Tb5h^5'^5DDD ^ 129 F68 66 'Opy 1 L" STATION AT FOREST HILLS GARDENS The Station is constructed of brick and concrete with tile roof and cost $50,000, of which the Railroad paid $10,000, the De- velopment Companies paying the balance. Forest Hills Inn, opposite the station, is of similar construe tion, and cost three quarters of a million. j^9'AJ^<^^VA C 1 WHY WE HAV^E CHOSEN FOREST HILLS GARDENS FOR OUR HOME FOREST HILLS GARDENS-N'Y MCM'XV There is no single factor that exerts a more powerful influence upon our minds or molds our outlook in life more perceptibly than our surroundings. Our mental attitude is largely a reflec- tion of our environment; if we live amid pleasant and cheerful surroundings our characters become optimistic ^ self-reliant and we are better equipped to solve the complex problems of our modern existence than those w^ho through circum- stance or necessity live in less favorable habitation. — The CoLORisT r COPYRIGHT 191 5 BY WILL PHILLIP HOOPER (DCI.A40816 2 JUN30I9I5 BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION HE outer suburbs of any city where lately quiet farms existed^ too often consist of files of hard- featured houses multiplied in formal roivs. That great cities sho u Id produce offshoots and new centers of population is an indication of national well-beings but cannot worthy instead of unworthy houses be built ^ and so disposed that trees and wood- land places remain; houses to be designed and grouped in proper relation to one another ^ so that each should form part of a well-considered and har- monious scheme"^ The pages following are intended to answer a question frequently asi.i!p^ ^ar. ^^ ^u s£ •*.« "■V«^lf '0.7 k ' ' y ***fi 1 i« ?~~ '^■■' A GARDEN CORNER Because it offered us so many amusing and substantial things — a well built house, intelligently planned; an enchanting garden and dogwood trees all our ow^n; satisfying neighbors, a restful absence of hideous placards and flyspecked shops, a comfortable permanence — all these things. And these make excuse for great pride of ownership. What more could one wish? Ruby Ross Goodnow We do not know why we selected Forest Hills Gardens for our home, but we are glad that we came. John Brewer I had a thousand reasons for wanting to get out of the City. The most important ones were, perhaps, to live away from the brick walls and germ laden dust of the city, in a select, re stricted community, within a half hour of Madison Square, where my children could grow up breathing pure air and en' joying the advantages of the city and the freedom of the country. That's what I found at Forest Hills Gardens and that's why I am here. W. F. Mohan THE WASHBURN HOUSE We selected Forest Hills Gardens chiefly through a love of beauty, in the desire to have aesthetic surroundings for our home and in the belief that the plan of the Sage Foundation Homes Company assured better results in that regard than could be found elsewhere. Israel A. Washburne We v/ere first interested because of its accessibility to New^ York, and it seemed to promise something more interesting than the usual suburban development. We were among the first — the pioneers, and have found all that we hoped and more. Jessup We felt the country calling us and when we heard of the Sage Foundation development at Forest Hills we said "That's it; it's near back to the land, yet near Broadway" and so weVe found it — and much more. E. G. Trowbridge MR. HOOPER S GARDEN, ON GREENWAY SOUTH After looking in the vicinity of New York for six years to find a place for a home, after buying lots in two localities, I finally decided that Forest Hills Gardens was my choice, be cause I liked the place, the people and the prospects. The place — because it's beautiful; the people — because they're interesting; the prospect — because property w^ill increase in value. Will Phillip Hooper Because I had confidence in the Sage Foundation Homes Co. and haven't been disappointed; and because thirteen minutes on the Long Island Railroad is better than three minutes on the subway. R. W. Waddell It was clearly a matter of its character, its genuineness, evi- dent in the first announcement of the plans — chanced upon in idle newspaper reading. From the announcement stood out indubitably the American suburbanite's apotheosis of dreams, the real thing. The rest followed, the complacent satisfaction of one of the oldest inhabitants. Hartley LeH. Smith SHORT HILL ROAD Because after spending months in looking around within a radius of twenty miles of Greater New York to pick out a permanent home, I found no place to compare with it. Be cause Manhattan Island is less than twenty minutes by elec trie train or auto, and thirtyfive minutes by trolley. Because the atmosphere of the w^hole place is congenial. Because life is worth Hving in Forest Hills Gardens. H. B.Jagoe Among the various reasons which decided us to choose For' est Hills Gardens for an abiding place are : Its bracing air tem- pered by the sea, the excellent water, the uniqueness and harmony of the architecture and the flowers blooming every where. All the charm of the open country is here and yet so near the metropolis. Harold P. Bogart THE ROUNTREE HOUSE A friend used to bore me with wonderful stories about the beauty, convenience and general superiority of Forest Hills Gardens. So, to prove him wrong, I came out here one after- noon. Within half an hour I was explaining to him that he didn t half appreciate the place. And now after having lived here for over two years, my wife and I feel w^e are in the right place on account of the convenient location, the beau' tiful surroundings, and above all, the good people weVe met here. H. B. Rountree Forest Hills Gardens is truly a livable place. Congenial and cultured friends, beautiful and artistic environs. Only a few minutes to the hub of New York. All the conveniences of metropolitan life, w^ith the comforts and attractions of a home in the country. Contentment and Forest Hills Gardens go hand in hand. W. L. Harriss OLIVIA PARK Because in the New York flat there was only an imitation fire place. We wanted a real fire place, and the chimneys in Forest Hills Gardens looked as though they would draw (and they do). And then, too, w^e w^anted sunshine and the flowers in the Gardens seemed to invite sunshine. Indeed, the land' scape beauty of the Gardens decided us and here we are, commuters and contented. Robert C. Adams After spending several years as a "cliff dweller" in New York apartments I decided that I w^anted to stop existing and live instead. Quick communication with the City was a necessity and after a careful investigation of all the developments I de' cided that Forest Hills Gardens exactly met my requirements, and I have not been disappointed. E. VanWagenen Mrs. Merwin and I choose to live in Forest Hills Gardens because, thanks to the astonishingly swift train service, it keeps our children in the country and ourselves in town. Samuel Merwin Mrs. Stowe and I selected Forest Hills Gardens as our place of residence because we regarded it, all things considered, as the most attractive and satisfactory location available to us within easy access to the City. We are now sure we were right. Lyman Beecher Stowe Forest Hills Gardens was my choice for home building be- cause it is near enough to the country to permit amateur gardening, and close enough to the city for business, shopping and amusements, also permanent and constantly increasing realty values. Lillian Dynevor Rice To live in Forest Hills now is to be one of the creators of a town. Here the adventure of coloni2;ing is freed of its ancient hardships. We are pilgrim Fathers and Mothers, etc., and we raise our own May flowers. No rooster wakes us in the early morn — we do our own crowing. Robert J. Cole Our small daughter, though not talkative at ten months, per' suaded us to invest her future in Forest Hills Gardens. We found interest coming in at once in health, m mental and phy- sical elbow room, in helpful association with pleasant folk. And all without that ghastly rebate the average commuter is forced to pay in "suburbani2;ation." Ralph E. Renaud I came to Forest Hills Gardens, after visiting pradtically all the regulation "suburban developments" around New York, be- cause from the first Forest Hills promised to be something genuine — a really model town, beautiful indoors and out, an oasis of woods and quiet and recreation within a few minutes of the center of the city, a place in a hundred ways attractive to bright and thinking people, and certain to be made doubly attractive by them. It is all of that now, and can only become more charming in the future. Arthur E. McFarlane THE TAYLOR HOUSE I came to Forest Hills Gardens in search of the ideal and found it — all the advantages of suburban life without its disadvantages; only fifteen minutes to the shopping and theatrical distrid: of New York by clean elediric trains, and forty minutes by trolley with five cent fare; a short ride to one of the finest beaches on the coast; w^ell paved and kept streets, fine tennis courts and many other attracftions, and a future. Frederic B. Angell Rent paying and living like impersonal sardines stifled us and the clatter of the city wearied us. Dealing with a concern as reliable as the Government, all those ideas about curving streets and double sewers, open spaces and flowers, hollow^ tile and red tile, fourteen minutes to tow^n, struck a joyously responsive chord. That is the "why" we came to Forest Hills Gardens and the "how^" of it is just as pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond P. Kaighn A GARDEN ON GREENWAY TERRACE I came to Forest Hills Gardens in search of something differ- ent from the usual suburban development hoping to iind a well built, artistic house at a reasonable price, with plenty of open breathing space, in park'like surroundings. I w^anted an accessible community of intelligent and companionable people. I found them here. Edward N. Emerson The advertisements of the Sage Foundation Homes Company seemed to me to indicate its intention to establish a commu' nity combining all the advantages of the quiet country village with those of New York City. The personnel of the Com- pany's officers was proof that a sincere and effectual effort would be made to carry out that intention. William B. Davis I wanted a home near the green earth among knowable neigh' bors and likable children. I wanted quietness, a modest but tasteful house, freedom from the janitor, and relief from sub' way and elevated. I wanted these things near Broadway, and I found them here. Clarence Arthur Perry I chose Forest Hills Gardens for my home because, first — I preferred a home invest' ment to an apartment outlay. Second — equally convenient access to office,shops,theaters as compared with an apart' ment together with an easier mode of travel. Third — the name Sage seemed a guaran' tee that promise was equiva' lent to performance. Robert Anderson Pope THE R. A. POPE HOUSE Fifteen minutes in electric trains to tow^n; our station and its inviting approaches; the well paved streets and en- gaging street layout of the Gardens; the open country; the congenial people; the coolness in summer and the healthfulness ; and the beauty of the Pennsylvania Station. Mr. fe? Mrs. Harold Martin DOORWAY OF THE MARTIN HOUSE ^a^ THE CHURCH IN THE GARDENS From the Architect's drawings The Church in the Gardens building, of Norman Gothic architecture, costing nearly $50,000, is the gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, the ground being purchased by the residents. The Church in the Gardens is Congregational in govern' ment and affiliation, as suitable to the purposes of a union church. The Pastor is the Rev. Robert J. Kent, D. D. Pastor Emeritus of the Lewis Avenue, in Brooklyn. I came to Forest Hills Gardens to be the leader and pastor of a Community Church. In order to be right on the job I purchased a house and became identified with the interests of the community. Now I want to stay here the rest of my life because I like the place, I like my house and I like the people. Robert J. Kent, D. D. GREENWAY TERRACE ON THE 4TH OF JULY Why we came to Forest Hills Gardens: ist, Accessibility to New York. 2nd, Full value for money invested. 3rd, Mini' mum chance of depreciation in value — excellent chance in' creased asset, money invested. 4th, Terms and conditions, limitations and restrictions, Sage Foundation Homes Co. 5th, Principally, confidence and knowledge of a really square deal by Mr. Demarest, General Manager, Sage Foundation Homes Co. 6th, Proof — built and occupy second house, little over two years. Austin K. Hanks Why we selected Forest Hills Gardens for our home: Near' ness to New York, nearness to Long Beach, paved streets, sewers, wise residential restrictions, an attractive community close to Forest Park with fresh air for children. Why we are glad we came is a longer story. Ernest M. Bristol GREENWAY TERRACE ON THE 4TH OF JULY Why? Because you can build an attractive house without a pseudo'Swiss chalet-bungalow on one side of you, w^hile a retired bar-keep on the other side puts up a Swedish'Renais' sance cottage with a Greco'Roman pergola and a catch-as catch'can roof. Because you can get out from town in time to play several sets of tennis at the largest and best Club in the country, and still get home in time for dinner. Because you do not need to have aHarlem dinner (i.e. stop at the salad course) every time you go to the theater. Because they don't make a road and then tear it up to lay pipes. It is planned right, built from the bottom up. Because they don't have a $50,000 sales office and a lo cent development. And one look at that Fourth of July celebration last year w^ould have brought me out to stay. And fifteen minutes to the Pennsyl' vania Station ! Warren An earnest desire to find an all'year 'round home near New York for our children led us to investigate Forest Hills Gar' dens. We were delighted with what we found and have be' come more pleased as the months have gone by, thanks to the Company's restrictions which have given us a commu' nity of delightful houses and neighbors. GuYON L. C. Earle My reasons for coming to Forest Hills Gardens are; ist, Dc sire for a home outside of New York City proper. 2nd, Close proximity to town (nearer than any other high class devel- opment). 3rd, Character of residents. 4th, Excellent electric train service. 5th, Artistic development of Forest Hills Gar- dens. 6th, Tennis on good courts. S. E. Davenport Jr. TEA GARDEN AT THE INN GROUP 33. From the Architect's plans One hundred and forty-two acres in the first tract bought in 1909. 32 acres in the second tract where the Gardens Club is located. 31 acres in the third tract, 10 acres of which are now owned by the West Side Tennis Club. TRACT ONE, I9IO to I914 142 acres divided as follows: 2,000 lots 6 I '4 miles streets Parks 92 acres 45 acres 5 acres 142 acres DEVELOPMENT COSTS GRADING STREETS $ 80,000 PAVING 200,000 WATERMAINS 70,000 SANITARY SEWERS 40,000 STORM DRAINS 62,000 CURBS 73,000 GAS 68,000 CONDUITS 70,000 SIDEWALKS 66,000 PARKING PLACES Decorative features : 90,000 LAMP POSTS FOUNTAINS • 100,000 POOLS, PARKS J THIS Booklet, the spontaneous expression by the villagers of their local satisfaction, has been arranged by Frederic W. GouDY at the suggestion and ^vith the co-operation of Will Phillip Hooper. Decorations and types designed by Mr. GouDY and set by Bertha M. Goudy at the Village Press, Forest Hills Gardens, New York, in April, 191 5. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 002 656 459 1 Hollinger pH 8.5 Mill Run F3..1719