388 The Story of The Bronx 



lavish hospitality; and the generation of bon vivants just 

 passed away were frequent guests at its generous board. With 

 the Civil War and the downfall of slavery, cotton ceased to 

 be king, and the place was closed by its impoverished owner, 

 and given over to nature. The dilapidated appearance of 

 the house, and the tangled masses of weeds in the extensive 

 grounds which had been planted with fine trees and plants of 

 all kinds and lavishly cared for, gained for it the name of 

 "Whitlock's Folly." 



After the death of Mr. Whitlock, it was transferred by deed 

 from his widow to Innocencio Casanova, a Cuban patriot, 

 under date of November I, 1867, for a consideration of 

 $150,000. The first struggle for Cuban independence was 

 then in progress, and the house became a rendezvous for the 

 supporters of "Cuba Libre." It is stated that its great cel- 

 lars became storehouses for powder, rifles, and other munitions 

 of war, which were smuggled aboard the vessels which stole 

 in and out of the creeks contiguous to the house, and which 

 sailed away on secret, filibustering expeditions to the "Ever 

 Faithful Isle." It is also said that the ill-fated Virginius 

 took on board her unfortunate crew here. With the downfall 

 of the rebellion, the visits of the dark-skinned, mysterious- 

 looking men ceased, and the house was deserted ; while whispers 

 of murdered Spanish spies and of ghosts and strange and un- 

 accountable noises in the vacant house filled the neighborhood. 



On October 2, 1885, the property came into the hands of a 

 Mr. Cheseborough, and three years later, into those of Fred- 

 erick Beck, the consideration being $200,000. It then went 

 into the hands of an agent of the East Bay Land and Improve- 

 ment Company, May 10, 1890. The same company acquired 

 in that year 314 acres of land, including Hunt's and Barretto's 

 points and other land in the vicinity. It is interesting to 



