George W. Loft
Encyclopedia
George William Loft was an American businessman, politician, real estate developer, and owner/breeder of Thoroughbred
racehorses
.
Born in New York City
, Loft attended the public schools. He gained considerable wealth in the candy
manufacturing business and expanded into retailing, banking, and real estate.
His first wife, Elizabeth M. Loft, died in 1910 http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A04EFDC1530E233A25752C1A9639C946196D6CF. Loft remarried in 1911 to Julia McMahon whom he met when she was a sales
clerk working at his store at 54 Barclay Street in New York. The couple made their home in Baldwin, New York
on Long Island
. On May 12, 1921, Julia Loft was appointed an honorary Deputy Police Commissioner for the City of New York
and announced she would be active in her position and would fulfill her duties on a full-time basis. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F00E4D91E3FEE3ABC4B52DFB366838A639EDE
A member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
, Loft was elected as a Democrat
to the Sixty-third
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Timothy D. Sullivan. He was reelected in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth
Congress and served from November 4, 1913, to March 3, 1917. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1916.
In 1923, the City of New York honored him by naming one of its ferry
boats the "George W. Loft."
He formed George W. Loft Markets Inc. as a retail store operator and George W. Loft Realty Company to handle all real estate transactions, primarily for leasing retail space. In 1938 Loft sub-divided forty acres of his Estate at Baldwin, Long Island, erecting twelve luxury homes.
In 1927 George Loft founded the Emerald National Bank & Trust Co. in a building he owned at Seventh Avenue
and 33rd Street in Manhattan
.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,723012,00.html http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B1FF93B5D17738DDDAC0A94DB405B878EF1D3 In 1929 he founded the South Shore Trust Co. in Rockville Centre, New York
, and served as president until his death. Following his death, Frank W. Breitbach was elected to succeed George W. Loft as president of the South Shore Trust Company.
horse racing
. His stable of horses in flat racing
were trained by future U.S. racing Hall of Fame
trainer
, Max Hirsch
.
Loft owned a number of quality racehorses including the very good colt
, Papp. In 1917 Papp won the most important race for two-year-olds, the Belmont Futurity Stakes and that same year his filly, Julialeon, won the 1917 Stuyvesant Handicap
at Jamaica Racetrack
. In 1920, he purchased Tippity Witchet
, a gelding
who raced through age fourteen and after being sold would later retire with seventy-eight wins, fourth all-time among American horses. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E07EFD61E3CEE3ABC4952DFBF66838B639EDE In 1925, Loft won the prestigious Manhattan Handicap
with the gelding, Pepp. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F15FA355C17738DDDAB0894D1405B858EF1D3 In steeplechase
racing, his horse Sweepment was the 1921 the Champion timber-topper.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9903E3D71E3CE533A2575AC2A9629C946395D6CF
George W. Loft died in Baldwin, New York, November 6, 1943 and was interred in St. Raymond's Cemetery
in The Bronx
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Loft attended the public schools. He gained considerable wealth in the candy
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
manufacturing business and expanded into retailing, banking, and real estate.
His first wife, Elizabeth M. Loft, died in 1910 http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A04EFDC1530E233A25752C1A9639C946196D6CF. Loft remarried in 1911 to Julia McMahon whom he met when she was a sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
clerk working at his store at 54 Barclay Street in New York. The couple made their home in Baldwin, New York
Baldwin, New York
Baldwin is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Baldwin, Chemung County, New York *Baldwin, Nassau County, New York...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. On May 12, 1921, Julia Loft was appointed an honorary Deputy Police Commissioner for the City of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and announced she would be active in her position and would fulfill her duties on a full-time basis. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F00E4D91E3FEE3ABC4B52DFB366838A639EDE
A member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Loft was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Sixty-third
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Timothy D. Sullivan. He was reelected in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth
64th United States Congress
The Sixty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
Congress and served from November 4, 1913, to March 3, 1917. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1916.
In 1923, the City of New York honored him by naming one of its ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
boats the "George W. Loft."
He formed George W. Loft Markets Inc. as a retail store operator and George W. Loft Realty Company to handle all real estate transactions, primarily for leasing retail space. In 1938 Loft sub-divided forty acres of his Estate at Baldwin, Long Island, erecting twelve luxury homes.
In 1927 George Loft founded the Emerald National Bank & Trust Co. in a building he owned at Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
and 33rd Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,723012,00.html http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B1FF93B5D17738DDDAC0A94DB405B878EF1D3 In 1929 he founded the South Shore Trust Co. in Rockville Centre, New York
Rockville Centre, New York
Rockville Centre is a village located in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 24,023. The town is made up of middle to upper middle class residents, most of the wealthier residents residing on the north side of town near the...
, and served as president until his death. Following his death, Frank W. Breitbach was elected to succeed George W. Loft as president of the South Shore Trust Company.
Thoroughbred racing
Beginning around 1915 Loft became involved in the sport of ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. His stable of horses in flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
were trained by future U.S. racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch
Maximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
.
Loft owned a number of quality racehorses including the very good colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, Papp. In 1917 Papp won the most important race for two-year-olds, the Belmont Futurity Stakes and that same year his filly, Julialeon, won the 1917 Stuyvesant Handicap
Stuyvesant Handicap
The Stuyvesant Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race held in the fall of the year at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. A Grade III event, it is set over nine furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds and up...
at Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Race Course was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, New York. The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featured the inaugural running of the Excelsior Handicap. Eugene D. Wood, one of the founders and largest...
. In 1920, he purchased Tippity Witchet
Tippity Witchet
Tippity Witchet was a son of the great sire Broomstick who was the son of the legendary Ben Brush. His dam was a daughter of St. Simon, one of Great Britain's greatest stallions...
, a gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
who raced through age fourteen and after being sold would later retire with seventy-eight wins, fourth all-time among American horses. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E07EFD61E3CEE3ABC4952DFBF66838B639EDE In 1925, Loft won the prestigious Manhattan Handicap
Manhattan Handicap
The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York...
with the gelding, Pepp. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F15FA355C17738DDDAB0894D1405B858EF1D3 In steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
racing, his horse Sweepment was the 1921 the Champion timber-topper.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9903E3D71E3CE533A2575AC2A9629C946395D6CF
George W. Loft died in Baldwin, New York, November 6, 1943 and was interred in St. Raymond's Cemetery
Saint Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx
Saint Raymond's Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 2600 Lafayette Avenue in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, New York City. The cemetery is composed of two separate locations: the older section , located west of the Hutchinson River Parkway; and the newer section , which is east of...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.