produce broker of 71 Wall street. In 1840 Mrs. Hannah Daley opened a boarding house at No. 37. In 1846 the house was taken by Gilbert Davis, a wine dealer at 53 William street, and was occupied by him as late as 1870.

No. 38 Bond Street

The first occupant of No. 38 Bond street was Eli Hart, of Eli Hart & Company, merchants, who moved from 44 Cortlandt street in 1833. In the late '30's the "high cost of living" became a subject of more than idle interest, culminating in the unprecedented hard times of 1837. In that year, when banks were suspending payment of their notes and business houses were failing on all sides, flour sold for $15 per barrel and wheat, imported from abroad, brought $2.25 per bushel in New York. Meats and other foodstuffs were correspondingly high. On February 12, 1837, an excited crowd of five thousand persons assembled in the park and were harangued by agitators until they were ready for any violence. One of the speakers shouted "Eli Hart's got fifty thousand barrels of flour in his store. Offer him eight dollars a barrel for it and if he won't take it, why___" here he paused significantly. The mob took the hint and in a few minutes was storming Eli Hart & Company's store, in Washington Street, near Dey. In spite of the efforts of Mayor Lawrence, High Constable Hays, and a large force of police, the rioters broke into the store and threw out wheat and flour until, as an eye witness described it "the street was knee-deep in flour and wheat." Some forty of the mob were arrested but only a few were convicted. All the ringleaders escaped.

After Eli Hart's death, which occurred about 1845, his widow continued to reside at No.38, and was living there as late as 1864.

No. 39 Bond Street

The first occupant of No. 39 Bond street was Judge William Kent, who went there from St. Mark's place about 1834. In 1836 he moved to No. 5 Bond street, and No. 39 was taken by Samuel Foster, Jr., a merchant of 146 Pearl street, who in 1835 lived at 49 Walker street. In 1841 he moved to Fourth street, near Lafayette place, and the house he vacated in Bond street was taken a few years later by Robert Kermit, merchant, of 74 South street. He was a merchant of the old school, and also owned a line of Liverpool packets. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served for a number of years on its Arbitration Committee, a fact that gives ample evidence of his integrity and sound judgment. In 1847 he moved to 48 East Fourteenth street. The next occupant was Robert McCoskry who, as we have seen had previously lived at No. 34. He continued at No. 39 until 1867.

No. 40 Bond Street

There seems to have been no building at No. 40 Bond street until after 1840. In 1845 there was a house there, occupied by James Foster, Jr., who had been living at No. 30 since 1841. He retained No. 40 until 1854.