Angst in August, 1946: Will new UN headquarters be sited in Lewisboro?

By Maureen Koehl

If we haven’t had enough proposals to give pause to Lewisboro residents recently with the discussion of the development of the Reynolds Cross River property and the Vista Park-St. Luke proposal, harken back 80 Augusts to the plan to commandeer Westchester sites for the headquarters of the newly formed United Nations. 

A copy of the Lewisboro Chronicle in my files, dated August 9, 1946, showed proposed sites with a map detailing two possibilities, 40-C, a 40-square-mile area and 20C, a 20-square-mile area. 

Our sleepy little post-war community was on a list of 15 sites proposed by the United Nations Organization site selection committee. 

The area, known as 40-C was described: “Starting at the intersection of Route 123 at the New York-Connecticut state line, thence southwest along the line to the east bank of the Mianus Gorge; thence north along the east bank of the Mianus Gorge to the intersection of Ridge Road and River Road; thence northerly along Ridge Road to its intersection with Poundridge Road; thence northerly west of Indian Hill along Kingdom Road to its intersection with Route 121; thence north along 121 to its intersection with Route 35; thence east along Route 35 to its intersection with Route 33; thence southerly along Route 33 to Hendersons Road; thence southwest to the corner intersection of the New York-Connecticut state line to the starting point.” (A circle from Copia’s Nursery to the Horse & Hound to what is now Cross River Shell to the fountain  in Ridgefield and back to Vista.)

A vast site

The 7,210 acres in Lewisboro included the entire hamlets of Vista and Lewisboro and land in Cross River and South Salem; 991 taxable parcels, 360 residences and 687 building lots. The assessed valuation of the territory in site 40-C was: $1,747,000 for land; $1,446, 750 improvements. The 1940 Census listed 302 families with a total of 900–1,000 persons who stood to be displaced if the land was taken by the United Nations. The town’s population was almost 3,000. 

By July 1946, sites including seven in Westchester and three in Fairfield County were proposed.

Meanwhile, debates were happening in the U.N.O. London headquarters regarding sites in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston. 

The committee trudged on exploring northern Westchester and Fairfield County, aware of citizens’ resentment at possibly being forced off their land and out of their homes, not to mention the loss of area country clubs, the Westchester Airport in Armonk, and the estates of many of the area’s wealthiest landowners.   

Westchester County Executive Herbert C. Gerlach favored a Westchester plan. He perceived the project as the biggest thing that ever happened to Westchester despite the potential loss of tax revenue. Members of the Board of Supervisors did not. In those days, each town supervisor sat on the county legislative body, unlike nowadays. 

Lewisboro Town Supervisor Hugh S. Coyle sent a telegram to U.N. Secretary General Trygve Lie: “On behalf of the Town of Lewisboro … and with approval of its Town Board I protest selection of area for UNO world capital …” 

A committee in opposition

A Citizens Committee was formed in April 1946 and a poll was taken. Results showed that 383 families were opposed; 51 were in favor of deeding over their land to the new peace organization. 

In August 1946, the town sent a questionnaire from the UNO Commission to all property owners and residents in the affected area: “1. What would be your reaction if U.N. were established in the area in which you are residing? 2. Number of persons living in your home? 3. Place of employment. 4. In case the final decision would locate the U.N. in the area in which you are living: Will you oppose the taking of your property? Will you voluntarily sell your property for whatever you can get?”

Approximately 200 questionnaires were returned from the 300 families living in the area targeted. Results: 28 were neutral; 26 favorable; 146 opposed.

Col. Alexander Piper of Route 124 said he was in favor “if subject to at least one year’s notice to vacate.”

Charles Richmond of Lake Kitchawan suggested that the U.N. buy the properties and give the owner a 99-year lease with $1/year renewal privileges.

The “no’s” predominated, however. 

“No. I have built my home with the idea of living here the rest of my life,” said Leo Gustavson, a World War II veteran. 

George Tator of South Salem said, “My family will live according to my suggestions and not by the U.N. We are satisfied to live as Americans should live and do not believe Europe should be permitted to dictate to us. Voluntarily sell? Absolutely not!”

Stanley Reynolds of Lewisboro said, “I would be willing to stay in my home if given permission by the U.N. because there would be no other place to go.”

R. Curt and Mildred Hasenclever of Lewisboro said, “What other choice would we have, but to stay? Where, in these times, would it be possible to find a home?”

Mrs. Martha R. Coleman of West Street offered another solution. “It seems to me that the Pound Ridge Reservation and other unoccupied land in the neighborhood should be sufficient without taking our homes…”

The Aug. 16, 1946, Lewisboro Chronicle headline read: “Lewisboro, Pound Ridge Not Included in Selections – Worries Now Over.”

Supervisor Coyle stated: “I’m glad to hear the news, for now it will give the minds of many of our people some rest.”

To bring a very long story to a swift conclusion, a Rockefeller was needed. 

Rockefellers weigh in

By December 1946, the site selection committee was still undecided. President Harry Truman favored Philadelphia. Nelson A. Rockefeller had been appointed by New York Mayor William O’Dwyer to the committee to convince the site selection committee to select a Manhattan site. 

When he heard of Truman’s preference, he called his father, John D. Rockefeller Jr., who offered the U.N. the Rockefeller estate at Pocantico Hills, plus 1,000 additional contiguous acres, or $8.5 million to buy a piece of real estate that had just come on the market bordering the East River. William Zeckendorf had the option to buy the property to build a “dream city.” With a little Rockefeller money, it could be theirs. Within a week, the question of the site for the U.N. permanent headquarters was settled and we all know the rest of the story.

Maureeen Koehl is the Lewisboro town historian.