The Bridgeport Evening Farmer

Buys Property Adjoining Courthouse on the West for $15,733.44.
SEE IN DEAL PLAN FOR CIVIC CENTER
Purchasers Draw Up Contract with Seller for Other Strip.

A plan to have a civic center on Golden Hill is intimated today by the terms of the contract by which the county commissioners have purchased from Samuel H. Wheeler, land adjoining the county courthouse on the west.

In the contract with Mr. Wheeler it is stated that in case the city desires to purchase part of the plot as a public library site the county shall sell 20 feet at the same price for which the land was purchased. This stipulation probably refers to the report that the Library board was thinking of buying the Gen. T. L. Watson property, which fronts on Golden Hill street and adjoins the tract bought today by the county.

The county obtained the Wheeler plot for $15,733.44, which is exactly what he paid the Congregational society for it. As a public spirited citizen Mr. Wheeler said he did not view the matter as a money-making proposition but was anxious to do anything to help beautify the courthouse property. The property has a frontage of 106.1 feet on Golden Hill street and a depth of about 190 feet. The contract between the county and Mr. Wheeler was drawn by Attorney Charles E. Williamson, counsel for the commissioners.

Chief Justice George W. Wheeler of the supreme court of errors, who has taken a great interest in the courthouse, when asked today for a statement, said:

"I presume that the suggestion of you gentlemen of the press that I make a statement concerning the agreement entered into today by the county of Fairfield with Samuel H. Wheeler for the purchase of the North Church parsonage property, adjoining the court house comes through my connection with the committee in charge of the building of the addition to the court house which has, of course, made me familiar with the matter from its inception.

"The county representatives authorized the county commissioners to acquire by, purchase or condemnation the church parsonage property adjoining the Fairfield county court house, comprising a plot 106 feet on Golden Hill street by 190 feet deep. In the course of the negotiations for this purchase it was suggested that the rear lines be strengthened; that Mr. Wheeler deed to the county a strip four feet wide in the rear of the court house and in the rear of the parsonage property and that the county deed him the small plot of the Hall home purchase in the rear of this new rear line as extended.

"It was suggested to Mr. Wheeler that as a public spirited citizen he ought not to desire to make money out of his purchase of the parsonage and that as he had purchased this plot for $15,000 he ought to convey it to the county for the same price he had paid for it plus such expenses as he had been at in making and carrying this purchase.

Mr. Wheeler agreed to this and the county at the same time agreed to the straightening of and changes in the rear lines as has been suggested.

This agreement is a very advantageous one for the county. The commissioners recognize that Mr. Wheeler has not treated the matter as a business proposition but has treated it in a large and public spirited way and without reference to his pecuniary advantage.

"The people of the county ought to understand the manner in which Mr. Wheeler has acted and when they do we are sure that they will greatly appreciate it. It is well known that Mr. Wheeler refused a price of $5,000 in excess of the price he sells to the county.

The county has added to its land in the rear of the court house and thus help protect the light of its four court rooms on the north. In addition it has by its purchase protected its west side against the possibility for all time of building close to the court house property line, and furnished the county adequate land upon which to enlarge the court house when in the long course of time this may be required.

"The agreement which the county commissioners have made seems to me to be farsighted provision for the future, and as the west side is the only side of the court house property upon which the court house could be enlarged it was wise to acquire this land, especially since the pecuniary consideration was small and the ultimate benefit to the county great.

Aside from the utility standpoint it is a valuable purchase for no public
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County Procures Wheeler Land in Golden Hill St.

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building should be shut in, and the ground to the west of the court house when properly graded and beautified will add very much to the appearance of the court house property.

The credit for this successful outcome belongs to County Commissioners Ballard and Crawford, and their counsel, Senator Charles E. Williamson, and they are to be congratulated and commended for this most unusual and successful termination of the negotiation with Mr. Wheeler.

"I do not recall any other single instance in Connecticut—though I presume there are others—where any public body has purchased land at much less than its market value by the voluntary act of the owner. But then men like Mr. Wheeler are few and far between.

"I need not say that the Fairfield County courthouse building committee and our architects are especially delighted with the successful negotiations of the county commissioners, Ballard and Crawford.

"The provision incorporated in the agreement that the county shall sell a strip on the west side of the parsonage plot to the city in case it is desired for a public library undoubtedly reflects the opinion of Mr. Wheeler that this location would be a most suitable one for the new library.

"As the disposition of this strip for such a purpose would not injure the courthouse property, for the remaining 86 feet would be ample for courthouse purposes, no doubt Commissioners Ballard and Crawford felt that a public library in this location would be of benefit to the county property.

"My own view coincides with that of these gentlemen. I know of no location for a library near Main street, centrally located, and so accommodating those who use the library, which can be purchased for the amount for which the Lyon property with this strip adjoining can be bought for. This would give a plot 126 feet by 300 feet deep. And with the High school, the courthouse, and the new Y. W. C. A. building would make this part of Golden Hill street a civic center.

"Of course men's opinions will differ about such a matter as this, but they will not differ as to the far-sighted public spirit which makes it possible for Bridgeport to secure this location for a public library if her authorities deem it an available one."

The agreement between Samuel H. Wheeler and the county commissioners states in part:

That said Samuel H. Wheeler in consideration of the promises and agreements herein of the County of Fairfield agrees that:

1. He will convey by warranty deed to the County of Fairfield the lot of land except the buildings thereon standing, which the said Wheeler reserved the right to remove at any time within six months from date hereof, situated in Bridgeport, Conn., and bounded and described as follows: North on land of Samuel H. Wheeler 104.7 feet, more or less; east on land of said County of Fairfield, formerly the Hall Home, 190.02 feet; south on Golden Hill street 106.1 feet; and west on land of Alice C. E. Watson 192.5 feet.

2. He will convey by warranty deed to the County of Fairfield the lot of land being bounded and described as follows: North on land of S. H. Wheeler, 104.7 feet, more or less; east on land of the County of Fairfield, formerly the Hall Home, 4 feet; south on land of S. H. Wheeler described herein as Lot C, 104.7 feet, more or less; and west on land of Alice C. E. Watson, 4 feet.

3. He will convey to the County of Fairfield by warranty deed the lot of ground bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point 190 feet from Golden Hill street, and running thence northerly along land of County of Fairfield, 4 feet, thence running easterly along land of S. H. Wheeler, 169.6 feet; thence running southeasterly about 5 feet to a point in the northerly line of County of Fairfield 171.2 feet easterly from the northwesterly corner thereof; thence running westerly 171.2 to point of beginning.

And said county of Fairfield in consideration of the promises and agreements herein of the said Samuel H. Wheeler agrees, that,

1. It will pay to Samuel H. Wheeler the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars, being the price paid by him for said lot C, together with such sums as he has paid out upon said property designated as Lot C since its acquisition by him, and five (5 per cent.) interest upon such payment and expenditures.

2. It will convey to Samuel H. Wheeler by warranty deed the lot of ground bounded and described as follows: North on land of S. H. Wheeler, 69 feet; east on land of S. H. Wheeler 45.1 feet; south on land of the county of Fairfield 69.5 feet; and west on land of S. H. Wheeler 43.93 feet; said Strip E being the north part of the premises formerly known as the Hall Home.

3. It will convey to Samuel H. Wheeler by warranty deed a triangular strip at the northeast corner of the Fairfield county court house plot, designated as Lot A beginning at a point 186 feet from Golden Hill street and running thence northerly along land of S. H. Wheeler, 4 feet; thence westerly along land of S. H. Wheeler, 2 feet; thence southeasterly about 5 feet to place of beginning.

4. It will build a suitable wall along the rear line of Strip D and Lot B said wall to be located half on land of county of Fairfield and half on land of Samuel H. Wheeler.

5. It will fill in the excavated part of strip E north of said wall in rear of lot B to the height of said wall.

6. It will convey to the city of Bridgeport, or the Bridgeport Public Library, for a public library upon their request within five years from date, the strip of land on the western part of Lot C and Strip F and bounded and described as follows: North on land of S. H. Wheeler, 20 feet; east on land agreed to be conveyed herein to the county of Fairfield about 194 feet; south on Golden Hill street, 20 feet; and west on land of Alice C. E. Watson 196.5 feet for the consideration of three thousand ($3,000) dollars being the approximate proportional amount of the purchase price together with the expenditures upon the same and interest upon said sums.