George Hobdey knew what he was talking about when he advertised his Broad St. house and lot for sale in the summer of 1823.

His ad. published on the front page of "The Sentinel of Freedom," described his property as "fronting the military common, and being an excellent situation for business."

There was no street address listed in the ad. But a study of musty documents at Newark City Hall and Essex Country Hall of Records revealed the property is now partly occupied by the 10-story-Wiss Building at 665-671 Broad St.

When Hobdey owned the land, it had a 50 to 55-foot frontage on Broad St. and ran back 368 feet to Halsey St. The center of that lot today, behind the Wiss Building, is a parking area. The Halsey St. frontage is occupied by a two-story building.

The records show that Hobdey sold the parcel and another tract of five acres "in the salt meadows" to Charles Bostwick, a New York attorney, on Oct. 21, 1823. The price for the properties totaled $2,150.

Some idea of the value of the land today is indicated by the city's assessment. The Broad St. section alone-it measures 57.2 by 80 feet-is assessed at $513,900 for the land and the structure.

Over the years, and on the basis of these figures, this would amount to a 23,800 per cent gain over Hobdey's sales price.

Bostwick held on to the Broad St. property for nearly two years before selling it to a Thomas T. Whitehead on July 1, 1825. The selling price then was $2,600. Whitehead, in turn, sold it to a James Vanderpool the following year June 6, 1826-but received only $1,750.

The property was split up after the city opened West Park St., running south of the tract from Broad to Halsey Sts. Some properties facing on the new street were extended back into the Hobdey piece over the years.

Ownership of the various parts of the original tract has changed a number of times.

The portion at 665-671 Broad St. listed three new owners within the last three months, the latest being David Green, Louis Selzer and Sidney Kreitman of White Plains, N.Y.

THE HOUSE and LOT belonging to the subscriber, on which he now resides; situated in Broad-street, fronting the military common, and being an excellent situation for business; said LOT in 968 feet deep between 50 and 55 feet in front on Broad St. and about 43 feet in rear on Halsey st. Persons wishing to purchase, are requested to call on the subscriber on the premises.

GEORGE HUBDEY

Newark, Aug. 19, 1823.

THEN—This advertisement for property in Broad St. was published in old Newark newspaper back in fall of 1823.