John Jacob Astor (1763-1848) was one of the richest men in the world in 1829. That year, he chose to build his “Villa,” as the Astor home was called, at the southwest corner of Second and Washington streets in Hoboken. This was where he would spend his time away from crowded New York City.
Born in Waldorf, Germany, Astor came to New York when he was 20. At first, he lived in Staten Island, where at the age of 21 he started a ferry service, transporting people from Manhattan to Staten Island in a small rowboat. Soon he bought a larger boat, and eventually ferry boats.
By the age of 30, Astor owned a fleet of ships and had gotten into the fur trading business. With the profits from his fur and shipping businesses, Astor went into real estate. He bought as much of Manhattan Island as he could, joking that if he could be born again, he would buy all of Manhattan.
Astor knew a good investment when he saw it. He had heard about a place across the Hudson River with shade trees, gardens, open fields, cool breezes and some ale houses – a place where New Yorkers could get away from the city in their leisure time. Before Newport, R.I. became famous, Hoboken was the playground of the rich and famous.
Astor’s Villa at Second and Washington had a large garden with flowers and shrubs that he brought to Hoboken from all parts of the world. From his mansion he had an unobstructed view of the Hudson River and of his ships coming into port and leaving.
Famed guests
Many famous people came to visit Astor in Hoboken. Among them were Martin Van Buren, a future President of the United States, and John Beekman, who has a Manhattan street named after him. Among the many writers and poets who visited Astor at his Villa were Edgar Allen Poe, whose story “The Mystery of Marie Roget” was based on a murder that occurred in Hoboken, and Washington Irving.
One of Astor’s favorite Hoboken spots was the 76 House, a tavern that stood at the corner of what are now Newark and Hudson streets. The 76 House had a large green out front, with a view of the Hudson River to the east, and of the River Walk to the north. Astor and his guests would often sit there to enjoy the view and the local brew while they talked business. Sometimes they would go to Sybil’s Cave on the River Walk for a penny glass of mineral water.
When Astor, who called himself “The Commodore,” decided to build New York City’s first luxury hotel, he tore down his Manhattan home to erect the Astor House Hotel. Astor lived in his Hoboken Villa full time while the hotel was under construction, moving back to New York for only nine months before he died in 1848.
Editor’s note: A full version of this column was originally printed in Hoboken History Issue No. 18, published by the Hoboken Historical Museum. Please visit the museum at 1301 Hudson St. for more information.