Just as we were beginning to see the light of day from the depression, world events were starting to rain on everyones parade. But Walter Turnbull Shirley, veteran of the Great War To End All Wars & The Lost Battalion, brought his own umbrella! His BIG ideas ....

 

 

and the biggest idea he may of had was just one word

ACREAGE

However WAR had caused him to make some adjustments

ONE HOUR & SEVEN MINUTES FROM PENN STATION!
TERMS FOR ALL !!!!

If you were a "desirable family" you could secure your acerage for 5.00 down & 50 cents a week till you reached the grand downpayment of $49.00.

 

By 1942 even with the World War II raging and no sure outcome, Shirley sold out his initial Vanderbilt purchase and went back for more land. This time he had a little more capital to play with.

 

VACATION HOMESITES INC.

Let A Smile & 50 G Be Your Umbrella Co.

&

offer the good people this

"ALMOST"

as a gift!

 

 

 

QUICK SALES & SMALL PROFITS

Instead of calling them lots like other developers did. W. T. called them Acres even though they were mostly quarter acres (5, 20'x100' foot lots packed together) I mean most average city dwellers (his target audience) thought of lots as a small empty fields no one really wanted . Good for a pickup game of baseball or tossing out an old sofa. And the idea of selling them as "wholesale acerage" to the end consumer was probably all his and really stretching it..... if you thought about it. But this was a guy who could sell almost anything other than Irving's tune "Smile & Show Your Dimples"

 

 

 

 

GOING LIKE HOTCAKES!!!!!

 

And around this time just a few miles away in Mastic, another transaction occured that most likely caught Shirley's eye. It would eventualy turn him into the

"Acerage King"

 

THE DAWSON PURCHASE OF THE AUGUSTUS FLOYD ESTATE

May 4, 1942

Dr. Rolfe Floyd who died suddenly in the 1930's was the son of Emma Rolfe Cooper & Augustus Floyd

Once again the breakup of an estate is a key part in the Mastic areas development

Notice the part about 52 acres of the Poospatuck Indian Reservation being included in the deal!

Like The Greatful Dead would sing:

TROUBLE AHEAD, TROUBLE BEHIND!

 

NEXT HELLO
MASTIC ACRES