Arthur W. Benson
Arthur W. Benson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age |
| Died | 1889 |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, land developer |
| Known for | President of Brooklyn Gas Light; development of Bensonhurst and Montauk suburbs |
Arthur W. Benson (circa 1798–1889) served as the president of Brooklyn Gas Light and played a pivotal role in developing the New York City suburbs known as Bensonhurst and Montauk.
In 1823, Benson established Brooklyn Gas Light at a time when Brooklyn's population was approximately 9,000. Beginning in 1835, he acquired farmland previously owned by the Polhemuses family and, over the period from 1830 to 1850, divided this land into parcels to form the residential area now called Bensonhurst.[1]
Benson was one of nine financiers involved in the Brooklyn Bridge project in 1869, with the initial organization meetings conducted at the Brooklyn Gas Light offices.[2]
In an 1879 auction, Benson acquired government-owned land encompassing Indian Field near Montauk for $151,000. This land was held in trust for the Montaukett tribe. To secure clear ownership, he purchased plots from individual tribe members at $10 each; however, one tribal member’s residence was set ablaze, and the validity of these purchases has been subject to legal dispute. This land acquisition facilitated Austin Corbin’s extension of the Long Island Rail Road to Montauk, with service commencing on December 17, 1895.[3]
Benson aimed to develop Montauk into an upscale retreat catering to wealthy patrons. The prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White, led by Stanford White, designed seven residences within Montauk’s Ditch Plains neighborhood. Additionally, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted along with his sons crafted plans for a private park system in the area. Among these estates was Tick Hall, once owned by television host Dick Cavett, which suffered destruction due to fire in 1997; its subsequent restoration was featured on Public Television.
See also
External links
- ↑ BROOKLYN'S LARGE ESTATES: What Has Become of the Old Farm Lands of the City of Brooklyn?
- ↑ McCullough, D. G., The Great Bridge (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1972).
- ↑ Vincent Seyfried. "The Cannonball and the Long Island Rail Road".