Harry Payne Bingham to Charles Osberg correspondence
1924 - 1935
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Oliver Payne willed the Esopus estate to Harry Payne Bingham in 1917. Bingham
owned the estate until 1933, when he donated it to the Protestant Episcopal
Mission Society of New York City.
Charles Osberg came to the estate in 1912 and was still handling the electrical
and engineering problems at the time of the transfer. He remained on the estate
until it was sold in 1942 to the Marist Brothers.
These letters give some insight into the reasons for the donation by Bingham.
Bingham to Osberg
fragment 1924
Bingham to Charles Osberg
11 FebruarY. 1927
Bingham to Charles Osberg
21 October 1932
Bingham to Charles Osberg
7 FebruarY. 1933
Bingham to Charles Osberg
20 FebruarY. 1934
Bingham to Charles Osberg
9 AQril 1935
Bingham to Osberg snippet 1924
This is the remnant of a sympathy note sent to Charles Osberg on the occasion
of the death of his youngest son Charles (1920-1924). Oscar the older son
(1918-1924) died shortly afterward. Both died of scarlet fever. Martin Nilan is
listed as a watchman on the Bingham estate in the 1920 census. He lives on the
estate with his wife Mary and son Martin.
Dear Osberg:
Nilan has just written me of your great sorrow in losing your
youngest boy from scarlet fever, and I want to assure of








Mrs. Bingham's and my sympathy for you and Mrs. Osberg.
I understand also from Nilan that you
other boy is also ill. If the physician
you are having feels it necessary to
have a consultant in, the expense of
which you might not feel able to
favour, please get whoever your
doctor advises and send me the bill,.
Again assuring you of our great sympathy, and hoping that
you will allow me to assist you in the case of your other boy
if I can do anything, I remain
Very truly yours,
(signed)
Harry Payne Bingham
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Bingham to Charles Osberg 11 February 1927
Lathrop P Weaver is listed in the 1920 census as the head engineer on the
Bingham estate, where he lives with his wife Emma. He is listed as a building
engineer in Brooklyn in the 1910 census. His widow, Emma, is listed as a shirt
maker in Albany NY in the 1930 census.
HARRY PAYNE BINGHAM
32 BROADWAY
Dear Osberg:
I have learned this morning of Mr. Weaver's death. It comes
as a great shock to me although I had anticipated its
happening for sometime as his condition last Fall when I saw
him was, to say the least, dangerous.















I know you have been doing all the
work for some time and hope you will
continue to live there and do the
necessary things in your line. Because
of the increased responsibility which
you are assuming and in consideration
of the fine work you are doing, I am
taking great pleasure in increasing
your salary to $125.00 a month, with
the assurance that if everything goes
along as it has in the past, I will again
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increase it to the salary Mr. Weaver has been getting on
January 1st next.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Harry Payne Bingham
HPB/shs
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Bingham to Charles Osberg 21 October 1932
Except for the masthead, the following letter was handwritten by Mr. Bingham
himself.
Dear Osberg,
THE HOMESTEAD
HOT SPRINGS
VIRGINIA
I did not answer your first letter as there was nothing
definite to say and there isn't now.
























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As you know I have for years been
trying to sell West Park without
success. Because of the heavy taxes,
and bad business I am now trying
really hard to get rid of it and
undoubtedly will in the next few
months find someone to take.
If an individual buys it probably he
would give you a job on the place. If a
??? gets it, it is more than likely that
they would not keep you on. You will
hear more as anything develops.
In the meantime you better keep looking around in case the
worst happens. You may rest assured that I will not turn you
loose without giving you some help for the immediate
future.
I would advise against your trying in N.Y. for a job.
Conditions there are almost hopeless. I will send you a
recommendation as soon as I return to N.Y. area next???
Harry Payne Bingham
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Bingham to Charles Osberg 7 February 1933
COTTON HALL PLANTATION
Mr. Charles Osberg
Ulster County
HARRY PAYNE BINGHAM
Tennessee, S. C.
February 7, 1933




Esopus
New York
Dear Osberg:
You will have heard by this time that I
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have given West Park to the Episcopal
Church. This has become necessary
for me to do due to the depression
and the heavy taxes. I have written
the people to ask them when it will be
necessary for you to vacate your
house and will let you know as soon
as I hear but I do not think it will be
before May. I have told them that it
would be foolish of them not to keep
you for quite sometime as you are
thoroughly familiar with all the
electrical and mechanical details of the place. They are
inclined to agree with me so that I think probably they will
keep you for sometime - certainly until Mrs. Osberg has
again regained her strength.
In your last letter you spoke of the possibility of your
coming to New York to try to find a job there. I should think
this would be inadvisable as there is probably no place in the
country at the present time where there is so much
unemployment in all trades.
I will give you to take with you all of your furniture and
whatever tools, etc., you can use, which are not screwed
down. I will continue your present salary for a year from
March 1st inclusive. At the expiration of that period we will
discuss this matter again.





I am more than sorry that conditions have made it
necessary for me to get rid of the place and sincerely hope
that you can relocate yourself happily.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Harry Payne Bingham
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Bingham to Charles Osberg 20 February 1934
HARRY PAYNE BINGHAM
Mr. Charles Osberg
Esopus, N.Y.
Dear Osberg:
"1111:11•
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39 BROADWAY
Referring to my letter to you of
February 7, 1933, in which I said I
would continue your then salary for
another year, I want to say that I
would like to send you a monthly
cheque of $62.50 for the next year as
a help to you and an appreciation of
your interest in my behalf while you
were working for me.
I hope your family is well and that you have not been
entirely frozen up during the past cold winter.
With best regards,






Very truly yours,
(signed)
Harry Payne Bingham
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Bingham to Charles Osberg 9 April 1935
HARRY PAYNE BINGHAM
39 BROADWAY
Dear Osberg:
Just a line to thank you for your very nice letter of April 8th.
No one can regret more than I the reasons making it
impossible for me to continue to own
.... ·-- _
West Park. I have been delighted that
you were able to continue on at the
place with the Mission, and of course
while it will not net you as much
money, anyone today who has a steady
job is fortunate.Let us hope that times
will change and the uncertainties will
be removed.
Please give my best regards to Mrs.
Osberg.
Very truly yours,
(signed)
Harry Payne Bingham
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