http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

19 January 2020

COOGAN story 

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appearing in "New York Times" (23 JAN 1889):

NO LONGER COOGAN AVENUE

The thoroughfare just west of Eighth-avenue and running from 
Edgecomb-avenue to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth-street used to be
known as Coogan-avenue.  James J. Coogan has large real estate
interests in its vicinity.  The day after election, Mr. Coogan
not having got within earshot of the Mayoralty, some ill-disposed
persons went through the avenue and tore down all the signs 
bearing his name.

It was then discovered that the name had never been authoritatively
conferred on the street.  On motion of Alderman Carlin yesterday
the Board of Aldermen christened it Bradhurst-avenue.

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appearing in "My Forefathers: Their History From Records and
Traditions" (A. M. Bradhurst, 1910, PAGE 363):

[near top of page (titled "VALE!") ...destruction of Pinehurst.]

The old Colonial house, changed almost beyond recognition, was for
a time a suburban hotel, and now it is no more.  One of the streets
opened through the estate was at first called "Coogan Avenue" by
the authorities, through the influence of a person of that name,
who pretended to be the representative of General Maunsell, who, it
was stated, was the original owner of the property, having received
a grant of it from the Duke of York!  The Duke of York became James
II. of England, and died in 1701, and General Maunsell was not born
until after that date!  Neither is there any of the name "Coogan"
among the relatives of General Maunsell in Ireland, nor among those
of his wife in America.  The residents and owners of property in
the new "Avenue" were indignant.  They protested, and petitioned
that its name should be altered to "Bradhurst Avenue," partly in
honour of John Maunsell Bradhurst, and no less in honour of his son,
Henry Maunsell Bradhurst; because the latter, after selling the
sites which it was supposed would have frontage on this street,
having found that, by a deviation of the original plan, he was still
possessed of a long strip depriving them of frontage, presented it
to the purchasers by Deed of Gift, thus fulfilling the spirit of
his sale to them.  This strip of land, depriving those lots of free
access to the new avenue, would be of considerable value.  Altough
Bradhurst Avenue thus owes its name to the generosity of Henry
Maunsell Bradhurst, it is generally supposed to have been named
solely after his father.

[continues...]

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