Caspar Samler farm facts for kids
The Caspar Samler farm was a large area of land in what is now the Koreatown part of Manhattan, New York City. It covered most of Fifth Avenue from Madison Square up to 31st Street.
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History of the Caspar Samler Farm
This land, which later included parts of Park Avenue, was once a large farm. Caspar Samler bought this land in different parts between 1780 and 1799. He paid $12,100 for a total of 37 acres (15 ha)s. An area now known as Madison Square Garden was also part of his farm. He bought it in 1780 for $2,250. Maps from 1807 show that there were three different Samler houses on the property.
Caspar Samler's Family and Land
Caspar Samler had several children and a stepdaughter named Margaret Grenzeback. He passed away in 1810. His daughter Barbara died in 1816 without having any children. According to Caspar's will, the land meant for Barbara's children then went to his other surviving children or grandchildren. There was a legal discussion about whether his stepdaughter's children should also get a share of the land.
Famous Buildings on the Old Farm Land
Over time, many well-known buildings were built on what used to be the Caspar Samler farm.
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One was the Brunswick Hotel, located at 26th Street. It was famous as the main spot for the New York Coaching Club. Another was the Hotel Victoria, at 27th Street. Even President Grover Cleveland stayed there sometimes. This hotel was later torn down to build a 20-story business building. The Marble Collegiate Church at 29th Street and the Holland House at 30th Street also stand on land that was once part of the Samler farm.
The Astor Family and the Waldorf-Astoria
North of Caspar Samler's farm, another large piece of land was bought by John Thompson in 1799. This land stretched along Fifth Avenue from 32nd to almost 36th Streets. In 1827, William Backhouse Astor, Sr. bought half of this land for $20,500. He built a simple red brick house at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. His relative, John Jacob Astor, built a home nearby at 33rd Street.
Later, the famous Waldorf Hotel opened in 1893 on the site of John Jacob Astor's house. The Astoria Hotel opened in 1897 where William Backhouse Astor's house had been. These two hotels joined together and became known as the Waldorf-Astoria. This grand hotel was torn down in 1929 to make way for the construction of the Empire State Building.
