The New York Times, February 18, 1923, PAGE NUMBER 57
TO MARK LAST HOME OF THOMAS PAINE
Greenwich Village Historical Society Is Raising Fund for Tablet.
HOUSE IS IN GROVE STREET
Purpose of Organization Is to Revive the Best Traditions of Old Section of City.
Organized less than a year ago for the purpose of preserving some of the interesting landmarks in its locality, the Greenwich Village Historical Society is raising a fund to place a memorial tablet on the house at 59 Grove Street, occupying the site of the earlier dwelling in which Thomas Paine died in 1809. The house is just west of Seventh Avenue and not far from the old building at 1 Sheridan Square, where the society meets each week for discussion of village days and the value of true Americanism. More than $100 has been contributed toward the tablet fund.
The aim of the society is to bring into greater prominence the best traditions of Greenwich Village. In a way, its organization was due to the feeling of many of the old residents that too much public attention had been given to the cheap Bohemianism prevailed in certain parts of the neighborhood and that, as a result, many New Yorkers were getting the idea that tea houses with uncouth names and countless gift shops were the chief elements of interest in the section.
There is a large foreign population, chiefly Italians. Among many of these families as well as from the surviving American households, scores of young men went to the great war, and the historical society, the subject of genuine Americanism is regarded as of equal importance by the historical society. President work during the year was to raise a fund of $325 for the Disabled Veterans’ Association, and the presentation was made to Gideon Lee this year in the Judson Memorial Church.
Old Residents Are Members.
The society is fortunate in having in its membership some of the oldest Greenwich Village residents and members of families who played an important part in the development of the community in earlier years. Among its honored members is Mrs. Gideon Lee, now residing on the upper west side. She is the great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Nest who early in the last century purchased the famous Admiral Warren house occupying the block front bounded by Bleeth, Charles, Perry and Bleecker Streets. For his successes in the French and Indian wars, he received from the city prior to the Revolution several hundred acres comprising the heart of Greenwich Village, and his wooden mansion occupied this block front. Mrs. Lee was an occupant of the house in her childhood, and distinctly remembers many of the incidents and old places during that period in which the village had lost its village characteristics. She is also a descendant of Gideon Lee who was mayor of New York City in 1833 and 1834 and one of the earliest cotton merchants in the city.
The officers of the Greenwich Village Historical Society are: Mrs. Catherine Parker Clivette: Vice President, Mrs. Grace Randolph: Secretary, Mrs. Mary Clarissa Pickett: Treasurer, Andrew Byrant: Directors include the Joseph French Johnson, Dean of the School of Commerce of the New York University, William Murray and Harry L. Linquist. Among the members is Frederick Howe, president of the Board of Elections of New York City; Dr. W. W. Gregg, Secretary, Mrs. Edith Brackett Stuart, Miss Mabel Washburn, Miss Phyllis Cooper, Henry Lindeman, Miss E. Frye Barker, Miss Augusta Boyleston and David Knox.
Tells Purpose of Society.
“While our society is endeavoring to perpetuate the best traditions of Greenwich Village,” Mrs. Mary Pickett, the secretary, who lives in that quiet residential thoroughfare known as Hank Street, “we are not unmindful of present conditions. Many of our winter meetings are devoted to the discussion of improving and the improvement of the locality. The old villagers who love the place because they and their fathers and mothers have had comfortable homes there for half a century or more are heard constantly. Of late they feel the cabarets and dance halls which have sprung up have tended to give the section the village an unenviable reputation. The old timers are accustomed to peaceful, quiet lives, and it is perhaps from this fact that the home atmosphere has been somewhat forgotten. Our historical society has encouraged the organization to work in harmony with other bodies interested in clean government, clean streets, decent houses and orderly conditions in Greenwich Village. Although the society was started only in April last, it has grown in attendance. Our weekly meetings are well attended, and our first year’s record does show some satisfactory things accomplished.”