Annual Reports 189 



and it was his initial offer that led to other similar ones immediately after, 

 including the promise of Mr. William G. Willcox to duplicate any amount that 

 might be raised up to $6,000. 



Among the many miscellaneous items of interest in connection wath the 

 cottage the following are deemed worthy of record. 



1. Application was made to the Department of Taxes and Assessments for 

 relief from taxation, inasmuch as the cottage would not be used as a source of 

 income tor the Association and would be developed into an annex to the main 

 museum, to which the public would have access under suitable terms of ad- 

 mission. Alter delay incidental to correspondence and investigation by the 

 Department, a communication was received in the early part of the present 

 year granting exemption from real estate taxation after April 30, thus obviating 

 an expense of about $70 per annum in the future. At about the same time, 

 however, a communication was received from the Department of Water 

 Supply, Gas, and Electricity denying our application for exemption from 

 payment of water tax. 



2. In order to indicate that the cottage is in fact a public museum a 

 small sign designed by the committee was painted by the custodian and at- 

 tached to the outer wall close to the front door. I reads as follows: 



Brixton Cottage Colonial Museum 



Staten Island Association 



of 



Arts and Sciences 



Admission 25 cts. 



3. At the August [1915] meeting of the Ocean Edge Branch of the Staten 

 Island Civic League Dr. Arthur Hollick was present by invitation and made an 

 address explaining the aims of the Association in connection with the property' 

 and soliciting the cooperation of the residents in making it an attractive 

 neighborhood feature. 



4. Shortly after taking possession it was noticed that a frame structure had 

 been erected on the four-foot right of way from New Dorp Lane to Neptune 

 Street, along the southeast boundary of the property. Examination of the 

 map of the Ocean Edge Land Company and of the city tax map showed this to 

 be a permanent public thoroughfare, which prohibited encroachment by adjoin- 

 ing property owners. A letter was written to the representative of the land 

 company, setting forth the facts, and the structure was subsequently re- 

 moved without recourse to legal procedure. 



5. In connection with the general planning and planting of the grounds 

 one of the seedling Bartram oak trees from the museum garden was transferred 

 and planted near the Cedar Grove Avenue border of the property, where it 

 is apparently flourishing and, barring some unforeseen accident, will consti- 

 tute one of the most interesting and unique features of the grounds in the 

 future. A descriptive note in this connection was printed in the Bulletin 

 tor July 191.=;. 



