Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 7 * 9 c/^/ /• BooJ^of Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/bookofoldnewyorkOObrow Book of OLD -NEW-YORK m the P T Tt e Tare Old Prints are fro Private Collections < Ml* ROBE RT G O E L £T IM Ml* PERCY R. PYN! Ml* J. PIERPOHT MOR.G A/£* ROBERT W DE FOR I A/^A.VAN HORNE 5TUYVES> W m F. H AV EM EYE R A/S SIMEON FOROjW* J.CLARENCE DAVIE': j ^ROBERT E.DOWUKC MCJOHH D.CRIMMINJ; M£,HEHRY MORGENLTHAl and others Privately Prinled for The Subscribers One hundred eleven Filth Avenue T^ew York. J? M 3H3Hlf/ .$3K3T3mH0 SAW OHIVfll MOT3HIH8AW 3S13HW A 3 J AH YjIa3M «M HAMYHTS3V 2 A 03VH33 MA3SOM TH01A3I1 .1 SAW Tl 3HAU03 THA33VYUT3 UO WOH 31 HDS1UHD 3HT .YHUTK3D .eSTI Ml d3T03H3 .SJ3SAHD 3 YTIHIHT 30 T3HI3 3HT HA3H0M S L.flM 3 TAJ 3 H T 30 MOITD3JJOD 3 M T MOB! (gpurgp'a (Elfau*!, in Hfrkmmt Street, 1865 WHERE WASHINGTON IRVING WAS CHRISTENED. AND WHERE MR. J. PIERPONT MORGAN SERVED AS VESTRYMAN FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. THE CHURCH IS NOW ON STUYVESANT SQUARE. IT WAS THE FIRST OF TRINITY'S CHAPELS. ERECTED IN 1759. FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE MR. J. P. MORGAN. Booh of OLD 'NEW-YORK HET^RX COLLINS BJ^OW^ The Tare Old Prints are from the Private Collections of A/£>ROBERT GOELET^a A£C PERCY R. P Y^E 2 d ^ M&> J. PIERPOHT MORGAR Mm ROBERT W. DEFOREST Af£»A.VAN HORNE 5TUYVE5ANT MCW^ F.HAVEMEYEK. M£> SIMEOH FORDM MO, J . CLARENCE DAVIES A/jC ROBERT E.DOWLIHG JOHRH. GOLDIRG JSK A/^JOHH D.CRIMMIHS; A^HERRY MORGERTHAU One hundred eleven Fifth Avenue and others Privately Printed for The Subscribers T^ew York. 1913 r COPYRIGHTED. 1913. BY HENRY COLLINS BROWN ARRANGED AND PRINTED FROM TYPE BY THE LENT 8 GRAFF CO. ENGRAVINGS BY THE WALKER ENGRAVING CO. NEW YORK FOREWORD y This is not a book for the student nor for the antiquarian; rather is it for the man on the street who was born here, or who has passed most of his life in the town of which we write; who can remember when Thirty-fourth Street was far "uptown," Fifty-ninth Street in the country, and when the little steamers Sylvan Dell, Sylvan Stream, Sylvan Glen, plied the East River between Harlem and downtown, and were the "rapid transit" of the day. In short, it is meant primarily for New York- ers, old and young, who are proud of their city and are anxious to see some of its old characteristics preserved in enduring form ere the records are no longer available. Much of the material herein displayed has been obtained from contributors who write of memories still vivid. They bear upon a period of which there are few printed records. Since the death of David T. Valentine in 1869, sometime clerk of the Common Council, we have had no such repository of antiquarian knowl- edge as his delightful "Manuals," in which for a score of years he faithfully recorded the doings and changes in the city he served so well. His death, as told by his learned friend, Dr. Kendrick, was probably hastened by the loss of the position which the "old and faithful clerk" held so many years. The publication of the "Manuals," which under his loving care developed from a mere prosy account of the doings of the city government into a unique and valuable local history, remains the only record of that period in New York prior to the use of photography. The wonderfully interesting series of quaint and almost forgotten pictures of this period which I have here assembled bring back, as nothing else can, the little red brick two and a half story city that was here yesterday, but is gone to-day. To the many kind friends who made this collection possible I return the most cor- dial thanks. Without them the book would have fallen short of its aim. The Winter of this year — 1913-14 — marks the 300th Anniversary of the first landing of White men upon our beloved isle. October, 1914, marks the Tercen- tenary of the formal entrance of New York into the world's Commerce. The same year also ends a Century of Peace with England following the Treaty of Ghent. It is well that we should pay a lasting tribute to the memory of those intrepid spirits who made this city possible. For many of the delightful pages which this volume contains, then, I cheerfully accord the credit to others. As Montaigne happily puts it: "I have brought you a nosegay of flowers, But only the string that binds them is mine own." The Author. New York City, October, 1913. [vii] 3Framtrrfi' Sfawmt FRAUNCES' TAVERN IS ONE OF THE OLDEST BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK CITY. AND WAS THE SCENE OF MANY STIRRING EVENTS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. IT DIVIDES HONORS WITH ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL. WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AN D THE VAN COURTLANDT MANSION IN ITS CONNECTION WITH MEMORIES OF WASHINGTON IN NEW YORK IN THE "LONG ROOM" OCCURRED THE AFFECTING SCENE WITH HIS OFFICERS DURING WHICH. FOR THE LAST TIME. HE TOOK LEAVE OF HIS COMRADES-IN-ARMS. AND RETIRED TO MOUNT VERNON. THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED BY ETIENNE DE LANCEY. 1719. AS HIS RESIDENCE IN 1762 IT WAS PURCHASED BY "BLACK SAM'' FRAUNCES. WHO OPENED A TAVERN. CALLING IT THE QUEEN'S HEAD.'' AS AN INN. IT ENJOYED MANY YEARS OF PROS- PERITY. IN 1768 THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS ORGANIZED HERE. IN 1774 THE SONS OF LIBERTY AND THE VIGILANCE COM- MITTEE MET HERE TO PROTEST AG Al NST TH E I M PORTATION OF TEA. AND WOUND UP THE MEETING BY MARCHING TO THE SHIP "LON- DON.'' WHICH HAD JUST ARRIVED. AND DUMPING THE CARGO INTO THE WATER. THUS ANTEDATING THE BOSTON "TEA-PARTY " THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB AND THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION ALSO ORGANIZED HERE. OTHER PARTICULARS OF THIS BUILDING APPEAR ELSEWHERE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. W3M Ml 23MiajlU8 T23(]JO 3HT 30 3M0 21 MA3VAT ^SMUAfn SHIflUa 2TM3V3 3M IHfHT3 YMAM 30 3113 33 3HT SAW OMA .YTI3 XflOY 3JUAS T3 HTIW 3H0M0H 33dlVia Tl aOIHSI YHAM0ITU_J0V3>3 3HT TOUAJTHUOO MAV3HTQMA3>33TflAUOQA3H 3 M0T3MIH3AW J3SAH3 M0T3M I H 2A W 30 33IH0M3M HTIW M0IT33MM03 2TI Ml M0I3MAM 3MIT3333A 3 HT 03flflU33O 'MOOfl 3M0J" 3HT Ml XH0YW3M Ml 3MIT T2AJ 3 HT H03 .H3IHW 3MIHUC1 3H30I33O 3IH HTIW 3M332 OT 03fllT3fl QMA .2MHA MI 230AHM03 2IH 30 3VA3J HOOT 3H . M0MH3V TMUOM 3a 3MM3IT3 Y8 a3T3U0T2MO3 YJJAMISIflO 2AW 3MIC1JIU8 3 HT Y8 a32AH3flU1 SAW Tl S3V I Ml 3 3M 30 133 fl SI H 3 A .e I V I .Y33MAJ 3 HT Tl 3MIJJA3 .MH3VAT A 03M3SOOHW .333MUAH3 "MAS H3AJ8 ' SOflS 30 3H A3 Y YMAM 03YOLM3 Tl ,MMI MA 3A " 0A3H S M33U0 " a3SIMA3flO 3AW 33H3MM00 30 A3 3 M AH 3 3 HT 83VI Ml YTI>13<1 -MOO 33MAJI3IV 3HT a MA YTA38IJ 30 SMOS 3HT l\\ I Ml .3H3H ,A3T 30 MOITATflOIMI 3HT TSMIA3A TS3T0fl=l OT 3H3H T3M 33TTIM •MOJ" SIH3 3HT OT 3MIH3AAM Y8 3MIT33M 3 HT SU OMUOW a M A OTMI 03HA3 3HT 3MI3MU0 QMA .a 3VIHH A TSU L a AH H3IHW ".MOO 3HT " YTRA1A3T" M0T308 3HT 3M ITAO 3TM A SU HT .H3TAW 3HT 03JA M0ITUJ0V3H 3HT 30 SMOS 3HT 0 M A 8UJ3 TH3AY NflOY W3M HASSIA 3MI0JIU8 SIHT 30 2HAJU3ITHA3 H3HT0 3H3H 03XIMA3HO 3H3HW33J3 MOITtJIOYIil IIII in 3 tl T 10 HOITDJJJOD HIT MOHT TABLE of COHTETMJS PAGE Foreword vii The Beginning 3 The First Actual Settlement of White Men upon Manhattan Island 4 Beginning of New York's Chartered Commerce, 16 14 ... 8 The Treaty of Ghent, 18 14 n Beginnings of Foreign Immigration 15 How Some of Our Well-known Streets Got Their Names (Frank W. Crane) ........... 20 "The Maidens' Path" 32 Evacuation of New York by the British 36 St. George's Chapel in Beekman Street 39 Delightful Memories of Bygone Days by Men still Living (Charles F. Lawrence and E. Jaffray Phillips) ...... 44, 56 Large Families the Rule in the '50s and '60s 68 A. T. Stewart and Brooks Bros.' First Store, 1850 .... 71 Recollections of a Visitor in '61 72 The Old Post Office in Nassau Street 75 Cost of Living in '63 76 Site of the New Municipal Building 79 New York a Military Camp 84 The "Herald's" Hoax and the Moon Hoax 87 Social Centres of Yesterday 88 the battery and state street, bowling green and broadway; park place; st. John's park ; bond street ; st. mark's place ; Washington square. Table of Contents PAGE Some Personal Recollections of Greenwich Village (Euphemia M. Olcott) ........... 103 Greenwich Village in History 112 Jenny Lind and the Great P. T. Barnum 120 Richmond Hill — Home of Aaron Burr 123 Alexander Hamilton 127 Ellis Island a Powder Magazine as Late as Forty Years Ago . . 128 Beginnings of Central Park 131 Before the Taxicab 132 New York Introduces Baseball to the World 135 No Christmas in ye Olden Time 139 Interesting Forecast of Real Estate Values Sixty Years Ago . . 140 Romances in Real Estate 156 WHAT EARLY CENTURY ERRORS HAVE COST INDIVIDUALS. WHEN J. J. ASTOR ADVERTISED HAD GOOD STORE TO LET IN 1813 ON SITE OF THE ASTOR HOUSE. New York Assets nearly a Billion and a Half 164 Ginger Wine 167 Curious Newspaper Style of Old Days 167 Memories of the Wallacks {Arthur W. Wallack) . . . .168 Joe Jefferson 184 Footlight Favorites of Thirty Years Ago . , . . .187 The Old Churches of New York 199 "Well-remembered Plays of Yesterday"— Notes from an Old Diary . 207 Beginnings of Minstrelsy 208 Random Notes of Old-time Performances 211 THE OLD BOWERY ; "HUMPTY DUMPTY" AND GEORGE L. FOX, ITS CREATOR ? NIBLO's GARDEN ; THE BROADWAY THEATRE ; THE FAMOUS RAVELS. In i 802 : Oddities 220 [xii] Table of Contents Old-time Ferry-boats on the East and North Rivers Street Car Beginnings Beginning of the Elevated Railroads First Organization of Mounted Police Early Development of Telegraphy Beginnings of the Telephone . Beginnings of Electric Light . Beginnings of Electric Power . Moving Pictures Beginnings of the Phonograph Famous Thoroughfares in New York BROADWAY : THE GREATEST STREET IX THE WORLD ; BROADWAY IN 1913 ; WALL STREET : THE BEST KNOWN STREET IN NEW YORK ; PEARL STREET AS A RETAIL CENTRE. From a Contemporary Description of the Astor House at its Open- ing in i 836 A Fashionable Dames' School in New York of a Bygone Type {Eu- phemia M. Olcott) ......... The Prince of Wales' Ball in i860 New York, the City of Magnificent Impermanence {Joseph P. Day) THE ERA OF LIFE IN LAYERS '. THE ERA OF TRANSPORTATION; THE AGE OF UNDERGROUND HIGHWAYS ; THE WATER SUPPLY. The First Flat Prints of Old New York and Their Collectors (J. H. Jordan) THE TRIALS OF THE COLLECTOR : FAMOUS VIEWS IN THIS BOOK. Origin of the Brooklyn Bridge Old Chelsea Village Street Cries of Old Days Fraunces' Tavern PAGE 223 227 232 235 236 24O 247 251 252 255 256 284 287 303 304 323 324 336 339 344 347 [xiii] Table of Contents PAGE Picturesque Days of the Volunteer Fire Department . . . 351 WHEN THE BOYS "RAN WITH THE MACHINE." Great Fires in New York 356 CONTEMPORARY DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT FIRE, DEC. 17, 1835 ? THE FIRE IN 1776. Some Famous Collections of Old New York Views (/. H. Jordan) . 364 Recollections of Earlier Days 371 Days of Smooth-shaven Faces and Other Strange Customs . . 372 Beginning of the New York Historical Society . . . -375 The Society Library, the Oldest in the City — Some of its Priceless Treasures 379 Old Merchants of New York 380 L'Envoi: Somewhat Personal 392 [xiv] LIST of ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE St. George's Chapel, in Beekman Street, 1865 [Colored] Frontispiece FRAUNCES' TAVERN [Colored] . viii A Remarkably Rare Stephenson View of Broadway in 1855 . . 3 A World-famous View of New York (The Celebrated Drawing of Manhattan by Peter Schenk. About 1675) . . . . 4 View of New York in 1790 8 View of Fort George with the City of New York from the South- west. About 1760 12 The Famous Birch View of New York, 1803 : First State . . . 16 The Famous Birch View of New York : Second State ... 20 Maverick's Wonderful View of Wall Street. 1825. ... 24 Turn-out of the American Express Company .... 28 View of St. Paul's Church and the Broadway Stages ... 32 Broadway, corner Canal Street, 1835 36 Washington Square as a Parade Ground 40 First Division, N. Y. State Artillery 44 Early Vanderbilt Days [Colored] 48 St. Mark's Church 52 The Harbor and the Battery, 1850 56 Broadway, 1856: West Side, Fulton to Cortlandt Street ... 60 The Jefferson Guards 64 Megarey's Rare Print of Lower Broadway in 1825 . . . . 68 The New York Hospital, 1804 72 [XV] List of Illustrations FACING PAGE "Steamship Row" in its Palmy Days [Colored] .... 76 Fulton Street in 1 849 80 Madison Square: The Worth Monument, 1850 .... 84 Fourth Avenue and Twenty-second Street: St. Paul's M. E. Church 88 Burning of Barnum's Museum, 1868 92 An Important View from Brooklyn Heights 96 John Street Methodist Church, 1768 100 New York's First Hotel. About 1789 104 Wall Street about 1 845 108 State Street and the Battery, 1820 112 Fifth Avenue Hotel, 1859 116 Old Post Office in Nassau Street 1 20 Curious Bridge at Broadway and Fulton Street, 1868 . . .124 Old Greenwich Village 128 First Office of the Western Union Telegraph Co. [Colored] . . 132 The Howard Hotel, Broadway and Maiden Lane . . . .136 The National Theatre 140 Site of Standard Oil Building, 1848 144 Lord & Taylor in Catharine Street, 1833 148 Beekman House, near Fiftieth Street and East River . . .152 Albany Post Road, now "Automobile Row," Broadway, 1861 . . 156 Delmonico's, at Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street . . .160 An Old-fashioned Garden in Chelsea Village 164 Street Criers of New York. About 1850 168 THE STRAWBERRY GIRL ; THE CLAM-SELLER ; THE RADISH GIRL ; THE SCISSORS- GRINDER. Murray Street about 1850 172 [ x vi ] List of Illustrations FACING PAGE Rare Photograph of Columbia College at Madison Avenue and Fiftieth Street. About 1874 176 Columbia College about 1874 180 The Rhinelander Home in William Street 184 Leaders of Society at the Prince's Ball, i860 188 Summer Residence of Fernando Wood 192 St. John's Chapel-in-the-Fields 196 Last Days of Croker's Real Estate Office (hi Broadway) . . 200 The Great Fire of 1835 204 Underground Railway in Broadway, 1870 208 A Breezy Morning in New York Bay (Famous Bennett Aquatint) . 212 First Trip on an Elevated Road, 1867 216 The Peter Goelet House, Broadway and Nineteenth Street . . 220 Broadway between Murray and Warren Streets, 1850 . . . 224 Turn-out of Adams Express Co., 1851 228 The Old Brick Presbyterian Church, corner Nassau Street and Park Row, 1801 228 Beginning of the Seaman's Institute 232 The Famous Tiebout View of Federal Hall 236 Van Courtlandt Manor House, 1748 240 First Advertisement of the Telephone and First Telephone Direc- tory Page 244 Union Square in 1850 244 Forty-second Street and Madison Avenue, 1864 . . . .248 New York Central Depot, i860 252 A Harlem Train in i860 256 The Grand Central Terminal, 1902 260 [ xvii ] List of Illustrations FACING PAGE 264 The Spingler Hotel in Union Square, i860 268 Madison Square Garden as a Railroad Depot 272 Forty-second Street from Second Avenue, looking West, 1869 . 276 Maiden Lane, about 1885 280 Overhead Telephone and Telegraph Wires in Broadway, 1890 (with a View after All Wires were put Underground) 284 Madison Square: Site of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1880 288 Old Corporal Thompson's Road House 292 Corner of Twenty-third Street and Fourth Avenue: National Academy of Design and Lyceum Theatre (Site of Metropolitan 296 Murray Street and Dr. Mason's Church, 1822 300 Early Rapid Transit on Greenwich Street 304 The Rhinelander Sugar House, 1763 308 Broadway and Grand Street: Lincoln's Funeral, 1865 . 312 Beginning of Department Stores 3l6 320 Ellis Island as a Powder Magazine, 1868 320 Early Stores of A. T. Stewart on Broadway, 1850 to i860 . 3 2 4 The Old Empire Building on First Site of Grace Church 328 The Greatest Business Corner in the World 332 First House Lighted by Gas, 1825 336 The Old New York University Building in Washington Square, 1845 340 Corner Pine Street and Broadway, 1847 344 [ xviii ] List of Illustrations FACING PAGE Oldest Business Firm in New York (P. Lorillard & Co., Established 1760) • • • > 348 Old Belmont Houses, Fifth Avenue and Eighteenth Street, 1893 • 35 2 An Old-time Baseball Team: 1870 Page 355 Broadway in 1855 356 Old Chelsea Village: Residence of Clement C. Moore, Twenty- third Street and Ninth Avenue 360 Old Furniss Homestead: Broadway and iooth Street in 1898 . 364 Park Place in 1850 368 Hudson River Steam-boat Stock Certificate, 1814 . . . Page 371 From Forty-second Street and Fifth Avenue 372 First Entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge 376 Lydig Mills in the Bronx, 1760 380 The Old Cushman House, Ninth Avenue, Twenty-first to Twen- ty-second Street (Now Site of Chelsea Apartments) . . 380 The Gouverneur Morris Home in Morrisania, 1786 . . .384 The Famous Burgis View of New York, 1717 388 [xix] UXgj E - z ^ I o 1 S H U < - z a g _ UJ 5 5 5 >- to uj _i - 3 x z < O H ° ° I- u. uj o ^ ° F i- m in w /a £3 S — Q £ S «- "a- u Si 5 u m z « O z ui ^ £ ui u o 2 z m j t _ > m < h i !! o S x z a: 0 ^ ° t/i > uj 2. z < o < tc - < u a: - > z a. 03 m Ul T S =i O a S _l o UJ x o - 1 u 01 i_ >- UJ Q — I UJ Q_ OX 0 Z I- £ z 5 a 5 UJ Z h- UJ < 1 x P 5 5 uj (r . ° ~ 3 ?" z 9 o t S! | U > <" £ X I- < s y " a: O a < u a z u. s j - o I « 2 °' 5 ° < uj x . • 5 X CL UJ > »1 < J H — a t- z 2 £ s S u 1 -J S 3 a: o u UJ 15 < z o x E £ . <-> o x u ox in S 2 u, 1 > u. 5 u. iJ z o 2 o ; S «> z >■ * UJ UJ O. a Z Z UJ O _ f £, m o 5 5 s r- j- Ul 111 I UJ £ "> S U ^ UJ 5 UJ 1 Ifl h I H O W H , z < U- _ UJ tO O Q _| — UJ X* UJ — Z => I X O m I- H Book of OLD TMEW YORK THE BEGINNING «< W" "W" E was born — no one knows where or when. He died — no one knows ■ B when or how. He comes into our knowledge on the quarterdeck of 1 a a ship bound for the North Pole. He goes out of our knowledge in a crazy boat manned by eight sick sailors." So writes one historian of the man whose name is first identified with New York. He appears to have vanished into nothingness when his great work was done. Even his portraits and autograph are not generally believed to be genuine. No one knows his age at the time he made his discoveries. That he was of mature years is shown by his having an eighteen-year-old son. But whether he was a hale mariner of forty or a grizzled veteran of seventy has never been guessed. He was born, it seems, in England, some time in the sixteenth century. His name was Henry Hodgson, but his Dutch employers later twisted the English phraseology into "Hendrik Hudson." His father and grandfather are supposed to have been London merchants. Hudson had made two attempts to find the Northwest passage, both unsuccess- ful. This caused the company to abandon further work along this line, and as an explorer Hudson seemed a failure. Just when it looked as if he would sink into oblivion the Dutch West India Company gave him the opportunity of his life, and by his immortal voyage in the Half Moon to the mouth of the great river which now bears his name the fame of Hendrik Hudson has gone down the centuries as one of the greatest of discoverers. For his perilous journey, in the frailest of frail crafts, Hudson received the munificent sum of $320. In case he never came back the directors of the company agreed to pay his widow a further sum of $80 in cash. Prior to the formal occupation of Manhattan Island as a possession by the Dutch, two other Dutch navigators — Christiansen and Block — spent the winter of 1613-14 on the Island. The exact location of the huts erected by them is on the site of 39 Broadway. It is the Tercentenary of this event which New York celebrates next year. The city was not formally settled till 1626. With a mention of Petrus Stuyvesant, last and greatest of the Dutch Gover- nors of the West India Company, and whose impress is indelibly stamped upon the history of Manhattan, I take leave of the origin of New Amsterdam, and proceed with some recollections of its development. [3] THE FIRST ACTUAL SETTLEMENT OF WHITE MEN UPON MANHATTAN ISLAND Upon Hudson's return to Holland, and a report of his discovery, many other countries immediately began to plan expeditions of various kinds to visit the region described by him. As a result several vessels made the voyage but none with the purpose of colonization. Most of them were traders taking with them trinkets to exchange for skins, fish, salt and other commodities produced by the countries on the route. Aside from these desultory voyages, there was no idea of establishing a settled community. Late in 1613, however, Adrian Block, in command of the Tiger, and his crew spent some time in the harbor of New York collecting furs from the Indians. His vessel was followed by others, so that during this year the island was visited by four separate expeditions. In November the Tiger took fire at its anchorage just off the southern point of Manhattan Island, and Block and his crew escaped with difficulty to the shore. The vessel burned to the water's edge, and as the other ships had all sailed for Holland, there was no possibility of assistance from white men before spring. Block, therefore, determined to make the best of a bad situation, and proceeded to arrange temporary accommodations for himself and his men. They built four small huts at about the present site of 39 Broadway, which is appropriately marked by a tablet recording this fact erected by the Holland Society. They were rude, home-made affairs, and beyond providing shelter were of no particular importance. The Indians proved to be kindly disposed and provided the marooned white men with food. Incredible as it may seem, Block, with great energy, immediately set himself to work upon the charred remains of the Tiger, from which he ultimately con- structed a new vessel which was of sixteen tons burden and was found to be entirely sea-worthy. This was the first ship ever built in New York, and it requires no small stretch of imagination to understand how such a feat could be accomplished in view of the absence of almost all the requisite tools with which to work. The fact remains, nevertheless, that Block accomplished the appar- ently impossible, and in the spring launched the Restless, which name he chose for his new-made vessel, and explored Long Island Sound as far east as the island which bears his name. After sailing up the Connecticut River to where Hartford now stands, he proceeded to Cape Cod, where he unexpectedly met another Dutch navigator, Christiansen, whom he had known in Amsterdam. Block exchanged the Restless for the iarger and stauncher vessel of Christiansen. In this he returned to Holland while Christiansen continued along the coast in the Restless. [4] COPYRIGHT 1913 H C BROWN A JUurlu-fanwuB Binu of Npui Ifork uJljr (ttelebratrn Sraming of fHanhattan by grtrr grljfttk. About IBfS THIS RARE AND PRACTICALLY UNKNOWN PRINT DERIVES ITS GREAT REPUTATION FROM THE REMARKABLE ACCURACY OF ITS CARTOG- RAPHY. CONSIDERING THE MEAGRE STATE OF TH E ART AT TH E Tl M E. AND THE POSSESSION OF A VIEW OF OUR CITY WHOLLY UNKNOWN TILL THE DISCOVERY OF THIS MAP IN GERMANY A FEW YEARS AGO. WHILE ITS EXISTENCE HAD LONG BEEN A MATTER OF RECORD. NO ACTUAL COPY HAD EVER BEFORE BEEN LOCATED. THE VIEW OF NEW YORK IS IN ONE OF THE LOWER CARTOUCHES. AND SHOWS THE OLD FORT AND A GENERAL OUTLINE OF ITS WELL-KNOWN ENVIRON- MENTS. IN ADDITION TO ITS SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IT IS PLEASANT TO KNOW THAT THE ONLY COPY OF SO CELEBRATED A WORK IS OWNED IN NEW YORK. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND First Occupancy by White Men The winter of 1613-14 is therefore signalized by the actual presence of white men on Manhattan Island for a period of more than six months, and for the strange beginning of shipbuilding. As a result of this visit the island was never again without permanent connection with Holland. With the granting of the special trading charter elsewhere described, ships from Holland came in ever- increasing numbers. A few years later the first settlements were commenced by the Walloons in the vicinity of Albany. They were on tracts of land obtained direct from Holland, by men styling themselves Patroons. These immense grants were placed under control of individuals, and thus commenced the Manor system which was afterwards the cause of much trouble to the authorities in New Amsterdam. Colonization of the manors was undertaken by the proprietors themselves, the people on their farms being the owners' personal retainers. One of the most important and best known of these manors was Van Court- landt, which comprised hundreds of acres in what is now the northern limits of Manhattan, and included many acres in Yonkers. It is only in recent years that seven hundred acres of this manor was taken by the city for a public park and the balance subdivided into building lots, and sold for home sites. The Philipse, Van Rensselaer, Livingston and others were among these semi-feudal grants. It was not until 1626, however, that the Dutch West India Company took formal steps to establish their colony on the island itself. In that year Peter Minuit was sent with instructions to purchase the land from the Indians, which he did for the insignificant sum of $24.00 in beads and trinkets. This transac- tion completed, the history of New York begins, and we now introduce to our readers the town of New Amsterdam, founded by the Dutch West India Com- pany under a special act of the States General of Holland in 1626. m BEGINNING OF NEW YORK'S CHARTERED COMMERCE, 1614 Three hundred years ago the site of New York was an obscure island sepa- rated from the civilization of Europe by three thousand miles of trackless ocean. Like a sleeping Titan it lay, stretched along the mouth of a majestic river, a slender ledge, thirteen miles long and scarcely two miles wide in its broadest part. The forest primeval stretched to its uttermost shores. Bold rocky headlands lined them and many streams and lakes dotted its all too scanty mainland. Nomadic tribes of red men roamed its solitudes. Rude huts here and there, made from bended trees covered with braided grass, offered them indifferent shelter. The forest gave them meat, the fields gave them bread, and the adjacent waters, fish. Fur-bearing animals abounded and furnished raiment. This seems a pitiful background for the staging of the most stirring events that were soon to happen in the world's commerce. In a search for a shorter route to the riches of the far-famed Orient, the hardy mariners of the West had already skirted its shores, and one even sailed up the lordly Hudson only to return disheartened and defeated. Yet the glowing accounts of the wonders of the region, the recognized value of the few peltries exchanged for trinkets which they brought back, set all Europe ablaze with excitement. And in October, 1614, John of Barneveldt, receiving a deputation of merchants from Amsterdam, then and there issued them a Charter giving them the sole right to trade with the far-distant island, which for the first time they called Nieu Amsterdam. So began the commerce of New York. And the Legislature of our State, by appointing a special commission to celebrate the Tercentenary of this momentous event, has performed an act of signal interest to all the people of the country. The New York Chamber of Commerce, which has done so much to foster and encourage the trade of New York and which has been officered by merchants of great distinction during all its career, was organized in Fraunces' Tavern, corner Broad and Pearl Streets, April 8, 1768, in the same room in which Washington afterwards took farewell of his officers. This splended organization was originally composed of twenty- four importers and traders, with Mr. John Cruger as president. It has borne an important part in all that has been achieved to make New York the leading city of the New World and will figure promi- nently in the exercises to commemorate the Tercentenary. In the few brief pages at our command we can touch on but a short period of those fateful three centuries. So we confine ourselves practically to the period marked by the introduction of railroads and steamboats — perhaps the most impor- tant of all the successive stages of New York's marvellous commercial development. [8] AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST VIEWS OF THE CITY SOON AFTER THE REPUBLIC WAS FORMED, IT SHOWS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY FROM THE BATTERY TO A POINT JUST BE- YOND TRINITY CHURCH. THE "NEW HOUSE FOR GENERAL WASH INGTON" (GOVERNMENT HOUSE) AND THE CHURN" ARE THE MOST PROMINENT FEATURES. A MAN-0 -WAR AT ANCHOR IS SHOWN AT LEFT. NO OTHER COPY OF THIS RARE ENGRAVING IS KNOWN TO EXIST. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND THE TREATY OF GHENT, 1814 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PEACE WITH ENGLAND Of all the cities which the newly formed republic contained, none suffered through the War of 1812 as did New York. The exhaustion caused by the Revo- lution had scarcely begun to wear away when serious trouble with France ensued. It is a half remembered fact that for a short period our country was virtually at war with France and hostilities actually took place. Before the matter progressed further, however, Napoleon saw fit to alter his attitude toward the Americans, and a settlement of the dangerous situation was accomplished; but it left its marks upon New York's maritime commerce, as from the beginning it had largely depended upon those who go down to the sea in ships. The new republic had made vast strides since the close of the Revolution, but the attitude of England had for many years been a serious menace to its growing commerce. Great Britain insisted on her alleged right to impress British seamen into her service wherever found. And her men-of-war were continually seizing American ships on the high seas for this purpose. Not only was this a source of great vexation, but it frequently left ships short handed, and in some cases to their extreme peril. The United States had, therefore, already endured so much that the War of 1812 was to her of grave concern, and it is perhaps difficult for the average citizen of to-day to realize exactly what it meant to the New Yorker of that period. The future metropolis was then a city of only about 90,000 inhabitants. The trouble had already lasted long enough to make her financial position one of peril. She was practically without funds and in a defenceless state when the news of a contem- plated attack upon her was secretly received. Mayor De Witt Clinton issued a stirring appeal to the citizens calling upon them to offer their personal services and means to aid in completing the unfinished fortifications. Mrs. Lamb's admirable history of our city thus describes the situation: "In response to a call signed by Henry Rutgers and Oliver Wolcott, an immense throng assembled in the City Hall Park, and chose from the Common Council as a Committee of Defense, Colonel Nicholas Fish, Gideon Tucker, Peter Mesier, George Buckmaster and John Nitchie, clothed with ample power to direct the efforts of the inhabitants at this critical moment in the business of protection. The work commenced on the heights around Brooklyn the same day, under the direction of General Joseph G. Swift. Only four days after the meeting in the Park, the Committee of Defense reported three thousand persons laboring with pickaxes, shovels and spades. Masonic and other societies went in bodies to the task; the Washington Benevolent Society, an organization opposed to the war, went with their banner bearing the portrait of Washington, each man with a hand- kerchief containing a supply of food for the day; on the 15th the city newspapers [11] Splendid Defence Work by the Citizens were suspended that all hands might work on the fortifications; two hundred jour- neymen printers went over together ; two hundred weavers ; a large procession of butchers bearing the flag used by them in the great Federal procession of 1789, on which was an ox prepared for slaughter; numerous manufacturing companies with all their men, and the colored people in crowds. On the 20th five hundred men went to Harlem Heights to work upon intrenchments there, and, at the same time, fifteen hundred Irishmen crossed into Brooklyn for the same purpose; school teachers and their pupils went together to give their aid, and little boys, too small to handle a spade or pickaxe, carried earth on shingles. It was a scene never to be forgotten. One morning the people of Bushwick, Long Island, appeared, accom- panied by their pastor, Rev. John Bassett, who opened the operations with prayer, and remained all day distributing refreshments and encouraging the laborers. Citizens from neighboring towns and from New Jersey proffered their services." It will readily be seen, therefore, that the war was a stern reality to every individual in the city — a vastly different thing to what we recall in connec- tion with our recent struggle with Spain. Notwithstanding the brilliant series of victories achieved by the American arms the results entailed hardships of the most severe kind, and the public mind was sorely depressed. But the gloomiest moment the city had ever experienced was suddenly and unexpectedly relieved. The ship Fortune arrived in the bay under a flag of truce bearing the news that peace had been declared, and that the Treaty of Ghent was an accomplished fact. We again quote from Mrs. Lamb: "It was late Saturday evening. If the city had been struck by hghtning, the news could not have spread with more rapidity than the word PEACE. People rushed into the streets in an ecstasy of delight. Cannon bellowed and thundered, bells of every description rang in one triumphant peal, bonfires were lighted at the corners of the streets, rows of candles were placed in the windows, flags were unfurled from steeples and domes, and night was literally turned into day. Strong men wept as they grasped each other by the hand in silent gratitude; others fell on their knees and offered touching prayers. Amid shouts and huzzas, expresses were sent out in every direction. No one stopped to inquire about the terms of the treaty. It was enough to know that peace was proclaimed. The Sabbath that fol- lowed was a day of Thanksgiving. There was joy all over the land, and especially along the maritime frontier. Schools were given a holiday in every town as the news came ; the whole people quitting their employments, hastened to congratulate one another at the relief, not only from foreign war, but from the impending cloud of internal and civil struggle." With the ending of hostilities the merchants of New York at once took ener- getic measures to regain the commerce lost during the war, and such was their industry and enterprise that a few short months sufficed to place them once more in the vanguard of prosperity. The whole country felt the impetus of New York's activity and profited by her example. In a few short years her advancement was so remarkable as to attract attention from the outside world in a manner wholly unexpected, and to result in a huge and rapid increase in population. [12] Hinu of 3furt (Srnrgr, uiitlj tt|p CCitvj nf Nnu ffurk, from tljr S>0utluitfBt. About IZBO THIS ENGRAVING BY CARWITHAM. PRINTED FOR CARINGTON BOWLES. MAP AND PRINT SELLERS. AT NO. 69 IN ST. PAUL'S. LONDON. IS AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF THE BATTERY AND FORT AS IT APPEARED WHEN NEW YORK WAS A FLOURISHING ENGLISH COLONY. ALREADY A NUMBER OF CHURCHES ARE SEEN. AND BUILDINGS OF A SUBSTANTIAL CHARACTER APPEAR. THIS COPY IS OF THE ORIGINAL SCARCE, EARLY COLORED ISSUE. BEFORE CHANGE OF TITLE AND P U BLIS H E R. AN D IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCT R PVNE. 2ND BEGINNINGS OF FOREIGN IMMIGRATION At the close of Dutch dominion in America (1674) the total population of New Amsterdam, thenceforward New York, did not exceed 4,700, including a not inconsiderable number of English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, besides bond- men and slaves. The two first were always an important factor in the Dutch settle- ment, and it is a striking tribute to the strength of the Dutch character that it should have left so deep an impress for all time on the development of Manhattan in spite of the paucity in numbers of that nation. Professor Fiske, in his "Beginings of New England," recites with evident pride that for almost one hundred and fifty years after the great Puritan exodus, practically no emigration penetrated New England from any other nation except Scotland, and that as a consequence the English strain in New England was purer and better than in the Mother Country itself. The prominence of New York in the Revolution (for she was the storm centre from first to last) , naturally brought within her borders many men from neighbor- ing states, quick to realize her wonderful natural trading advantages. It was quite reasonable, therefore, upon conclusion of that struggle to expect a considerable immigration from New England, from the Quakers and Virginians. But the most sanguine well wisher, however, could not foresee that for the next thirty years the cream of the world's offerings would be to the city on the insignificant island at the mouth of the Hudson River. Such, however, proved to be the case, and as fortune would have it, the quality was of the same desirable strain that had made for the greatness of New England. In addition to English emigration, Scotland furnished a goodly number. Beyond these two, and the natural increase of the population itself, there were little or no additions. Speaking the same language, alike in religious convictions, inheriting, as was natural, the same liberty-loving instincts, and being withal kins- men to a great degree, the problem of assimilation was greatly simplified. This fortuitous combination continued without interruption for almost a third of a cen- tury. And until 1820 nothing occurred to interfere with the harmonious and natural growth of the new nation, whose roots were now firmly planted and whose future, no matter what happened, would forever partake of the parental beginnings. Shortly after that date, a tide of emigration set in which was unlike anything the world had ever seen. Multitudes left the Old World for the New. Various economic causes impelled this sudden emigration. Arkwright's invention of the spinning jenny had already caused much perturbation among the needle workers of England and Scotland. Multitudes of these hand-workers seemed doomed to practical extinction. In France, shops in which Arkwright's machinery was suc- cessfully at work were mobbed and wrecked by tailors. And in Scotland a popular [15] Tremendous Immigration from Ireland subscription was raised to ship ten thousand seamstresses to Canada and Australia, but many of them ultimately found their way to America, to find not work, but homes, instead. With the invention of Eli Whitney's cotton gin, which came a few years later, the world's supply of cotton was increased an hundredfold, and as a fabric, its use multiplied with marvellous rapidity. As already the chief port in the New World, New York at once assumed a leading position in the financing, shipping and marketing of this great staple. And to handle this enormous business, manual labor in corresponding quantity was con- stantly in demand and the steady stream of emigration from all parts of the world was absorbed almost as soon as received. Ireland was the most prominent birthplace of the newcomers, and the emigra- tion once started, it seemed as if the tide would never stop until the last hut in the Emerald Isle was deserted. In a short time nearly every other man you met in New York was Irish. They swarmed everywhere and filled every occupation. Large sections of the city were virtually given over to them, and no matter where you turned, a smiling son of Erin was there to greet you. Prior to this period, Catholicism had little or no standing in the community. Adherents of that Church were small in number. Yet, although the feeling against this faith was very strong throughout the rest of the Colonies, New York, with that tolerance which has always been her chief characteristic, elected among her first Governors an Irishman and a Catholic. A tablet to his memory was recently erected at St. Luke's in Barclay Street, from which we can surmise the esteem in which he was held by the community. It reads as follows : In Memory of THOMAS DONGAN Born 1634 Died 1715 Earl of limerick, General in the armies of England and France. Irish Patriot and devoted Catholic. Governor of New York 1683-1688. Father of the first representative assembly and author of the Charter of Rights and Privileges, granting popular government, religious toleration, trial by jury, immunity from martial law, free- dom from arbitrary arrest. Framer of the first City Charters for Albany and New York; Founder of Latin Schools under Catholic auspices and teachers. THIS TABLET Erected by the Columbian Assembly fourth degree Knights of Columbus. Oct. 8th, 1911. This Church, however, had now increased tremendously both in power and numbers. For not only had Ireland sent a huge contingent of members, but Germany and France as well. While there was no outward and visible sign of hostility to this faith, the old Colonial antagonism against it still lingered and was fanned into flame by an attempt to obtain some of the public school money for parochial purposes. The attempt was defeated and was never again renewed. It gave rise to a good deal of anticlerical feeling at the time and it was several years before it died out. New York hardly had time to digest the enormous mass of Irish immigrants before it was called upon to perform a similar service for another nation — the Ger- [16] COPYRIGHT. 19)3 H C, BROWN (Fltr ifatmuts lirrlr lirui of Wrro fork, 1303: 3urst g>tatr THIS RARE VIEW WAS PAINTED BY W BIRCH. AND ENGRAVED ON COPPERPLATE BY SAMUEL SEYMOUR. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN 1803 BY BIRCH AT SPRINGLAND. NEAR BRISTOL. PENNSYLVANIA. IT IS A CHARMING DISTANT VIEW OF THE YOUNG CITY WHOSE SKY LINE AT THAT TIME GAVE NO SUGGESTION OF THE TOWERING STRUCTURES OF TO-DAY. CONSIDERABLE INTEREST ATTACHES TO THIS PRiNT ON ACCOUNT OF A CHANGE WHICH WAS MADE IN THE DRAWING IN THE SECOND ISSUE. THE WHITE HORSE DISAPPEARS. AND A GROUP OF FIGURES TAKES ITS PLACE. THE LATER EDITION IS KNOWN AS THE PIC NIC PARTY. ' SO THAT OUR READERS MAY SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "FIRST" AND A ' SECOND ' STATE. WE ALSO REPRODUCE THE LATTER AS THE NEXT ILLUSTRATION. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. ROBERT GOELET, The Irish Are Followed by the Germans mans. This influx occurred after the Revolution in Germany in 1848 and brought many excellent and worthy citizens who were afterward to play a distinguished part in the affairs of the Republic. For a while, however, it seemed as if New York had more Germans than Berlin and more Irish than Dublin. While the tendency of these early emigrants was to perpetuate the customs and language of their native lands, it soon became apparent that their children were bent upon becoming thoroughly Americanized, thus simplifying the problem of assimilation. When the Civil War broke out, the country found many regiments from New York made up exclusively of foreigners fighting for the flag of their adopted country, and both the Irish and the Germans gave freely of their blood and their treasure in defence of the Union. The immense expansion in trade and commerce which followed the opening of the Erie Canal; the discovery of gold in California; the opening up of the West by the Pacific railroads; the tremendous results following the successful invention of the reaper by Cyrus McCormick and the telegraph by Morse, and the perfec- tion of the cable by Field, continued to attract to our city a stream of emigration that has practically never ceased. Where we formerly had the Irish and the Ger- mans dominant, we now have Italians in such huge numbers that the Irish seem lost in comparison, while the Germans are completely swallowed up. In addition to the Italians, vast hordes of Russians, Poles, Hungarians, Slavs, Greeks, Bulgarians and Swedes are now conspicuous features of the city's popula- tion, and the supply seems unending. New York is, and always has been, a cosmopolitan city. Almost from its inception many languages were spoken in its streets, and at the close of the Revo- lution, as we have said, there were no less than eighteen different tongues in daily use. To-day, there are probably representatives from every known race and nation in the world, and the Tower of Babel is the only other instance known where more languages were spoken than in the streets of New York. The changes which occur are so rapid and so overwhelming that what is recorded to-day is frequently subject to instant revision. This question of emigration is only one of many that operate to effect a temporary change. For, incredible though it may seem, these huge foreign additions are ultimately assimilated, though the process takes time. While our streets may at times bear a decidedly foreign aspect, yet they reflect what the city is at the moment. And in the next article we shall speak of these same streets and show how much there is even in a study of their names. [19] HOW SOME OF OUR WELL-KNOWN STREETS GOT THEIR NAMES By Frank W. Crane A mass of history is bound up in the names of New York's streets. Ask any moderately well-read resident who perhaps prides himself on being an old New Yorker why Vandam Street in Greenwich Village is so called, and if his memory of Dutch chronicles impels him to answer from Rip Van Dam, try an- other, and see if he can tell anything about the worthy Rip. Or, again, the origin of Marketfield Street, that little obscure lane running off from Broad Street just below Beaver, might be called in question. A good guess, the name being more explanatory, would suggest that this was the market quarters in early Dutch days when the fort on what is now the Battery and a few houses clustered about it com- prised all of the forthcoming imperial city of New York, then New Amsterdam. Vesey and Barclay Streets are somewhat easier, especially if one is a good Episco- palian and somewhat familiar with Trinity Church history, for they perpetuate the names of the first and second rectors of Trinity. Division Street may be a little harder to ex- plain. Its name tells something of its history, but the reason of it is not clear until one learns that it marked the boundary line between the extensive Rutgers farm on the south and the Delancey farm on the north. Other names that will bear interesting research are Nassau, Gold, Cedar, Pine, Liberty, Bank, Baxter, Eldridge, Forsyth, Mott, Pell, and Chatham, these being selected at random from a list that might be considerably extended. There is no end of names in the lower part of the town to recall the days of the Dutch occupation, but, singular as it may seem, only one bears the name of any of the Dutch Governors, and that, Stuyvesant Street, is far to the north of the little town that Peter Stuy- vesant was obliged to hand over to the English in 1664. It is a diminutive street jutting off from Third Avenue near Ninth Street and running to Second Avenue, and seems hardly in keeping with the greatness of the doughty Governor. It is in a good location, for it cuts through the famous Stuyvesant bouwerie where the Governor was doubtless happier in his closing days than when he was ruling the city. Near by is Stuyvesant Park, which was given to the city by the Stuyvesant heirs about seventy years ago. Names in honor of prominent Englishmen are not as numerous as those of Dutch origin. Most of those that remain have no affiliation with royalty, those reminders of British rule having been carefully expunged after the Revolution. That is why we have Liberty Street instead of Crown, Cedar instead of Queen, and Pine instead of King, the pre-Revolutionary designations of royalty being regarded as out of place with the patriotic sentiments of the new Republic. A portion of Broadway above City Hall bore the resounding term of King George Street, and, of course, that passed away early. Chatham Street, which now only remains in Chatham Square, but originally comprised all of Park Row, was not molested for some time. It honored the great William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, for his friendly attitude toward the Colonies during the Stamp-Act troubles. [20] COPYRIGHT. 1913 H C BROWN Qlhe iPammts Sirrh Birui nf 25>ut tjork, 1B03: &rrond §>tatr SECOND STATE OF THE BIRCH VIEW. SHOWING THE PIC-NIC PARTY IN PLACE OF THE WHITE HORSE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCY R PYNE 2NO Old Nassau Street Named after the Prince of Nassau A marble statue of the Earl was subscribed for and erected in Wall Street, near William, on September 7, 1770, the inscription stating that it was a "public testimony of the grateful sense the Colony of New York retains of the many eminent services he rendered America, particularly in promoting the repeal of the Stamp Act." It was overturned and broken by British soldiers when they entered New York in retaliation for the destruction of the leaden statue of King George on Bowling Green, but the torso still remains among the early New York relics in the New York Historical Society. Nassau is about the only street survivor bearing a name of royal lineage, being in honor of the Prince of Nassau, who afterward shared the honors of King of England with his wife, Queen Mary. The lower part of Chatham Street lost its name early in the last cen- tury in view of its location opposite the park, and Park Row was eventually continued up to its junction with the Bowery. William Street is due to William Beekman, through whose farm it ran. Nassau Street, like Maiden Lane, which has attained high fame in being the first street in New York to have a tablet erected to its history, once had a name of more local signifi- cance. It was known two centuries or more ago as the "road that leads by the pie woman's." Evidently this unknown woman had touched the heart through the stomach of many of her neighbors to lend such distinction to the thoroughfare by her humble bake shop. The popu- larity of pie still lingers in the vicinity, for in Ann Street hard by, all the way from Broad- way to Nassau, more pies are probably dispensed to the army of office boys and young clerks from the tall office buildings than are sold within a single day in any other similar area in the city. In 1696 Capt. Teunis De Kay petitioned the corporation that "a carte-way be made leading out of the Broad Street to the street that leads by the Pye-woman's, leading to the commons of the city (now City Hall Park), and that he will undertake to do the same provided he may have the soyle." Broad Street in Dutch days was the principal Canal, known as "De Heere Graft." The width of the street, so unusual in lower New York, is particularly noticeable, but the reason is clear when one realizes that a wide canal, large enough for market boats to navi- gate, entered the street near its southern terminus at the river and extended nearly to Wall Street. The canal was benefited by a natural rivulet which ran through it. About 1657 the burgomasters had the sides of the stream planked, making a respectable canal, and it remained in use until 1676. There was also a small canal in Beaver Street. Canal Street had one of these waterways, and in this street the old name has been re- tained. It was not of Dutch origin, however, but was cut through about 1805 for the pur- pose of draining the old fresh water pond or Kalch Hook which covered a large area in the vicinity of the Tombs or Halls of Justice. There was once good fishing in this pond, and excellent skating in winter, but it became a nuisance as the city grew up around it and the canal was decided upon to drain off the waters of the pond and the low lands of Anthony Rutgers' farm, which surrounded a good part of it. The canal was cut through the swampy land of Lispenard meadows to the west, draining into the Hudson. The draining of the pond made it more of a menace to health than before, and about ten years later the pond was filled up and the canal was turned into a street. Water Street is easily explained from the fact that originally it was the one nearest the East River, but when additional land was filled in the new street near the river became Front Street. Whitehall Street, near the Battery, recalls the magnificent white mansion built for Gov. Stuyvesant. Stone Street worthily bears its name from being the first of the Dutch streets to be paved with blocks of stone. Moore Street was named from an old merchant, John Moore, who had his warehouses near the river. [ 23 ] Early Trinity Churchwardens Rector Street, almost opposite Wall on the west side of Broadway, is sufficiently ex- planatory as a bordering street to Trinity Church. Exchange Alley in Colonial times was Oyster Pasty Alley. North of Trinity, extending on both sides of Broadway, was the old Damen farm, the greater part of which eventually came into the possession of Olaff S. Van Cortlandt and Teunis Dey. Olaff Van Cortlandt was one of the great landowners of the time and one of the worthiest of the early Dutch settlers, and his numerous descendants have added to the prominence of the name. His son, Stephanus, was Mayor in 1677 and again in 1686 and 1687. In 1733 the heirs partitioned the property and laid out Cortlandt Street. Teunis Dey was a gardener and miller, his windmill being near the river, and were it not that his name is retained in Dey Street he would hardly be remembered. On the east side of Broadway, from Maiden Lane above Fulton, was the ancient Van Tienhoven farm. Most of it finally became the property of an association of five shoemakers and tanners and is popularly known as the Shoemakers' pasture. Most prominent of these was John Harpending, whose homestead was on the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway. From him John Street gets its name, and the valuable holdings of the Dutch Reformed Church in that locality, between Broadway and William Street, come from his bequest to that denomination of the greater part of his property. Fulton Street was so named in honor of Robert Fulton soon after the success of his Clermont in 1807. It was originally Fair Street on the east side of Broadway and Partition Street on the west, denoting the partition of the adjoining properties. Having solved the problem of the particular John who gave his name to that street, it is natural to suppose that some one will ask, "Well, who was Ann?" In the old book and junk shop annals of the city that narrow street has been famous. It was not always the headquarters for cast-off material. With the surrounding territory Ann Street once formed a part of the first Dutch Governor's garden. Later Gov. Dongan got the property, and his heirs sold it in 1762 to Thomas White, one of the great merchants of the day. He cut the land up into building lots, and what more fitting monument could he pay to his wife than to name one of the streets for her ! It was Mrs. Ann White who ceded to the city the little alley between Broadway and Nassau Street known as Theatre Alley, reminiscent of the days when the popular Park Theatre stood just above the Park Row Building over- looking the square. Several other streets bear the names of the estimable wives of former landowners and influential citizens. There is Hester Street, on the east side, named for Hester Leisler, the wife of Benjamin Rynders, a worthy burgher of Dutch days, and whose name was formerly attached to Mulberry Street. In the Greenwich Village section we find Cornelia Street, hon- oring Cornelia Rutgers, a daughter of Anthony Rutgers, whose name is preserved in an east side thoroughfare. Cornelia Rutgers married Jacob Leroy, a son of old Daniel Leroy, and his name has also gone down to posterity in Greenwich Village. The two streets bearing the name of Jones have often aroused curiosity. Some one might reasonably inquire why, with two Jones Streets, there is no Smith Street. There was, in Dutch times, the lower part of William Street being known as Smith, and the fact that the low land at the foot of Maiden Lane was originally known as Smit's Vly shows that the Dutchman with the English name tilled his fields near by. But to get back to the Jones history. Jones Street was ceded to the city about 1799, being called so in honor of Dr. Humphrey Jones, one of the noted practitioners of his day. Great Jones Street, jutting off Broadway near Bond, ran through the land of Samuel Jones, a grandson of Chief Justice David Jones and Recorder of the city from 1789 to 1795. When [24] THIS REMARKABLE OLD LITHOGRAPH GIVES AN EXCELLENT IDEA OF THE STREET BEFORE THE GREAT FIRE OF 1835. THE BUILDINGS. AS YOU SEE. ARE OF A RATHER INCONSEQUENTIAL CHARACTER. THE MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE BEING THE ONLY ONE OF ARCHITEC- TURAL IMPORTANCE. THE FEATURE OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR PRINT IS THE MARGINS EACH PARTICULAR BUILDING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET IS CAREFULLY SHOWN. AND AT THE TOP IS A DISTANT VIEW OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS ONLY THREE COPIES OF THIS LITHOGRAPH ARE KNOWN IN THIS STATE, THERE ARE LATER IMPRESSIONS. HOWEVER. BUT NONE SHOW THE BORDER WITH THE BUILDINGS. ADJOINING THE EXCHANGE WAS THE ORIGINAL JEWELRY STORE OF BENEDICT BROS. JOHN J ASTOR ADVISED THE ELDER BENE- DICT TO PURCHASE THIS SITE. WHICH HE DID. AND AFTERWARDS RESOLD IT AT GREAT PROFIT. THE BENEDICT BROS. HAVE DONE BUSINESS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY. FIRST IN WALL STREET. AND LATER IN BROADWAY. BELOW FULTON FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. RORERT GOELET Trinity Names Many Streets after its Vestrymen Samuel Jones wanted to perpetuate his family name he found that an earlier member had jumped his claim, as it were. Therefore, that there might be no mistake as to his street, he had no compunctions in styling it Great Jones. There is also a Jones Lane in the old ship- ping centre, running off Front Street. When Trinity Corporation was opening new streets and ceding them to the city it wanted to honor Bishop Moore but found that the name had been given long before to the little street in the lower part of the city. Trinity's street, however, was well to the north and hence North Moore was an easy suggestion out of the difficulty. Were it not for the policy long ago adopted by Trinity Church to give the names of its Wardens and Vestrymen to many of the streets as they were laid out from time to time through the broad acres of its Church Farm, more than one of the great leaders in the early mercantile and social life of the city would now be forgotten. These commemorate the activities of Gabriel Ludlow, Matthew Clarkson, Col. Bayard, John Reade, Joseph Murray, John Cham- bers, Stephen De Lancey, Robert Watts, Elias Desbrosses, Edward Laight, Dr. John Charl- ton, Humphrey Jones, Anthony Lispenard, Gov. Morgan Lewis, Thomas Barrow, Jacob Le- roy, Frank Dominick, John Clark, Rufus King, the Rev. Dr. Beach, and that worthy old Dutchman Rip Van Dam. Many of these streets had been laid out before the Commissioners of 1807 bequeathed to the city the rectangular system of streets and avenues which many would like to see changed in certain respects by cutting broad, diagonal thoroughfares through some of the busiest parts of the city. Fortunately for the perpetuation of the historical antecedents of many of the streets, in the lower part of the city as well as in old Greenwich Village and on the lower east side below Houston Street, they were not disturbed in the ruthless straight- line mapping of the Commissioners, and their names hold good to-day, to add to the his- torical interest of the city, besides arousing occasional curiosity concerning their nomenclature. In 1808 Trinity ceded to the city the ground for many of the streets running through the Church Farm in old Greenwich Village, and in addition to those already mentioned, Green- wich, Hudson, Varick, Vestry, and Macdougal Streets obtained their names about this time. The Greenwich Street was an extension, however, of the same thoroughfare in the lower part of the city which for years had been the main highway to the old-time village northwest of the city proper. Greenwich Village for years was one of the health resorts of the city, and previous to the Revolution magnificent country homes lined the banks of the Hudson. Greenwich was so named by Sir Peter Warren, the English Admiral who assisted in the capture of Louisburg from the French in the French and Indian war of 1756. He bought a large estate there several years before he became famous, and erected a magnificent residence, standing in the block bounded by the present Charles, Perry, Bleecker and Tenth Streets. The old house at 1 Broadway was for a time his city residence. Bleecker Street per- petuates the family name and the extensive Bleecker farm in the same way as Beekman, De- lancey, Rutgers, Bayard, and Cortlandt show the influence and the extensive land holdings of these families. Perry Street came in after the War of 1812 to honor the Lake Erie victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Minetta Street recalls the existence of the Minetta Brooklet which flowed from the marshes around Washington Square westward to the Hudson. Varick and Macdougal, two of the important thoroughfares of old Greenwich, commem- orate Revolutionary officers, Col. Richard Varick, who was Mayor of the city for twelve years, from 1789 to 1800, and Gen. Alexander McDougal, one of the old-time Liberty Boys. Vandam Street keeps alive the memory of Rip Van Dam, a wealthy Dutchman, who was one of the early shipbuilders and President of the Council in 1731. Watts Street recalls John [27] The Yellow Feveb Watts, the last city Recorder under the crown, while Bethune Street, of later date, com- memorates the mercantile and charitable activities of Divie Bethune and his wife, Joanna. That quiet, staid thoroughfare, Bank Street, one of the most characteristic survivors of early residential days in Greenwich Village, gets its name from the number of banks that moved there during the cholera and yellow fever epidemics less than a century ago. John Lam- bert, an English visitor in 1807, makes an interesting comment on those times. "As soon as yellow fever makes its appearance," he says, "the inhabitants shut up their shops and fly from their homes into the country. Those who cannot go far on account of business remove to Greenwich, situate on the border of the Hudson about two or three miles from town. The banks and other public offices also remove their business to this place and markets are regularly established for the supply of the inhabitants." Two eminent names that must not be overlooked in Manhattan's street nomenclature are Broome and Duane. John Broome was one of the merchant princes of the city after the Rev- olution, and his ships brought cargoes from all ports of the world. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce from 1785 to 1794, a State Assemblyman, and Lieutenant-Governor. He died in 1810. The State honored him in 1808 by naming one of the counties Broome. James Duane was the first Mayor of the city after the Revolution, holding office from 1783 to 1788. He owned a country estate covering what is now Gramercy Park. He was an ardent patriot and fled from the city when the British took possession. He held many other important offices, and was the attorney for Trinity Church in the first great lawsuit to determine its title to the Church Farm, which has been in litigation from time to time for more than a century by various heirs of Anneke Jans. Baxter Street, associated for years as the headquarters for cheap clothing stores, was formerly Orange Street. It fell into bad odor, as did many others in the immediate vicinity, and in order to give it a better character the City Fathers, soon after the Mexican War, changed its name in honor of Lieut.-Col. Charles Baxter. He was a New Yorker and died in the City of Mexico from wounds received at the assault on Chapultepec. His remains were brought back to New York, and there was a public funeral in the City Hall and he was buried in the Mexican plot at Greenwood. The name of a brave officer did not alter the character of the street, and it is doubtful if one person out of a thousand to-day ever heard of Col. Baxter. A number of streets were named after the War of 1812 in honor of warriors who were prominent in that conflict. Perry Street has been mentioned. On the east side there is quite a batch of these 1812 war hero thoroughfares, including Forsyth, named for Col. Forsyth, who was wounded in Canada; Chrystie, for Lieut.-Col. John Chrystie, killed at the Niagara frontier; Eldridge, for Lieut. Eldridge, scalped in Canada; Allen, for Lieut. Will- iam H. Allen, wounded in the naval fight between the Argus and the British ship Pelican; Ludlow, for Lieut. Ludlow, killed in action between the Chesapeake and the Shannon; Pike, for Gen. Pike, killed in the attack on Toronto in 1813. Worth Street was named in honor of Gen. Worth, killed in the Mexican War. It supplanted the earlier name of Anthony, after Anthony Rutgers, through whose farm it ran. Dutchmen and Englishmen, Revolutionary heroes and officers in later wars, merchants, ministers, lawyers, men of renown, and those whose history lies buried in forgotten records of long ago — New York's streets present a most interesting array of many of the best char- acters whose lives have influenced the city for good. Of Presidents we have Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, and Madison; among the Revolutionary lights Lafayette is not forgotten; Irving Place illustrates the esteem in which Washington Irving, a native New Yorker, was [28] COPYRIGHT 1913. H C BROWN (Turn-out of thr Atnrrtran Exurfas (Company THE BACKGROUND SHOWS THE COMPANY'S THEN NEW BUILDING. CORNER HUDSON. JAY AND STAPLE STREETS. 1858. AN OLD-TIME LITHOGRAPH PUBLISHED BY OTTO BOTTICHER. 333 BROADWAY. AND USED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES. DRAWN FROM NATURE. INTERESTING ITEM OF EARLY DAYS IN THE EXPRESS BUSINESS. AND NOW EXTREMELY SCARCE THE FIGURES IN THE LEFT FOREGROUND AND ALSO IN THE WAGON WERE THOSE OF HIGH OFFICIALS IN THE COMPANY AND WERE DRAWN FROM LIFE-A CUSTOM QUITE GENERAL IN THOSE DAYS. AND FREQUENTLY OBSERVED IN OTHER SEMI-PUBLIC PRINTS. WHERE THE FACES WERE COPIED FROM DAGUERREOTYPES AND INSERTED IN THE FIGURES. (SEE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRINT. MERCHANTS- EXCHANGE. FIRE PRINT AND OTHERS ) FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND. Curious Old-time Names held, and Waverly Place shows the influence of Scott, that thoroughfare being so named during the time that his popular novels were being issued. Former Mayors of the city have given their names to Willett, Varick, Cortlandt, Bayard, De Peyster, Duane and Clinton Streets. Willett Street is in honor not of the first Mayor, but of Marinus Willett, one of the Sons of Liberty, and who had a magnificent country home in the vicinity of his street. Sheriff Street, nearby, also commemorates the fact that Willett was for years a popular Sheriff of the town. As late as 1825 the principal fronts of the blocks on Broadway, on the west side be- tween Franklin and White Streets, and on the east side between White and Walker Streets, were in primitive soil, and enclosed with board fences. Many of the older streets still re- tained names now forgotten. The craze for a change, so familiar to New Yorkers of mod- ern date in their loss, for example, of Amity, Anthony, Bancker, Chatham and Robinson Streets (to name only the first that come to mind), has swept away ancient designations that they know not of. Thus, in earlier times, South William Street was known as "Dirty Lane"; Cliff, as "Elbow Street"; Nassau, originally as "Pie Woman's Lane"; Beaver, as "Slaughterhouse Lane"; Broad, as "Smell Street"; Elm, as "Republican Alley"; Washing- ton Place, from University Place to Fifth Avenue, as "Shinbone Alley." Hanover Street was Sloat Lane; Exchange Place was Garden Street from Hanover to Broad, and thence to Broadway was called "Flat and Barrack Hill," this descent being then a favorite place of boys for "coasting." The narrow passage nearly opposite — from the west side of Broad- way to Trinity Place (Church Street) — was colloquially, if not legally, termed "Tin Pot Alley," the title it bears to the present day, though some absurd person of more or less au- thority has endeavored to effect a change by putting on an adjacent street-lamp the name "Exchange Alley," to denote a passage wherein less exchange takes place than in any other throughout the entire city. We have noted with singular pleasure that when demolition and rebuilding were in progress in this locality that staunch New Yorker, the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, desiring to make sure the perpetuation of a time-honored name, prepared, at his own care and cost, a decorated tablet of graceful design, bearing the old name, which was built into the wall of the new structure on the south corner. Other changes at this time were: OLD NEW OLD NEW . Liberty Street. Little Dock . . . South, between Whitehall Dock . Pearl, between Broad and and Old Slip. Hanover Square. Little Queen . Cedar. Duke . South William. , Part of Pearl. Dyes Dey. , Fulton, between Broadway . Fulton, between Broadway and William. and Cliff. . Beaver, between Broad and . Spruce William. King George . . Pearl, between Wall and and Pearl. Broadway. King . Pine. , Park Place. St. James . . . . James. On January 10, 1827, Lombardy was changed to Monroe Street; and Harman, named after Harmanus Rutgers, was widened on the east side, and named East Broadway. Black- well's Island was at this time still in private hands. More than two centuries ago it was owned and occupied by John Manning, an ex-sheriff of New York, who was in command of the city and surrendered it to the Dutch on their attack in 1673; for which feat he was promptly [31] When the Changes Were Made cashiered by the English when they had renewed their possession. Manning left the island to his daughter, the wife of Robert Blackwell. The City bought it in 1828 for fifty thousand dollars. The islands now called Ward's and Randall's were then known as Great and Little Barn Islands, "Barn" being apparently a corruption of Barent, an earlier name. Even "Randall's" seems an incorrect title, since the city bought this property in 1835 (also for fifty thousand dollars) from the executors of Jonathan Randall, who had given twenty-four pounds for it about seventy years earlier. This island, then held by British troops, was the scene of a sharp action in September, 1776, when the assaulting column of Americans suf- fered a repulse with the loss of twenty-two killed, and failed to gain the ammunition which they sought. 1829. January 26, Pump Street, running from Division to Collect Street, was changed to Walker Street; this was before Canal Street, in name, was continued to East Broadway. Reason, from Macdougal Street to where it crossed Asylum, was changed to Barrow Street. In April Beaver Lane was changed to Morris Street, and Herring, from Carmine to Bank Street, became Bleecker Street. In May Barrow was changed to Grove Street. Clinton Mar- ket, on Washington, Spring, Canal and West Streets, was opened in April. Arden, from Bleecker to Bedford, was changed to Morton ; David, from Broadway to Herring, changed to Bleecker Street. "THE MAIDENS' PATH" Another curious street — Maiden Lane — enjoys a unique reputation as the one street in our city which has a regularly organized Historical Society to look after its welfare and to keep its memory green. They recently erected a tablet on the Silversmiths' Building, the gift of Mr. Edward Holbrook, President of the Gor- ham Company, which sets forth the origin of the street and particularly of its adoption by the jewelry trade as a central location. Maiden Lane, which has jumped into prominence through the tablet on the Silversmiths' Building, near Broadway, has as curious and important a history as any street in the city. For so crooked and so short a thoroughfare it has played many parts in the career of the growing metropolis. It originally obtained its name from the fact that about 1660, and for many years thereafter, the daughters of the old Knickerbockers came in troops, on washing days, to spread their clothes upon the smooth grassy slopes which rose from the valley, westward, as far as King (Pine) Street, and eastward to Golden Hill (between John and Fulton Streets). When they had covered these fields with newly cleansed apparel, they would run, romp, or loiter along homeward, on the margin of the tiny streamlet, while their merry voices started the woodland echoes in the forests about the Park and Beekman Street. Passing up to the Broadway, they found a good path in the Indian trail to the Battery, and finally entered the city by the gate at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street. Their constant goings to and fro through the valley soon made a beaten track along the rivu- let, which by universal consent was denominated 'T Maagde Paatje (the Maidens' Path), and by the English, Maiden Lane. No other street has been so honored and no other street has given birth to a historical society devoted solely to its interests. The Maiden Lane Historical Society, of which Edward [ 32 ] COPYRIGHT. 1913 H C BROWN Hirw of S>t. Paula (ttliurrh auu tljr Snmottmy Viagra AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE VIEW OF AN IMPORTANT DRAWING FROM LIFE. BY H . REINAGLE. LITHOGRAPHED BY PENDLETON. 9 WALL STREET. THREE OTHER PERF ECT I M PR ESSIO N S ONLY ARE KNOWN. IT SHOWS THE SITE OCCUPIED BY THE ASTOR HOUSE AND THE OFFICE (SMALL BUILDING ) IN WHICH WILLIAM H. HARRISON (TIPPECANOE ) STUDIED LAW. ITS GREAT VALUE. HOWEVER, CONSISTS IN THE FIDELITY WITH WHICH THE STREET TRAFFIC AND FOOT PASSENGERS ARE DRAWN AND FOR THE VIEW OF A CORNER THAT HAS ALWAYS FORMED AN IMPORTANT INTERSECTION OF THREE BUSY STREETS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR ROBERT GO EL ET- The Maidens' Path Holbrook of the Gorham Company is president, has contributed a chapter of genuine value to the perpetuation of fast-fading historical associations. The tablet recites the fact that the street was originally called 'T Maagde Paatje, "The Maidens' Walk." Later it was called Green Lane, but just why no chronicler has stated. The big hardware house of Wolf, Bishop & Co. was there, and Gunther's fur store was on the lane for years. When the hardware and dry-goods stores left for newer quarters, the silversmiths and jewelers came in around 1840, and they have made Maiden Lane famous ever since. Early in the century there was an Arcade in Maiden Lane, extending through to John Street and occupying the space of the three buildings now known as Nos. 9, 11 and 13. It comprised a passageway extending from street to street, lined on either side by small stores. Above these stores an iron railing was visible which lined the edge of a passageway, passing in front of another row of stores upon the second story. A flight of stairs at either end offered access to the floor above. Overhead a glass roof furnished both protection and light. The Arcade supplied a special attraction to the small boy, who took delight in rushing through to John Street and back again. There he bought his stick of candy, and there his proud mamma purchased his new cap or pair of shoes. In fact, the Arcade contained every- thing from needles and pins to petticoats, and was regarded as the general shopping dis- trict for the private families that lived in John, Nassau and Reade Streets, furnishing also a favorite promenade in the cool of the evening and a thoroughfare on Sunday afternoon on the way down to Battery Park, where the best people of the city were to be seen. The old Arcade yielded in the course of time to the pressure of other interests. It is possible that the departure of private families to homes further uptown caused it to suf- fer a decline in trade; at any rate, some time between 1830 and 1835 it passed out of ex- istence. Formerly Maiden Lane was much lower at the junction of Pearl Street and up to Gold (Rutgers' Hill) than at present; the tide water coming sometimes nearly as far up as the angular corner at the intersection of Crown (Liberty) Street. Maiden Lane was then very narrow, with an open gutter in the middle, down which in rainy weather ran a torrent of water from the hills on either side sufficient to prevent foot passengers from crossing below William Street. In early times, before the street was built up, there were many pretty cottages on the western side, some of them inhabited by the very pink of Knickerbocker aristocracy. Here flourished in all the pride of fashion, high-heeled shoes, powdered wigs, enormous hoops, and a thousand other forgotten vagaries of dress. Women then, both old and young, wore caps continually ; a bare head was never seen ; stiff stays, about as unyielding as the staves of a wine cask, and hoops projecting two feet from the body on either side were among the peculiar fashions of the time. Their dresses were all of silk or wool; cotton was entirely unknown; powdered hair, long queues and frizzled sidelocks were all the rage. The "Skimmer hat" was one of the peculiar fashions of the day. This was in a shape something like a Leghorn flat, and made of a fabric which shone like silver. Where the street slopes down to the river, at its junction with Liberty Street, was the famous Fly Market, a corruption of the Dutch word "Vly," meaning a valley or low land. The Fly Market was an institution of the locality surviving long after the Revolution, and some of the Fly Market butchers were among the most substantial citizens. Two of them have given their names to city streets, James Mott, and his apprentice, James Pell. The latter was a shining light in old St. George's Chapel in Beekman Street. [35] EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH The following account of the evacuation of the city of New York, on the 25th of November, 1783, is taken from Rivington's Gazette and Universal Ad- vertiser of the day after: Yesterday, in the morning, the American troops marched from Harlem to the Bowery lane. They re- mained there until about one o'clock, when the British troops left the Posts in the Bowery, and the American troops marched into and took possession of the city in the following order, vif.: 1. A Corps of Dragoons. 2. Advance Guard of Light Infantry. 3. A Corps of Artillery. 4. Battalion of Light Infantry. 5. Battalion of Massachusetts Troops. 6. Rear Guard. After the troops had taken possession of the city, the General and Governor made their public entry in the following manner: 1. Their Excellencies, the General and Governor, with their Secretaries, on horseback. 2. The Lieutenant Governor and the Members of the Council, for the temporary government of the Southern District, four-a-breast. 3. Major General Knox, and the Officers of the Army, eight-a-breast. 4. Citizens on horseback, eight-a-breast. 5. The Speaker of the Assembly, and citizens on foot, eight-a-breast. Their Excellencies, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, were escorted by a body of Westchester Light Horse, under the command of Captain Delavan. The procession proceeded down Queen Street (now Pearl), and through the Broadway to Cope's Tavern, at the corner of Broadway and Thames Street. The Governor gave a public dinner at Fraunces' tavern, at which the Commander-in-Chief and other general officers were present. After dinner the following toasts were drunk by the company: 1. The United States of America. 2. His Most Christian Majesty. 3. The United Netherlands. 4. The King of Sweden. 5. The American Army. 6. The Fleet and Armies of France which have served in America. 7. The Memory of Those Heroes who have fallen for our Freedom. 8. May our Country be Grateful to Her Military Children. 9. May Justice Support what Courage Has Gained. 10. The Vindication of the Rights of Mankind in every Quarter of the Globe. 11. May America be an Asylum for the persecuted of the Earth. 12. May a Close Union of the States Guard the Temple they have erected to Liberty. 13. May the remembrance of this DAY be a lesson to Princes! The arrangement of the whole conduct of this march with the tranquility which succeeded it through the day and night, was admirable, and the grateful citizens will ever feel the more affectionate impressions from that elegant and efficient disposition which prevailed through the whole event. [36] COPYRIGHT 1913 H C BfiOWN Sroabuiaij, rorttrr (Canal S>trrrt, IB 35 A COPY OF THE FAMOUS HORNER AUUATINT. SHOWING THE CORNER OF BROADWAY AND CANAL STREET IN 1835. ASIDE FROM THE GENERAL INTEREST AFFORDED BY THE STYLE OF BUILDINGS AND THE LONG VIEW OF BROADWAY. IT IS PARTICU- LARLY VALUABLE FOR ITS PICTORIAL STORY OF THE TIMES. PRACTICALLY EVERY TYPE OF HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLE IN USE AT THE TIME IS SHOWN. BUT THE STREET CHARACTERS ARE EVEN MORE INTERESTING. AT THE LEFT IS A PILE OF WOOD. COAL WAS VERY LITTLE USED IN THOSE DAYS. AND WOOD WAS BOUGHT FROM WAGONS IN LOGS DUMPED ON THE SIDEWALK AND AFTERWARD SAWED INTO SHORT LENGTHS AT THE LOWER EXTREME RIGHT IS SHOWN A PILE OF LOGS AND THE COLORED MAN WITH HIS BUCK- SAW AND HORSES. THE TRAVELLING COBBLER WITH A STRING OF SHOES ON A LONG POLE IS SHOWN ON THE CORNER A BOY IS CRYING "TEA RUSK-RUK. RUK.-TEA 'RUK ! " AND ON THE LEFT- HAND SIDE IS A PEDDLER SELLING ICE OUT OF A WAGON A CURL AND WIG STORE IS ON THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER AND NUMER- OUS DOGS ARE SEEN. A FOUR-HORSE STAGE IS IN THE CENTRE. WHILE DOTTING BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET ARE NUMEROUS STANDS SELLING PIES. FRUIT. ETC . ETC. BUT FEW COPIES OF THIS INTERESTING PICTURE ARE KNOWN. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR ROBERT GOELET. ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL IN BEEKMAN STREET (Interesting interview with the late Senior Warden, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan) It was my very great privilege a few months ago, to procure for the late Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan a copy of the photograph of St. George's Chapel shown on another page, which was taken while the chapel was still standing in Beekman Street. Considerable interest attaches to this picture as it is, so far as I am aware, the only copy in existence. In its original state it is merely a very small tintype of the kind commonly made in those days and appears to be the work of some itin- erant operator of that period. At that time it used to be an ordinary sight to see a travelling photographer in front of almost any store, the entrance of which would be crowded by the em- ployees of the firm, picturesquely arranged for a "group" photograph. A day or two later, a specimen print would be shown and an order from each of the persons in the group would generally follow. It is some such occurrence as this which has preserved to us this old portrait of St. George's. It is probable that the em- ployees of Sutphen & Meyer and of the Colwell Lead Co. were included in the original negative, but if so they have long ago faded out. When Mr. Morgan had gazed long and intently upon the old chapel I inter- rupted him to show him the picture of the Everett House also shown on another page. "That," I remarked, forgetting for the moment that I was talking to a vestryman of over forty-seven years' standing, "that is the first site St. George's selected when they decided to move uptown." "But there were two more houses," interrupted Mr. Morgan, "than your pic- ture shows — two more — we went right up to No. 33. The deal was practically closed for twenty-five thousand dollars, and we were on the way downtown when we met Mrs. Stuyvesant. We told her what we had decided to do, when she said: 'What do you want to squander all that money for? — come over where I live and I'll give you all the land you need.' " And that's why St. George's Chapel did not buy the corner of Fourth Ave- nue, from Seventeenth to Eighteenth Street, opposite Union Square, but went to Stuyvesant Square instead. The chapel was established in Beekman Street in 1752 and the following account, written at the time of its removal uptown in 1868, is of unusual interest. "On the 15th of April, 1748, a number of gentlemen met in the vestry of King's Chapel, or Trinity Church, then situated where the present church stands in the Broadway, but, at the time referred to, overhanging the banks of the Hudson. These gentlemen being of the opinion, after a deliberate consultation, that it was necessary to have a chapel of ease con- nected with Trinity, it was then and there ordained that the Church-wardens, Colonel Moore, Mr. Watts, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Horsmanden, Mr. Reade, and Mr. Lodge, be [39] Founding of St. George's appointed a committee to select a place for the erection 'of ye' Chapel of St. George's. Another meeting was held on the 4th of July, 1748. Colonel Robinson, one of the commit- tee, reported that he had agreed with a Mr. Clarkson for a number of lots, for which that person had asked the sum of £500, to be paid in a year; and several persons in Montgomerie Ward had stated to him that the lots of Colonel Beekman, fronting Beekman and Van Cliff Streets, would be more commodious for building the said chapel, and proposed that if the vestry would agree to the building of the chapel on Colonel Beekman's property, the inhab- itants of Montgomerie Ward would raise money among themselves to purchase the ground, and that if Mr. Clarkson insisted on the performance of the agreement with him for his lots, they would take a conveyance for them, and pay the purchase money; which was agreed to after many hot words ; for these respectable vestrymen, in a manner like all vestrymen from time immemorial, had tempers of their own, and no doubt they were exercised at the fact that the doughty Robinson had taken upon himself to make an agreement to purchase lots for £500, a very large sum in those days, when the gold-board had not been established, while, on the other hand, the inhabitants of Montgomerie Ward, which was afterward called the 'Swamp' in the memory of man, were, without whip or spur, eager, for the honor and glory of the future, to furnish the lots and build upon them a church. Well, the vestry- men drank more arrack-punch, sweetened with muscovado sugar, and punished 'oelykoeks,' greasy with oil and other substances, and then returned to the bosoms of their respec- tive families. Donations poured in to the committee, and the first subscription, of £100, was made by Sir Peter Warren, who desired, if not inconsistent with the rules of the church, that they would reserve a pew for himself and family in perpetuity. The Archbishop of Can- terbury contributed ten pounds. The installation services were held on the 1st day of July, A.D. 1752; but there being no bishop in the country at the time, it was consecrated agree- ably to the ancient usages of the church. The Rev. Henry Barclay, D.D., at this time was the rector, and Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, D.D., assistant minister of Trinity Church. Being finished in the finest style of architecture of the period, and having a handsome and lofty steeple, this edifice was justly deemed a great ornament to the city. It first stood alone, there being but few other houses in its vicinity. Shortly subsequent, however, the streets were graded and built upon, and now the immense warehouses of enterprising merchants aud hand- some private residences surround it on every side. When first constructed, the interior ar- rangement of St. George's differed considerably from 1868, the chancel at that time being contained in the circular recess at the rear of the church, and the altar standing back against the rear wall in full view of the middle aisle. There was also some difference in the arrangement of the desk, pulpit, and clerk's desk. An interesting relation is told con- cerning the material of which this part of the church furniture was made, and it may be thus condensed: In one of the voyages made by a sea-captain, whose vessel was unfortunately wrecked, he sustained, among other injuries, the loss of the vessel's masts. This disaster occurring on a coast where no other wood than mahogany could be procured, the captain was obliged to remedy the loss by replacing the old masts with masts made of mahogany. This ship, thus repaired, returned to this port about the time St. George's was building, when more suitable masts were substituted, and those made of mahogany were donated to the church. The pulpit, desk, and chancel-rails were removed some years afterward, and it may be interesting to state that they can now be seen answering a like capacity in Christ Church, in the little town of Manhasset, on Long Island. "There is an incident connected with the beautiful font of this church which will also bear repetition. Originally intended for a Catholic church in South America, it was shipped [40] C BROWN Haaljimjtim Square as a Jflara&p (6rmtni» THIS CURIOUS OLD LITHOGRAPH RECALLS THE TIME WHEN WASH- INGTON SQUARE WAS ONE OF THE SHOW PLACES OF THE TOWN. AND WHERE THE LOCAL MILITIA PARADED FOR INSPECTION. THIS VIEW IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS FROM THE ORIGINAL PICTURE IN THE POSSESSION OF THE 8th CO.. AND THE PRINCIPAL HEADS ARE DAGUERREOTYPES TAKEN BY MEADE BROS . WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THOSE DAYS. AT 233 BROADWAY. IT IS A COLORED PICTURE AND WAS CONSIDERED SOMETHING RE- MARKABLE IN ITS DAY. AS BOTH PHOTOGRAPHY AND LITHOGRAPHY WERE THEN INTHEIR INFANCY. IT WAS PU B L I SH E D BY OTTO BOTT- CH1NGER AT 289 BROADWAY. AND. BESIDES BEING A GOOD PICTURE OF THE REGIMENT. SHOWS ALSO THE OLD UNIVERSITY BUILDING AND THE OLD HOUSES WHICH SU RRO U N DE D T H E SQUARE IN 1852. WHEN THE POPULARITY OF THE SQUARE WAS AT ITS HEIGHT. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MRS. ROBERT W. DE FOREST. The Death or Mr. Morgan on a French vessel to be carried to its destination; but whilst on the voyage it was cap- tured by the English during the old French war and brought to this city. This font is made of white marble, and is a masterly piece of workmanship. In 1814, when St. George's was burned, this font was supposed to have been destroyed, but it was found about thirty years ago in a remote part of the church, where it had been removed during the conflagra- tion. It was somewhat damaged, but not enough, however, to prevent its further use; and after being cleaned and repaired it was replaced in front of the chancel, where it now stands, an interesting feature of the time-honored building. "In the year 1811, arrangements were made for a separation between the congregation of St. George's and the corporation of Trinity Church, after which the former became duly organized as a separate parish, known as St. George's Church. "The following persons composed the first vestry: Church-wardens — Gerrit Van Wag- enen and Henry Peters. Vestrymen — Francis Dominick, Isaac Lawrence, Isaac Carow, Rob- ert Wardell, Cornelius Schermerhorn, John Onderdonk, Edward W. Laight, and William Green. After St. George's became a separate parish, its first minister was the Rev. John Brady, who afterward became an assistant under the Rev. John Kewly. "One hundred years after the consecration of St. George's, a grand centenary celebration was held in the church, and hundreds of worshipers knelt in the shadow of the pulpit from which George Washington had often heard the sacred text read and expounded. Dr. Tyng held the rectorship until the new edifice in Sixteenth Street was finished, when the communion service was removed to the new church, and a number of old relics carried away. Now the venerable pile is being gutted from organ-loft to altar, and the hungry doors stand open that all may see the nakedness of the edifice. The old gray flag-stones, worn by the feet of Schuylers, Livingstons, Reades, Van Cliffs, Beekmans, Van Rensselaers, Cortlandts, Moores, and others, well known and respected in the infancy of the metropolis, are to be torn up and converted into lime; the pulpit will go to a junk shop, and the rest of the furniture to the wood-yard." Since the above was written St. George's has enjoyed a career of unexampled prosperity in its present location in Stuyvesant Square. And upon the sad occa- sion of the funeral services for Mr. Morgan it sheltered as distinguished an audi- ence as ever assembled in a city to whose greatness John Pierpont Morgan devoted so much of his life and monumental talents. [43] DELIGHTFUL MEMORIES OF BYGONE DAYS BY MEN STILL LIVING In the pages which follow, no particular attempt has been made to arrange these records and recollections consecutively or do much else than present the writer's own description of things he remembers or of which he was a part. Most of them are personal conversations jotted down as opportunity offered. Others are specially dictated contributions for this work and some are communications which have appeared from time to time in our daily press, notably in the New York Sun. It seemed to the writer that they are entitled to a more permanent place than in the fugitive pages of a daily publication. The files of the World, Herald, Times, Evening Post, Mail and Express, Globe, Telegram, Tribune, have also contributed. It is of course impossible to enumerate the long list of papers in other cities whose columns have at some time or other contained historical mention of New York, and this must be accepted as a general acknowledgment. In my judgment these communications are of high historical value, and will grow in value as time passes. They present a personal glimpse of the period of which they treat, and a first-hand knowledge which it will soon be impossible to obtain. By Charles F. Lawrence [Mr. Lawrence was one of our old downtown merchants who gladly placed on record his recollections of the city as he recalled it as a boy. His memory goes back almost half a century, and it was a genuine pleasure for him to recount his early knowledge and to con- trast it with present-day conditions. Many of our readers will be carried back to those older days by a perusal of his article, anil those to whom it comes as a surprising revelation can at least be assured of its absolute accuracy.] I remember the fleet of sidewheeled passenger boats run by the Staten Island Ferry Company. The boats were named Middleton, Castleton, Northfield, Southfield, West- field. Who remembers the old stage lines that ran down Broadway to the different ferries? Some went to South Ferry, some to Cortlandt Street and others to Fulton Ferry and Wall Street Ferry. The stages were prettily painted with bodies in white, and lettering and run- ning gear in red. The line running to Fulton Ferry, the Fifth Avenue line, had the most elaborate stages, the body of the bus being finished in navy blue, running gear in white, striped with red, and the lettering was done in gold. The door of the stage was opened or closed by a heavy leather strap controlled by the driver. When he opened the door to admit a passenger he would release his hold on the strap. When the passenger had entered the driver would haul the strap taut; then he would ring for your fare, which you passed up to him through a small opening at the rear of his seat. The driver then deposited the money in a little change box beside his seat. Messenger boys used to climb up and sit on the box with the driver. It was understood that the fare was then to be divided between the boy and the driver, as it was not necessary to ring it up. [44 ] MORRIS CADETS. HUSSARS. GERMAN LAFAYETTE. MONTGOMERY. WASHINGTON AND BROOKLYN HORSE GUARDS. NATIONAL GUARD AND WASHINGTON GREYS TROOP. HORSE ARTILLERY, LANCERS. LIKE THE FIRE PICTURE OF 1835. THE EXPRESS COMPANY. AND THE ' WASHINGTON SQUARE PARADE.'' THIS LITHOGRAPH SHOWS THE ACTUAL LIKENESSES IN THE FOREG RO U N D OF TH E CO M M A N D- ING OFFICERS. THESE LITHOGRAPHS WERE BOUGHT AS SOU- VENIRS BY THE MEMBERS. BUT FEW ARE NOW IN EXISTENCE. THIS WAS PRINTED IN 1844 BY F J, FRITSCH OF THIS CITY, AND THE BACKGROUND SHOWS CASTLE GARDEN. THE BATTERY AND THE BAY. IT IS A RARE COLORED COPY AND IS NOW PRACTICALLY UNOBTAINABLE AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF AN OLD-TIME CRACK REGIMENT. IT IS OF GREAT INTEREST. ITS MEMBERS CAME FROM FAMILIES OF THE HIGHEST SOCIAL STANDING IN THE CITY. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR, PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND. Sailing Vessels on South Street When you wanted to alight you had to pull on the strap. Then the driver would release his hold on the strap and the door would fly open. The fare in those days was 10 cents and the lines paid good dividends. In winter time in extreme cold weather they would place a bedding of straw on the floors of the stages to keep the passengers' feet warm. There was not much advertising done in those days and the small panels over the win- dows of each stage had a crudely executed rural scene painted in oil colors. At night the only illumination was from a small candle enclosed in a glass case or box between the front windows. In later years they used oil lamps, which sometimes smoked forth a disagreeable odor. I remember seeing stage sleighs on Broadway. One of the stage lines had a terminal at Avenue B and Fourteenth Street. City Hall Park was enclosed by a railing. On the railing the venders would string a long fluttering line of penny ballads. You could pur- chase a dandy hunk of George Washington pie in those days for a cent. Or you could buy a cigar for a penny from an oval-eyed Chinaman and light it at the smoky oil lamp on his stand. Lower South Street seemed an almost impenetrable forest of spars, masts and rigging. The beautiful, sleek clipper ships used to dock there and the bowsprits of the vessels used to extend almost across the width of South Street and seemed to pierce the grimy windows of the warehouses. The figureheads on the bows of the vessels were of colossal size and were beautifully carved. Some of the figureheads represented dolphins, mermaids, kings, queens, admirals, etc. The figureheads were beautifully painted, some with a coat of pure white and some all a blaze of gold. When the glint of the sun rested on these figures and illumined their beautiful lines it was a sight worth going miles to see. The South Street wharves were also busy places. Competition for freight was keen, too. Before sailing days the agents of the different lines of sailing vessels would issue and distribute among all the business houses beautifully printed cards which gave all information about sailing dates, freight rates, etc. Some of the cards bore a picture of a vessel at sea straining under full sail. The cards were really artistic, the best work of the printer and lithographer. Brooks Bros.' clothing store was on Catharine Street and Barnum & Co.'s clothing store on Chatham Square; the old Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton and William Streets, and the old post office on Nassau Street, between Cedar and Liberty Streets. It was a low, dingy, red brick building. I remember a P. H. Jones as postmaster then. In those days the Cunard Line steamers docked over at Jersey City. The office of the line was in Bowling Green. C. G. Franklyn was agent for the line. Many a time as a boy I visited the Bowling Green office to get bills of lading signed, and went to the Jersey City docks with letters for the supplementary mails. The Cunard Line in those days had a side- wheeled steamer named Scotia. She carried the mail, and if she made the trip in ten or twelve days the downtown merchants were jubilant. In those days gold was at a high premium. Callender & Henderson were a brokerage firm in Exchange Place. Many a bill of gold I purchased there for the firm I was with. Cables to Europe cost a dollar a word in gold. Those were big days in the cotton market. The Cotton Exchange was in a building in Pearl Street near Wall Street. Who remembers the following big guns of the cotton market : Inman, Swann & Co., Lehman Bros., Easton & Co., Tabor Bros., Fatman & Co., Fachire Bros., Marsh, Price & Co., Cranshaw & Co., Jewell, Harrison & Co., E. J. Donnell, James F. Wenman? The cotton press of James Dillon was on Coenties Slip. Cotton in those days [47] The Old Academy of Music on Fourteenth Street came from the South in huge bales. These bales were sent to Dillon's to be compressed. The compressing saved freight room on the ocean liners. When a bale of cotton came out of Dillon's press it was about half the size it was when it entered. Cotton samplers in those days made money very fast. Cotton was king then. In Old Fulton Market, with its booths and stalls fairly groaning under the weight of good things to eat, Dorlon & Schaeffer had an oyster saloon where you could feast on the most luscious oysters, with a toby of good ale on the side. What a business Dorlon's had in those days. At certain hours of the day and evening you would have to stand and wait your turn for a table. All the old Harper firm lunched there regularly. Big, hearty Jim Farrish had a place on John Street near William. There you could en- joy a juicy chop or steak or a dish of kidneys. Kea ting's grocery store was corner Peck Slip and Water Street. You could slip in there and enjoy crackers and cheese, and were you well known you could get a nip of rare old gin. Kit Burns's place was on Water Street near Dover. Kit had the name of being a pugilist. He used the fighting ring sometimes as a rat pit. Avery's place, selling fine groceries and rare vintages, was on Water Street above Dover. Brockway's Brewery was on East Eleventh Street, near Second Avenue. The palace car run by the Third Avenue road years ago was quite a long car, oval at each end, and was drawn by four horses. The car was richly fitted up. It had silk curtains on the windows and the fare was 10 cents. When the seats of the car were all occupied no more passengers were allowed. Freight cars of the New York and New Haven road came down Fourth Avenue to Broome Street, through Broome to Centre Street to the freight station there. The cars were drawn by four horses. The passenger depot of the New York and New Haven road was at Twenty-seventh Street and Fourth Avenue. The depot was a very modest affair, just a low brick building. Years ago I went there to take a train for New Rochelle. The passenger cars then had flat roofs, like some of the old-style freight cars. When train time came they would attach four horses to each passenger car and the cars would be drawn up to a point about Fiftieth Street and Fourth Avenue, where the roundhouse was. There they would attach a wheezy locomotive and your journey would commence. At that time the upper section of the city was very sparsely settled and the tracks of the steam railroads were on the street level. At Fifty-ninth Street crossing a flagman was stationed to warn people of the approach of the trains. Many a time as a child I stood at that crossing to see the trains go by. Second Avenue of years ago was a delightful place. They called it "Lovers' Lane." On each side of the avenue from Second Street to Twenty-third Street stood fine old roomy houses, most of them occupied by the best known people of the city. The Abendroth and Kane residences were especially fine houses. The avenue was tree-embowered all the way up to Twenty-third Street, and it was a charming promenade. Patti sang at the Academy of Music ; also Campanini and Nilsson. Colonel Mapleson gave seasons of Italian grand opera under his direction. All the elite of the city used to attend, and during the performance the carriages of the wealthy used to block the streets and ave- nues near the Academy. The Academy was burned down, and was afterward rebuilt. At Lent's circus, opposite the Academy of Music, the Melvilles performed. Many a time I lingered near the stage door of the circus to see the members of the troupe come out after the performance. The old Irving Hall is now the German Theatre. During the burning of St. George's Church on Sixteenth Street and Rutherford Place, I stood on Second Avenue peering through the tall iron railing surrounding Stuyvesant Park, and I could see the burn- ing embers falling into the vestibule entrance of the church. The fire did great damage and [48] lEarly BanbrrbUt Says AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF THE EAST RIVER AND SKY LINE OF NEW YORK FROM BROOKLYN HEIGHTS IN 1848. THE STEAMERS C VAN- DERBILT" AND "BAY SHORE" IN THE FOREGROUND BELONGED TO THE VANDERB1LT LINE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON VIA STON- INGTON THE VANDERBILTS AT THAT TIME HAD NOT ENTERED THE RAILROAD FIELD. BUT WERE HEAVILY INTERESTED IN COASTWISE NAVIGATION. THE FERRI ES AN D SAI LING CRAFT WERE TYPICAL OF THE TIME. NOTE THE MAN Y VESSELS LYI NG ALONG TH E DOCKS AT SOUTH STREET. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR ROBERT GOELET. The Old Academy of Hnnc on *v,.t»™~„. o Th. r,« |( „ M i» ^* ^ W * re «** t« »iIlon'. to be compressed. •f Dflion'. prJj V UeRn , ; Der8 - When » We of cotton came out <*-J. «•* mo** -rv W SL!TJ™"i!' Cn * entere < 1 - Cotton samplers in those v ottoo was king then. f~l U « . . , ' rf b00 * h 7 nd StaU8 fairI ^ « roanin « »»*r the weight of - ^r had an oyster saloon where you could feast on the "' 7 °" ^ W hat a »„,,, ,. r,, jH „n% had in , " " ^ VOU Would hHV, ........ H . Hit g . ^ . . m^W "»rper firm lunchef *^ * „ "ciiK' lir i" pJace. lhev ralleti .: Lovers' I a n» " n„ •^J* of the avenue from Second Street to Twenty-third street t«^T m --t of them occupied by the best known people of th' 7u Z °1 "T, T*^J7 eS P ecialI y fine houses. The avenue wa« i^JZ^?^ »P - third Street, and it was a charming promenade. WEJ < • s*ng at the Academy of Music ; also Campanini and cloile , v, „, ? ttahan grand opera under his direction All 1 1 Maple8 ° n « ave f, n ri^%S* rr .a£S«of the wealth v ^y used to attend, aycS llidiartimH yhuHF n streets and ave- me AcaHemv was hunwJ • ^_ j airerward rebuilt, d. Many ft time I ipe come out after ng the burning of on Second Avenue T33S1T? htuos t. Hark'a Olliitrrl? THE SECOND OLDEST CHURCH EDIFICE NOW STANDING ON MAN- HATTAN ISLAND. ON THE OLDEST SITE STILL OCCUPIED BY A CHURCH— THE ORIGINAL CHAPEL IN GOVERNOR STUYVESANT'S FARM OR BOUWERIE — NOW AT SECOND AVENUE AND 1 1th STREET. HERE HE LIES BURIED IN THE VAULT BELOW THE TABLET IN THE VESTIBULE. THIS CHURCH IS RICH IN HISTORICAL CONNECTION WITH THE DUTCH PERIOD. AND WITHIN ITS WALLS ARE TABLETS TO THE MEMORY OF GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER (DIED 1691) AND GOVERNOR D T TOMPKINS OTHER NOTED NAMES ARE MAYOR PHILIP HONE. DR HARRIS. EX-PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA AND FIRST RECTOR OF THE CHURCH. AND THOMAS ADDIS EMMET. BROTHER OF ROBERT. THE IRISH PATRIOT. THE BODY OF A T. STEWART WAS INTERRED HERE BUT AFTERWARDS STOLEN. INSIDE ARE MEMORIAL TABLETS TO MANY OLD NEW YORKERS, ALSO HANDSOME STUYVESANT MEMORIAL WINDOWS ERECTED BY THE DAUGHTERS OF HOLLAND DAMES. IT IS STILL ATTENDED BY MANY OF THE OLDEST FAMILIES IN TOWN. ONLY TWO OF THESE RARE ORIGINAL LITHOGRAPHS ARE KNOWN. THE ONE SHOWN ABOVE AND THE OTHER IN THE PYNE COLLECTION. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. ROBERT 60ELET. Underground Road at Broadway and Warren Streets Who remembers the store of Felter & Co. on Broadway? Lidgerwood & Co.'s fine grocery store at Fourteenth Street and Broadway? Mealio's hat store on Broadway, and John Gelston's mineral water spa on Broad Street near Wall? Gale's piano factory on East Twelfth Street, near Third Avenue, and Moran's mineral water establishment on Third Avenue near Fifteenth Street? The Stuyvesant pear tree that grew on the northeast cor- ner of Thirteenth Street and Third Avenue? The tree was protected by a high iron railing around it. The old Shakespeare Inn in Twelfth Street west of Broadway was a quaint old place. The genial Mr. George White who taught in the public schools in later years became a principal. He had a host of friends, and his old pupils used to "dinner" him nearly every year. The store of E. D. Bassford was located in Cooper Union Building. Station D of the Post Office was located in the Bible House. Theiss's Garden on Stuyvesant Street near Third Avenue was a quiet resort for the German element. The yard in the rear had gravel walks and nicely sodded grass plots and a circular basin, or fountain, with the water dancing merrily from its centre all the time. A cracker bakery stood on the northwest corner of Fourteenth Street and Third Avenue, and an oyster saloon was on the southeast corner. You could go there after the play and enjoy an oyster stew with a heaping plate full of cold slaw and a dish of round crackers — all for 20 cents. Who recollects the Dew Drop Inn on Broadway and the saloons in the cellars along Water and North William Streets? The beautiful large dwelling of Senator Evarts stood on the corner of Second Avenue and Fourteenth Street, the northwest corner. A beautiful mansion was built on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fifteenth Street. I saw the men laying the foundation of that house. The mansion of Hamilton Fish, and grounds, occupied the whole avenue front from Seventeenth to Eighteenth Streets. A hospital occupies the site now. A beautiful dwelling was located on the east side of Second Avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets. On each side of the stoop leading up to the entrance of the house stood the metal figures of two large lions. The children of the neighborhood used to come up and peer in at the figures of the animals; then they would scamper away shouting that the house was haunted. The shot tower that stood on Fifty-third Street near the East River belonged to the Le Roy Shot and Lead Manufacturing Company, a concern that during war times made shot and minie balls for the army. The underground railway at Warren Street and Broadway was under Devlin's clothing store. The railway was a large circular iron tube. In this tube was the passenger car, fitting closely to the sides of the tube. I forget the motive power. The length of the road was about 400 feet. An English company built it as an experiment. The Spingler Hotel and the building occupied by the Fenian Brotherhood as their head- quarters were both on Union Square. Union Square Park had a high iron railing around it. Who recollects the grand charity fair held years ago in Union Square Park? In the park, or the plaza north of it, was erected a large building of rough boards. The boards were covered with bunting and flags. The distinguished company of Japanese that visited New York years ago had accommodations at the Hotel Opera, the building near the northeast corner of Fourteenth Street and Union Square. The Japanese filled all the win- dows of the hotel as they gazed out upon the immense crowd of people. [55] The Great Sanitaey Fair in Union Square The one-horse or bobtail cars used to run to the ferries. When the cars reached the end of the line they were run upon a circular turntable. The driver would then apply the whip to the horse and the animal would revolve the turntable to the tracks again, then the car was ready for the return trip. Delmonico's was then on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street, and Solari's on University Place. Duncan & Sons Co. had a fine grocery store on Union Square. Devlin's clothing store, Warren Street and Broadway, in later years moved up to Union Square. By E. Jaffray Phillips [Mr. Phillips is another old New Yorker who has kindly set down his personal recol- lections of an older and a vastly different day in the history of our town than the present generation knows of. His memories of the troublous war days are of deepest interest.] Among the popular playhouses in New York in the '60s was the Eighth Avenue Opera House, at Eighth Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street. It was under the management of Josh Hart, and the orchestra leader was Dave Braham. Such stars as Johnny Thompson, Hughey Dougherty, Frank Kerns and Winship and Warren were the attractions. And who does not remember Butler's at 444 Broadway, when Maffit and Bartholomew in their panto- mimes delighted the audience? They afterward went to the Theatre Comique. Then there was Lent's Circus on Fourteenth Street, opposite Irving Place, where Eaton Stone and James Robinson, the bareback riders, performed. I saw the Ravels at Niblo's, with Young America in his trapeze acts. The plays were "Mazulm the Night Owl" and "The White Knight and the Red Gnome." G. L. Fox played at the old Bowery Theatre with his brother, C. K. Fox. The pantomime was "Little Boy Blue." They afterward went to the Olympic. When the Great Eastern arrived and anchored off Thirteenth Street, North River, the boatmen charged 50 cents to row one around the steamer and back. I remember Jerry Thomas's place on Broadway, near Twenty-second Street, and his gallery of portraits. The Loew bridge was standing at Broadway and Fulton Street. There was a photographer next to the corner who would ring a bell to make people stop on the bridge and have their pic- tures taken. I went to school at Quackenbos's, Fourteenth Street and Sixth Avenue, and Macy's store was on the southeast corner in a four-story brick building and they occupied the lower floor. Bob and Charlie Macy were my classmates. The French Theatre was then being built, and we boys would get on the stage and recite our pieces. The Sanitary Fair was held in the Twenty-second Regiment Armory in Fourteenth Street, and the children's annex was in Union Square. The buildings were at the north end of the park. I remember seeing Colonel Ellsworth's funeral passing up Fifth Avenue. I remember seeing the flag on the Arsenal at Seventh Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street lowered to half mast, proclaiming the death of Abraham Lincoln. His body lay in state at the City Hall and the people went into the park from the Park Row side, then through the lower part of the hall out to Broadway. His funeral was witnessed by immense crowds. The city was draped in black. The Seventh Regiment acted as bodyguard. I lived in Thirty-fourth Street during the war and witnessed many a scene during the draft riots; the burning of the colored orphan asylum, the wrecking of Horace Greeley's home. Captain Walling, afterward superintendent of police, had charge of the Twentieth precinct. Peter Hart was a policeman there. He was the man who took Mrs. Anderson to join her husband, Major Anderson, in Fort Sumter. I remember the first steam fire engine in the Twentieth Ward. It was Valley Forge 46 and was housed in West Thirty-sixth Street [56] COPYRIGHT 1913 H C BROWN alir ISiarbnr an& thr USattrry, 1350 ONE OF THE FAMOUS BORNET VIEWS. FIGURES BY E. VALOIS AND DRAWN BY HIM ON STONE. PRINTED AT D McLELLAN'S. 26 SPRUCE STREET. AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING VIEW OF THIS SECTION OF OUR CITY AT THE HEIGHT OF ITS POPULARITY THE COSTUMES AND ACCES- SORIES CORRECTLY DEPICT THE DRESS AND THE COSMOPOLITAN CHARACTER OF THE PARADE, AS IT WAS CALLED. IN THE PICTURE ARE SHOWN THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY. THE ATLANTIC DOCKS. GOVERNOR S ISLAND. FORT WILLIAM. THE NARROWS. STATEN ISLAND QUARANTINE. BEDLOW S ISLAND. ELLIS ISLAND (THEN A POWDER MAGAZINE). AND TO THE RIGHT. BUT IN THE DISTANCE. CASTLE GARDEN. THE SHIPS ARE THE FRENCH MAN-O'-WAR ' MOGADORE ' AND THE WHITE STAR LINER "BALTIC." AND LOCAL FERRIES AND RIVER BOATS OF THE PERIOD A BEAUTIFUL. PERFECT COPY OF AN OLD-TIME LITHOGRAPH RARELY FOUND TO-DAY IN GOOD CONDITION FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR PERCY R PTNE 2ND The Seventh Regiment Leaves foe the War near Seventh Avenue. I remember the flocks of sheep that were driven through the streets, and all traffic ceased on the avenue to let them pass. The Knickerbocker stage stables were at Twenty-third Street and Eighth Avenue, where the Grand Opera House stands. It was a four story building with wide high doors opening on Eighth Avenue. A statue of Father Knickerbocker stood in a niche in the front. This statue is now in the possession of the Shep- herd family. Does any one remember McMillan's skating rink on Fifth Avenue and Forty- sixth Street, and the New York Club's rink at Fifty-ninth Street and Fifth Avenue, and Beek- man's Pond east of the Arsenal in Central Park, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, and the old dead tree in the centre, which was "hunk" for all our games on the ice? I remember the departure of the Seventh Regiment for the war in 1861, and the ova- tion on its march down Broadway was the grandest ever given to any body of troops in New York. The City Hall Park, which extended down to Ann Street, and the Battery Park were full of recruiting booths, with a drill ground. The old custom of calling on New Year's Day, which was universally observed, was an interesting feature of city life. Nearly every one kept open house to receive friends, who came in carriages, and if the snow was on the ground sleighs were used. I have seen whole stage loads and sleighfuls of people going their rounds. Those who did not receive simply hung a small basket on the door knob to receive cards. The Elysian Fields at Hoboken was a great resort for baseball and other outdoor sports. The clubs were the Gothams, Eagles, Mutuals and a number of amateur teams. The club- house of the New York Yacht Club was established there, and the races were started from that point. / Here follow some personal first-hand recollections of rare historical value, from old friends: The average young person in New York will find it hard to realize that some of our busiest streets were not long ago popular residential localities inhabited by the middle and well-to-do classes, that an air of almost Bronx-like stillness pervaded them after dark, and that sleighs were a common sight in winter for almost four months. Agreeable sections were old Greenwich Village, comprising, roughly, from Chambers and Hudson Streets, Seventh and Greenwich Avenues to Fourteenth Street, and the section bounded by Bleecker Street, Second Avenue, Twenty-third Street and Sixth Avenue. Old readers may recall the two residences of R. and L. Stuart, occupied by them up to the '70s, alongside of their sugar refinery, corner Chambers and Greenwich Streets ; the little wooden church at Franklin Street and West Broadway, later a vinegar factory ; the famous North Moore Street school; St. John's Park (key, $10 a year); "St. John's in the Fields Church" (1804), and the Saturday morning dole of bread by bequest, to a specified number of people ; Laight Street Baptist Church ; and where now the grim and frowning warehouses stand on Beach and Laight were fine broad houses overlooking the heavily wooded parks, Captain John Ericsson of Monitor fame lived at 36 Beach Street until his death in 1889. St. John's Park was laid out in 1821. The houses built at the same time, but antedating the introduction of Croton water in 1842, had no bathrooms, an absence very common to some of the best houses in the city, and often unsupplied later, because it must be confessed that our forebears were not as clean as we are. The parlor doors were solid cherry, and they, with beautiful black mantels with flesh-colored tissue and veinlike streakings, were removed by owners previous to demolition or relinquishment to tenement purposes (pine and slate being substituted), and the others now adorn many country mansions in nearby suburbs. [59] Famous Residences of Famous People It will seem almost incredible to those comparatively new to the city, but old-timers will confirm the statement, that the town in the two localities mentioned was filled with beautiful trees, even if it had execrable and filthy pavements. Let one picture the sweet, quiet seclu- sion of St. John's Park, the graveyard on the present site of the park at Leroy and Hud- son Streets, Abingdon Square, the narrow and Dickenslike Varick, Vandam, Bedford, Com- merce, Barrow and other streets, the intersection of West Fourth and West Eleventh Streets, all so still that the growing grass between the cobbles could almost be heard, while a gener- ally bucolic air prevailed. Washington Square, guarded on one side by the gray, dignified New York University, demolished in 1894* ; the aristocratic Waverly and Washington Places behind, and a stone church on the next corner; the Auchmuty mansion and the New York Society Library, es- tablished 1754 and now standing farther up University Place. The other sides of the square were the present houses, built mostly in the '30s, and occupied by Commodore Vander- bilt, Mrs. Hicks Lord, Gen. Geo. B. McClellan, the Coopers, De Forrests, Rhinelanders, De Peysters, and throngs of other Dutch descendants, whose overflow extended up Fifth Avenue and intersecting streets, giving the locality the title of the Knickerbocker neighborhood, which it bears to this day, because many of the residents proudly defy all powers but death to remove them. John H. Aspinwall occupied a beautiful house at University Place and Tenth Street. Annexed to it were huge stables and an art gallery built above. At present the whole struc- ture is devoted to the sale of second-hand furniture. The then very fashionable University Place Presbyterian Church, still standing, was opposite. C. H. McCormick, the inventor of the harvester and reaper, lived on the southwest corner of Eleventh Street and Fifth Ave- nue ; August Belmont at corner of Eighteenth Street and Fifth Avenue, now Constable Build- ing; Professor S. F. B. Morse, 5 West Twenty-second Street; General Winfield Scott in Ninth Street; N. P. Willis and Governor Lucius Robinson in Third Street. Chester A. Arthur died in 34 West Twenty-first Street, William Cullen Bryant in 24 West Sixteenth Street. Dan Bryant in his palmy days lived in Fifteenth Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. At Twenty-first Street, on the southwest corner, stood a marble church. Opposite was the Union Club, which bought the site in 1854 for $60,000, and sold it in 1901 for $650,000. The Brevoort Hotel of the '60s was beautifully encompassed with trees and entertained many noble and aristocratic visitors from abroad. Dr. Bellows preached at Sixteenth Street and Union Square West. Brentano's first venture as a newsdealer was in a basement dining-room in a house near by, among the first relinquished to business. Up to 1865 all the houses surrounding the square were private, and one of the most notable was that of a Roosevelt on the southwest corner of Broadway and Fourteenth Street, an uncle of the ex-President, from whom the latter derived much of his fortune. Of brownstone, heavily trimmed, with great scrolled consoles at parlor windows and broad-topped balustered stone fences surrounding front and sides and enclosing the stoop, it was an impressive structure. The young Theodore lived in 28 East Twentieth Street. Two houses, still standing, 35 East Nineteenth Street, and 53 East Twentieth Street, sheltered till they died, in the '70s, Horace Greeley, and Alice and Phoebe Cary, the gentle poetesses. The Hon. John Bigelow lived on Gramercy Square; a great hotel of the name faced it, and nearby lived the Hon. Hamilton Fish and Samuel J. Tilden. Irving Place was also select, along with Stuyvesant Square, with the then two-steepled St. George's Church, the quaint Friends' Meeting House and School, and these squares with a few changes bid fair for a long time to resist the encroachments of trade. [60] ANOTHER RARE STEPHENSON LITHOGRAPH. PRINTED BY BOELL AND MUCHILUI. GILSEY BUILDING, 169 BROADWAY. 1856. ASIDE FROM THIS STEPHENSON VIEW. NO DELINEATION OF THIS SECTION OF BROADWAY IS NOW AVAILABLE. MOST OF THE HOUSES PAID FOR THE SIGNS WHICH APPEAR ON THE BUILDINGS, WHICH GUARANTEES THE CORRECTNESS. THE FIGURES IN THE FORE- GROUND ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTING AND ARE TYPICAL OF THE TIME. NOWHERE ELSE DO WE FIND SUCH EXCELLENT STREET SCENES AS IN THESE VIEWS OF STEPHENSON S. St. Patrick's Cathedral in Mulberry Street When we consider the roar of traffic and the hurrying thousands now at all hours to be heard and seen in these sections, it is only those who recall forty years ago that can bring to memory the placidity of the almost rural surroundings ; all the houses had plots of grass enclosed, and the streets were tree-canopied. Great things surely occurred in the general vicinity of Astor and Lafayette places be- tween about 1848 and 1855, because within this period were erected the Dutch Reformed Church, corner of Great Jones Street and Lafayette Place; Grace Church, Astor Library, Mercantile Library, St. Nicholas Hotel, Grand Central (enlarged from the Southern), Cooper Union, Bible House, Centre Market and Seventh Regiment Armory building, and the new Historical Library on Second Avenue. Plimpton, the inventor of the roller skate, erected on East Ninth Street, between Second and Third Avenues, a building, and demonstrated to the fashionables of the day that he could manufacture the richest upholstered furniture equal to that previously procured from abroad. His descendants still occupy the premises (1913). Preaching continued in Dr. Spring's Church, Park Row, Nassau and Beekman Streets, until 1857 ; at the North Dutch Church, William and Fulton Streets, and also at St. George's, Beekman and Cliff Streets, until 1868. In 1860 Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler resigned the pastor- ate of the Market Street Reformed Dutch Church because he could not influence his congre- gation to sell the site and seek uptown quarters. Trinity, St. Paul's, and the John Street Meth- odist Churches, being historic in association, still remain. Christian Science was still unthought of and the Catholic Church was still few in num- bers and just beginning to give promise of its present importance. The latter's chief edifice was St. Patrick's, a modest structure then in Mulberry Street, and in nowise suggesting the present imposing Cathedral on Fifth Avenue to which it removed some twenty-odd years ago. Freight cars were pulled by four or six horses from Twenty-seventh Street Depot to White and Centre Streets, and as they passed through the Bowery men and boys would climb on the rear. The company hired men with clubs who would pounce out upon these men and boys and pound their legs and knees and clear the cars. Song peddlers would string about four rows of cords, 100 feet long, on the City Hall iron fence and attach songs by small wooden pins to the cord. Rich and poor used to stop and read and sometimes buy at a penny apiece. Apple women selling Washington pies also lined the fences here and at Battery Park and Union Square. William M. Tweed had these fences removed. Every boy had to "belong" to a fire engine company in those days, and if he got into the wrong bailiwick he was sure to get a black eye. Who doesn't remember 9, Old Rock, on Marion Street; 33, Black Jake, on Houston Street; 3, Forest, in Eleventh Street (I believe), and the fights they used to have in the Haymarket, Seventh Street and Third and Fourth Avenues? There used to be a bell tower between the City Hall and the new Court House. The old Bowery Theatre, next to the Atlantic Garden, was run by Fox (G. L.) and Lin- gard, and when they quarrelled Lingard opened the New Bowery on the next block. The new theatre burned down later. The school principal was an autocrat, and the boy who never got licked by him was con- sidered no good by his fellow pupils. In the morning we prepared our hands by rubbing rosin on them, and then the whipping would not pain us, and if we pulled three or four hairs from our eyelashes and laid those on the rosin, that was a sure preventive of pain. When the principal discovered the rosin we would get it around the legs, too. [63] Dime Novels and Penny Dreadful Literature The Sun was a four-page paper with a continued story each day. The New York Ledger was the ladies' paper, and we boys revelled in Marryat's, Captain Mayne Reid's and Beadle's ten-cent novels. These last we had to hide from our parents. We would take turns at buy- ing Beadles as they came out and pass them around. Boys always left school in bunches, for if they went alone they were sure to be held up by toughs. In those days the leaders from roofs were all on the fronts of houses, and there was a groove in the sidewalk to the gutter at every house, and sometimes the sinks of houses were run into these leaders, so that on wash-days a sudden gush of soapsuds would flow over the sidewalks. Households still had candle snuffers and bellows. Camphine and alcohol were used for lamps. Letter carriers charged one cent for delivery, and often letters were refused. Those were the days of copper cents and filthy postage stamps, and every storekeeper had a "bank note detector." Sometimes the bank note would be good when received, and before paying it out the bank would have failed. We had bills of denominations of one, two, three, four, five and six dollars. To get a telegram was an event and usually meant sad news. No telephone, no electric light, no trolleys, no heat in cars, no hot water in houses, no furnace heat, yet those were good days and a dollar went farther than it does to-day. When Barnum's Museum on Broad- way and Ann Street burned, the whale was killed and lay for two days in the gutter. ****** Joseph Hay dock speaks of M. Julien and his wonderful concerts at the Crystal Palace and how he succeeded in burning that down one evening when performing the Firemen's Quad- rilles. It was my privilege to listen to those quadrilles and they were "something grand." The Palace, however, didn't burn down one evening, but one bright afternoon, October 14, 1858. An old fire laddie, I was present at that fire in company with Mr. Ely Bates, ex-chief, retired, and 84 years young, then foreman of Guardian Engine Company No. 29. At that time we were working on the Rutgers Institute buildings, east side of Fifth Avenue, directly opposite the old reservoir, being brothership mechanics (bricklayers). Suddenly an immense, very black cloud of smoke and bright flame shot up fully fifty feet in the air. Bates shouted, "Come quick, boys ; run for it !" His first impulse was to run out Amity Hose carriage, and I think it was 39 engine, both on exhibition. Quick as we could we got out- side of our overalls, slid down four ladders and cut for the entrance on the Sixth Avenue side; but, good Lordy, we never reached it, not by 100 feet, and were driven back by the fierce heat. In twenty minutes by the watch that elegant structure of iron and glass was level with the ground. The rapidity of the flames was due principally to the large area of the floors and stairways, constructed of yellow pitch pine timber, and the great amount of combustible material the building contained. So intense was the heat that the iron, glass, silver and other metals fused; the large granite capstones of the old reservoir adjoining crumbled, scaled and burst from their beds in chunks larger than beer kegs, falling to the earth. Mr. Bates yet insists it was the quickest, fiercest and hottest fire that ever occurred in New York City. This Amity Hose carriage was a most beautiful creation, very light and airy. All the mountings were of sterling silver, even to the handles at the end of its tongue. I can best describe its beauty by the remarks of one old fire fighter to his chum: "I say, Jakey, isn't she the queenie? All she needs is silver wings and she would fly." The engine was a good second at that. [64] COPYRIGHT 1913 H C BROWN THIS IS A VIEW OF ANOTHER OLD-TIME CRACK REGIMENT — THE 38th JEFFERSON GUARDS. N. Y. STATE ARTILLERY, A BUST POR- TRAIT OF THE COLONEL WITH FLAGS AND CROSSED CANNONS IS SHOWN IN THE MARGIN OF THE ORIGINAL. THE BACKGROUND SHOWS THE CITY HALL AND HALL OF RECORDS AND THE MEN IN THE FOREGROUND ARE DRAWN FROM LIFE. THE FACES BEING PORTRAITS AND EASILY RECOGNIZABLE LITHOGRAPHED BY F. FRITSCH. EXTREMELY RARE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND Brave Work of Volunteer Firemen Who remembers the large wooden observation tower, said to be 150 feet in height, that P. T. Barnum was largely interested in, but which proved an utter failure, few caring to climb its many steps? It stood just north of the Palace. And how about the great fun we used to have in those side shows those days? A terrible calamity early in the '60s was occasioned by the explosion of the boiler in the four-story brick and iron building in Hague Street, near Pearl Street, in the morning shortly after the employees to the number of about 100 men and boys had commenced work. If any are alive who were at the fire which ensued they surely will remember it as one of the most appalling calamities that have ever befallen old New York. The destruction was so complete that the ruins were only about thirty feet high; the building was about 100 feet square, and to add to the horror fire broke out in the ruins. There were three of us who belonged to Engine Company 4, located in Great Jones Street, who responded to the fire alarm: William Story, Uzal P. Barker and myself, who on our arrival at the ruins set to work in extricating those that were entombed in that pile of bricks, stone and iron ; and while prospecting as to where to commence our work we heard the voice of a boy that was buried about thirty feet distant under the ruins, who proved to be Frederick Tyman, and after a hurried examination we concluded that the only way to reach him was by tunneling under the ruins, which we did by working by relays on our hands and knees, passing the bricks and iron from one to the other until we reached him; and then, to our chagrin, we found a steel shaft about one and three-quarter inches in diameter which extended up in front of the boy's head. We then had to clear away a space large enough to sling a sledgehammer and break the shaft. We found Tyman lying between two beams, and he was not seriously injured. When we got to Tyman we found another boy lying between the same two beams, whose name was Tindale, who was not seriously injured. They were both brave boys. We frequently had to put a stream of water over them, as fire threatened them, of which they always gave us notice. This day's work was the hardest and most trying that I ever experienced in my long service in the Volunteer Fire Department. It took us from 8.30 A. M. to 2.30 P. M. to accom- plish this task, which I shall never forget. When the candle factory at First Avenue and Fourth Street burned down in 1864 I can never forget how near I came to being run over when the firemen came down First Avenue on the sidewalks with their machines, as the road was blocked by a herd of cattle going to the slaughterhouses in Fifth Street, where Public School 25 now stands. I can feel my back yet where I "caught it" when as a boy I strayed out of the house of Live Oak Hose 44 in Houston Street, up in the bailiwick of Engine 7, and forgot that I had a 44 badge on my shirt. My legs alone saved my scalp. What a joke on 44 when the city erected the large lamp-post in Houston Street Square with the number 44 on top of each lamp, and Engine 7 boys put a tin 7 on top of each 44. Those were happy days and will never come back. They are pleasant memories all right. [67] LARGE FAMILIES THE RULE IN THE '50s AND '60s HARD LUCK OF THE ELDEST BOY In these days of so-called race suicide it is refreshing to know that our fathers and mothers were not averse to the trials and responsibilities — with its pleasures — of a large family. When the oldest boy in the average huge family of the '50s and '60s— 8 to 12 being the rule and not the exception — reached about 12 he became, so to speak, the father and nurse of the younger brothers and sisters, as their care in a measure devolved on him, he being a sort of packhorse of the family. Woodsheds were in plenty, and that combustible, generally cheaper than coal, was brought in and sold by the cord from New Jersey and Long Island. Some houses had chutes in the centre of the sidewalks, pitched at an angle of 45 degrees toward the cellar, and through these the boys thrust the logs, with the tedious neces- sity of frequently descending in order to break the jam, which when released pursued the wretches as they fled backward. Armed with a bucksaw and an axe of age to suggest its service in the Crusades, and attired with sweat and growlings, he proceeded to make fire- wood. He also put in the coal and shovelled snow from the walk, when he was not spading the garden or cutting grass. As storekeepers delivered no goods, on Saturday mornings in particular, it was his curse to accompany his mother to Washington, Fulton, Tompkins, Clinton or some far distant market always preferred by her, and carry home the purchases in a basket of unholy weight and size, and then he was assigned to window cleaning or some such gentle task. There was very little respect entertained for a boy, and he was economical in the entertainment of any for himself. When chairs and bedsteads were of a condition dangerous for repose of others, they were assigned to the room of the boys, who slept two or three abreast and the same number in depth. Frequently in the dead of night the parents, hearing a tremendous crash over- head, would comfort themselves with the confidence that it was only the bed had broken down, and the boys were not wakened by the father until early morning, when he would count and disentangle them with words or something harder. They were not especially partial to water on winter mornings and would dry-curry their hair and sneak in to buckwheat cakes, but when mother would discover that the ice in the wash pitcher was unbroken, father would break forth and the boys would try to flee, be- cause the old gentleman had a strong arm in chiding, fulfilling the Scriptural injunction, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," and the "mites" got it. The clothing of the cubs was awfully and wonderfully made. When those of dad grew mirror- like in shininess of wear they were taken apart, turned, and some things for the boys were slammed together. It seems as though he was laid out on a large sheet of paper, his form pencilled in outline, and then chance, skill or Providence did the rest, and if the clothes didn't fit, why, he had fits of another character. He was rarely entrusted with an entire bosom [68] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H C BROWN ilpgarpy's Sate ^rint of ffimurr Sniabmau in 1&2.5 THIS SHOWS AN AFTERNOON VIEW OF LOWER BROADWAY IN 1825. THE HOUSES ONTHE LEFTWERE OCCUPIED BY THE KENNEDY, WATTS AND LIVINGSTON FAMILIES. AND WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BEST TYPE OF DWELLING AT THAT TIME. DURING THE REVOLUTION SIR HENRY CLINTON. SIR GUY CARLETON AND GENERAL LORD HOWE LIVED IN NO I, ARNOLD. THE TRAITOR. LIVED HERE FOR A TIME. AND WASHINGTON ALSO. WHILE THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE WAS BUILDING. THIS SECTION WAS THE CENTRE OF FASHION. THE STREETS ADJACENT (BOWLING GREEN. STATE AND GREENWICH) BEING ALSO THE HOMES OF THE WEALTHIER CLASS. ROBERT FUL- TON DIED IN A HOUSE IN THE REAR OF NO I, THE COSTUMES. CARRIAGES. ETC . ARE TYPICAL OF THE" DAY THIS IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS MEGAREY PRINTS NOW RARELY SEEN. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR ROBERT GOELET. Eldest Boy Succeeds to His Father's Clothes shirt, but wore a "dickey," a heart-shaped piece of starched linen over his chest, fur- nishing an excellent handle for companions to drag him around the street when both of his hands were occupied in carrying the dough pan to the corner bakery, where "family bak- ing" was conducted between 10 A. M. and 3 P. M. Remnants from his father's clothes furnished caps, all hatters being practical and mak- ing up the former from people's own material. These were of marvellous creation, one type in particular, when the remnants were small, being built like a Chinese pagoda, flaring outward to a hexagon-shaped crown or terrace, and surmounted by a huge button, or worse, a tassel. To guard against the wind they were made to fit tight, and when re- moved by considerable effort, they emitted a slight suction report and left on the head a livid ring, as though some one had made an ineffectual attempt to scalp the wearer. An- other horror of his life was the uncomfortable "comforter" which his fond mother used to knit of worsted to keep his neck warm, which he would dutifully wear on leaving home, only to change to his waist so as to keep his throat clear for "hollering" exercise, because, anyway, all his colds were contracted through wet feet in the absence of the habit of wear- ing rubbers. A. T. STEWART'S & BROOKS BROS/ FIRST STORE, 1850 A very good illustration of the tremendous growth of New York in the last fifty years is shown in the present size of Wanamaker's stores at Broadway and Ninth Street, and Brooks Bros.' at Twenty-second Street. Both of these stores had their origin in Catharine Street. Wanamaker really succeeded the great business of A. T. Stewart & Co., and although Stewart was easily the greatest merchant of his day, John Wanamaker does not suffer by comparison. The following contribution is pertinent: The old Walton House in Pearl Street was built of brick brought from Holland. The gardens of the house ran down to the river at the foot of Water Street. In those days there was no Front Street or South Street. These two streets were filled in long after and were what is called made ground. Pearl Street, from Beekman Street to Maiden Lane, had noth- ing but dry-goods stores in it, and if you wanted a spool of cotton or some muslins you had to go there to be supplied. A. T. Stewart had his dry-goods store in Catharine Street, and on the corner of this street and Water Street were Brooks Brothers, now in business at Twenty-second Street and Broadway. How proud the small boy was in getting his first suit of clothes made here ! His blue j acket, nankeen vest, and a small plaid pair of pants were the last word in style, the only annoyance being that there was but one pocket, and that an outside one, in the jacket. [71] RECOLLECTIONS OF A VISITOR IN '61 This is a picture of the city at the breaking out of the Civil War. Many of the hotels, etc., are no longer in existence, but the picture of the town is ad- mirable : "I first visited the city in June, 1861. I stopped at the old Dey Street House, still standing, and radiated from that place, visiting the Astor House, Taylor's Saloon and other sights, including the Ball and Black store and the old post office in Nassau Street. I was accompanied on my trip to the metropolis by Simeon R. Codman, then of Pottersville, N. Y., who weighed 410 pounds. We went to Barnum's Museum, of course, and saw Hannah Battersby, who was known as Barnum's fat woman. My companion 'obliged' by stepping on the platform with Hannah, and he so far outfatted her as to receive an immediate offer from the management. During our stay we shopped about for our meals, and patron- ized among other places Leggett's in Chatham Street and Crook's Hotel, which was, and the building still is, in the same locality. The bill of fare was excellent and in view of the present-day prices * it seems as though the food was almost given away. In the basement at the northeast corner of Chambers Street and Broadway was an oyster saloon kept by David Decker, as I recollect it. "I went to a Broadway theatre; Laura Keene was in the play and there was a georgeous transformation scene. Greenwich Street was quite a wholesale district and I visited and purchased goods at several houses. "I went uptown, saw the ruins of the Crystal Palace, and visited some impor- tant public work then under construction, but I do not recall what it was. I do recollect that I went on a horse-car, probably of the Third Avenue line, up to about Forty-second Street. "I next saw New York in September, 1862, and enjoyed its hospitality in the barracks which occupied City Hall Park, where the Union soldiers were housed on their way to the seat of war. My stay was brief and I saw nothing but lower Broadway, packed with cheering people, as we marched to the Battery and took water transportation to the South. I still recollect the evil smells as we passed through Kill van Kull and Staten Island Sound. "Returning to the city in September, 1863, 1 stopped at Earle's Hotel in Canal Street (corner of Centre), kept by the father of 'Affinity' Earle, and a good hotel it was. My most interesting experience was, as the guest of a friend whose office was at 110 Pearl Street, under hotel direction, to go out to Broadway and down to Pearl and then follow Pearl to find him. If any readers have not done this stunt, let them try it and they will know how I felt. After having arrived I was taken uptown to his residence in then elegant Thirty-fourth Street by my friend * The same as at Putnam's, given elsewhere. — Editor. [72] COPYRIGHT, 1913. H. C. BROWN. SH?* Ntro fork ^nuptial, 18D4 TWO EVENTS IN THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE LAST CENTURY. STAND OUT WITH UNUSUAL DISTINCT- NESS. ONE WAS THE FOUNDING OFTHIS HOSPITAL. AND THE OTHER WAS MR. PINTARD S HISTORICAL SOCIETY. TO BE A MEMBER OF EITHER ORGANIZATION CONFERRED THE NECESSARY SOCIAL REC- OGNITION DEMANDED OF THE TIMES. AND THE SAME CONDITION STILL EXISTS. THE HOSPITAL WAS SITUATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BROADWAY. BETWEEN READE AND WORTH STREETS. AND WAS A FAMILIAR SIGHT AS LATE AS 1867. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR FRANK LORD. "The Black Crook" in a stage that traversed Wall Street and Broadway. The New York Central Railroad station was then in Chambers Street. It was not until May, 1867, that I finally landed in the city permanently. I naturally gravitated to Earle's Hotel, and spent my first evening at Niblo's Gar- den when 'The Black Crook' was playing. I was seeking employment, and when my prospective employer the next morning asked me point blank where I had spent the evening, I was at a loss to reply. I however told him the truth and was overjoyed to hear him say it was the finest thing he ever saw. I became so much habituated to 'The Black Crook' that I saw it whenever it was in town. Once, seeing in the Sun about twenty-five years ago the usual 'Black Crook' ad- vertisement, I left my office in lower Broadway, took a street car, went to Niblo's, bought my ticket, and saw the curtain rise on the first act of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'! The 'Crook' was at the Academy of Music, and that was my last effort. "I heard Charles Dickens (1867) in Stein way Hall, and Mme. Parepa Rosa about the same time in Atlantic Garden in the Bowery, and I knew Samuel Bene- dict, the old-time jeweler at 2 Wall Street. He was the father of Mr. Read Benedict, of Benedict Bros., now corner Cortlandt Street. "In the days following the war the basements along Broadway above and below the Metropolitan Hotel were largely occupied by 'halls' where drinks were dispensed by girls. I recollect seeing one called the Dew Drop Inn, and there were others having like attractive names." THE OLD POST OFFICE IN NASSAU STREET A curious character in this establishment was "Old Man Moyer." He could decipher an address in almost any language and was also the only "Dead Letter Office" we had in those days. He opened all undeliverable letters, read their con- tents, and was frequently the means of solving their destination. He was a mar- vellous linguist and a very learned man. There was also a huge pie counter inside the rotunda, much patronized by everybody, at which the famous Washington pie was greedily devoured. [75] COST OF LIVING IN '63 A comparison of to-day's prices in the average restaurant with the Putnam House in '63 shows that we have real ground for complaint at the high cost of living. The following is an old bill-of-fare. The old Putnam is still standing on Fourth Avenue, surrounded by the new skyscrapers of the present day, but must of necessity give way to the march of modern improvements. PUTNAM HOUSE 357, 359 & 361 Fourth Avenue Between Twenty-siith and Twenty-seventh Sts. Opposite the Harlem and New Haven Depot LAWRENCE R. KERR, Proprietor The proprietor of this popular Lodging House and Dining Saloon is prepared to accommodate citizens, travellers, and business men, with Pleasant Lodgings and Meals at All Hours, in a style equal to any other establishment in the city. He would call attention to the following extensive and economical BILL OF FARE Breakfast and Tea Beef Steak 7 cts. Pork Steaks 7 " Veal Cutlets 7 " Mutton Chops 7 " Lamb Chops 7 " Ham and Eggs 19 " Fried or Boiled Ham 13 " Fried Sausages 7 " Fried Fish, all kinds 7 " Porter House Steak 25 " Tender Loin Steak 15 " Sirloin Steak 13 " Broiled Chicken 25 cts. Wheat Cakes 5 " Buckwheat Cakes 6 " Fried Eggs, each 3 " Boiled Eggs, each 3 " Poached Eggs 13 " Milk Toast 9 " Dry Toast 6 " Fried Potatoes 3 " Tea and Coffee, each 3 " Coffee and Cakes 6 " Bread and Milk 9 " Dinner Roast Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork; Roast Turkey, Goose, Duck and Corned Beef, Pork; Pork and Chicken, each 15 cts. Beans and Meat Pie, each 7 cts. Chicken Pie or Fricassee 13 " Lamb Chops 13 " Beef Soup 6 " To Order Sirloin Steak 13 cts. Veal Cutlet 13 cts. Tender Loin Steak 15 " Raw Oysters 13 " Porter House Steak 25 " Fried Oysters 13 " Broiled Chicken 25 " Pickled Oysters 13 " Dessert Plum Pudding 6 cts. Plum Pie 6 " Pies and Puddings, all kinds 6 " Lodgings, 25 cents per night. Open at AU Hours. [76] 'Bttixmsifxn jRnui" in its Jhtlntg Says BOWLING GREEN. THE MOST FASHIONABLE ROW OF HOUSES IN NEW YORK IN 1 830. SMOKE FROM THE GREAT FIRE OF 1835 RUINED THE DRAPERIES AND TARNISHED THE SILVER. DAVID AUSTIN LIVED HERE IN '35. LATER. THE FOLLOWING FAMILIES OCCUPIED THE ROW-FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: PETER REMSEN. FERDINAND SUYDAM. JOHN Gl HON. COMMODORE VANDERBILT. ELISHA R1GGS AND STEPHEN WHITNEY. THEN IT BECAME "STEAMSHIP ROW. ' IT IS NOW SITE OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE. THIS STREET MARKS THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF OLD FORT AMSTERDAM. THE SOUTHERN PART ENDING AT WHITEHALL STREET. WHICH WAS THE SHORE LINE AT THAT TIME ( 1 664). FROM THE COLLECTION OF MISS AMY TOWNS E NO. COST OF LIVING IN '63 A companson of to-day's prices in the average restaurant with the Putnam House in G8 shows that we have real ground for .omplaint at the high cost of living. The following is an old bill-of-fare. Thr .id Putnam is still standing on Fourth Avenue, surrounded by the new skyscraper, of the present day, but must of necessity give way to the march of modern in 4. rnents. PUTNAM HOUSE 357, 359 & 361 Fourth Aveou Between Twenty-iiith and Twenty- •eveoth St». Uppotitc the H LAWRENCB R. KERR. Proprietor The proprietor of this popular Lodging House and Dining Sa! travellers, and business men, with Pleasant Lodgings and Meal* at I establishment in the city. He would call attention to the following BILL OF FARE Breakfast and Tea Beef Steak 7 cts . Broiled < Pork Steaks 7 « wheat „ Veal Cutlets 7 « BuckwK Mutton Chops 7 « Frifd T< Lamb Chops 7 « Bojled ! Ham and Eggs 19 « Poached Fried or Boiled Ham 13 « jflllk j 0;l Fried Sausages 7 «« jjjy Xuaj Fried Fish, all kinds 7 ■ * Fried Po Porter House Steak 25 ■ Tea and Tender Loin Steak 15 « Coffee M Sirloin Steak 13 « Bread n-- Dim k kh Roast Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork; Roast j | Corned Beef, Pork; Pork and Chick,- Beans and Meat Pie, each 7 cts. Chicken I Lamb Chops 13 « jj ee f n Mi , To 0*um H{iiM timing atj ni "mniS tri T la«uWWP wan MiBaaueHHo.vyte^^^oiHZA^ TaoM sht ,vig3 i flai6'm'2 g QZB,[ M I XflOY a3vu n its u a aivAa .H3^jl4 ' 3fiT' 03H2iKflAT' crrfA E3in3qAfla Pickled Oj 3HT dSISUODO 83IJIMA3 3MIW0JJ03 3 HT .H3TAJ 2£' Ml 3H3H ,MAaYU8aMAHiafl33./13aM3S1 flSTSI :TH3lfl OT T33J M0H3-W0S1 ■ it r aHA 233IH AH2IJ3 .TJIBHSaklAV 3HOflOMMOp W0HI3 HHOl W0K2ITI ' WOfl SIH8MA3T2" 3MAD38 Tl H3H«13T8 HH3HTHOH 3 HT 2XHAM T33HT3 2IHT Se&BH'MoWuD 3HT 30 3T.ie 3KICW3 THAS Mfl3HTU0a 3HT .MAaH3T8M* JftpSilWOpO^.ftApHUOfll \ : , f . TAHT TA 3HIJ 3AOH8 3HT 2AW H3IHW.T33HT2 JJAH3TIHW TA //fdgings, 25 cents per night. ,(»»8t) Hn aWlZMWOT VMA 22IM TO H0IT33 J JOO 3MT HOfll [76] >mI New Haven Depot ite citizens, any other «5 cts. 5 " » « ■ S ■ - S ■ IS ■ 9 ■ 6 ■ «.#.. S • Mb 3 " • 6 ■ 9 " ioose, Duck and if 15 cts. ricassee 13 ■ 6 14 ■ . 13 cts. .. IS ■ ..13 ■ . . 13 " Open at All Hours. SITE OF THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING CIVIC CENTRE AND SURROUNDINGS, IN THE '60s AND BEFORE The wonderful changes projected in the neighborhood of the City Hall lend an additional interest to the following account of that neighborhood fifty years ago. It is certainly a remarkable transformation. "Steel columns now sprout heavenward where in the '40s the Mechanics' In- stitute School stood, near Chambers Street and Third Avenue. Many can call to mind the old building with the boys on the top floor, the girls on the second, Mr. J. B. Snook, the architect of the Grand Central Depot, 1873, on the first, and the woman who sold penny pies in the basement. Benjamin Mason was the principal, with Tracy and Metcalf, assistants. The system of education was simple; the pupils were well grounded in the three Rs, and the only frill was the singing lesson once a week, when Professor Andrews came in to train, with violin and voice, the students for the annual exhibition at the Broadway Tabernacle. While this school closed on Christmas, it was no festival day; no trees, no presents, and Santa Claus came only on New Year's Eve. Some must be still living who can recollect Dick Ware, Abe and Frank Bassford, George Long, Dan Pentz, Gilbert Wright, the Earle boys, Henry and Ed Heath, and Mayor Woodhull's son. Mayor Woodhull lived in Beekman Street, north side, between Park Row and William Street. A few doors east was a private school. Opposite it now stands a police station. The Mayor's son was killed by falling from the roof of their house while flying a kite. "On the corner of Cliff Street was St. George's Church, whose clock supplied time for the neighborhood. Dr. Spring's Brick Church was then at the triangle, Park Row, Beekman and Nassau Streets. There was no post office then, at the south end of the park, but a large iron gate. On the Fourth of July the militia paraded; the park was filled with booths, and at night there were fireworks set off in front of the City Hall. In those days there was an iron fence around the park, and at a point nearly opposite Frankfort Street was a triangle, each leg about two feet, shut out of the park by the fence. It was understood that it was for lack of title. In war times there was an encampment of Union soldiers in the park. "About 1865 there was at Battery Park an encampment of Confederate soldiers, unkempt and ragged, who sold souvenirs to their curious, staring visitors — brass army buttons with the palmetto and the letters 'S. C (South Carolina). In those days not only the City Hall fence but the fence around St. Paul's church- yard was hung with sheets of songs, martial in spirit. Among them were 'John Brown's Body,' 'Ellsworth's Avengers,' 'Marching Along,' 'Just Before the Battle, Mother,' 'Ever of Thee,' 'Nellie Gray,' 'Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching,' 'Year of Jubilee,' etc. On lower Broadway was an old jewelry store, known as Link's, where, during the war, a colored boy was shel- [79] Castle Garden Reached by Bridge tered, as riots frequently occurred nearby. Afterward, Mr. Link opened a jewelry store where John Daniell's now stands at Broadway and Eighth Street. "The hotels below Chambers Street were American, corner of Park Place, afterward burned with loss of life; Astor, Franklin, Globe, City, etc., all on Broad- way. Retail stores were on Maiden Lane ; the wholesale district east of Broadway from Pine Street. At the corner of Broadway and Beaver Street was the large boarding house of the Misses Mix and Trip. Whitehall Street and State Street were residential. Where the Custom House now is lived some of the wealthiest citizens. "The Harlem Railroad had its headquarters at Tryon Row, where the Brook- lyn Bridge entrance now is. A small room where the Municipal Building now is being erected was its depot, ticket office and waiting room. The cars stood out in the street. When it was time for a train to start, the cars were drawn by horses up to Fourth Avenue, where the locomotive was attached. The train then went through the tunnel at Thirty-fourth Street. The roundhouse was where the Seven- ty-first Regiment Armory now is. From Twenty-first Street to Yorkville, Eighty- sixth Street, was a country road, rail fences, a few houses, all frame and of no pre- tension. "To reach Castle Garden in those days you passed over a bridge. Grisi and Mario sang 'Norma' there. The old Winter Garden was built in the late '50s. The Lafarge House, covering the present Broadway Central, was built, and through it was the entrance to Tripler Hall, where Jenny Lind sang after singing at Castle Garden under Barnum's direction. The hotel and hall were magnificent for those days. In this hotel Jim Fisk was murdered. On the site of Tripler Hall was built the finest theatre New York had yet seen. It was intended for Laura Keene, but when finished it was found that W. E. Burton had the lease. A theatre was then built for Laura Keene on the other side of Broadway, where she coined money. Burton did not make a success, the sympathy of the public being with Miss Keene. She had a fine company: Joe Jefferson, Sothern, Agnes Robinson, Dion Bouci- cault and others. There was produced the 'American Cousin,' which had such a remarkable run. Julian's Band came over in the early '50s and gave its first per- formance at Castle Garden. There he heard the katydids, which suggested his composing the polka by that name. "Mr. Hart was principal of Public School 3 in the early '40s. Old Man Pat- terson with his Scotch dialect followed Hart. Schuyler Colfax was one of the pupils about that time; so was George Melville, late an admiral in the United States navy. Among others were Bill Poole, Charley Lozier, and many other representative men. Southerland used to correspond with his schoolmates when he was a very old man. Who about that time does not remember also Ben Whitney, the orator of the school? "Houston Street had one fine school, No. 13. Who remembers one principal, Miss Anna Hazard, now long gone ? The fine old horse-chestnut tree standing in front of 172 East Houston Street was a long-remembered landmark. Old resi- dents will recall the old German shoemaker named Stroebele who always hung his [80] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C BROWN Julian £trrrt in 11140 AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING VIEW OF FULTON STREET. SHOWING THE HERALD BUILDING ON THE CORNER OF NASSAU. AND THE FIRST OFFICES OF THE NEW YORK SUN. UNDER MOSES Y BEACH IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS OPPOSITE. KNOX THE HATTER OPENED HIS FIRST SHOP AND KEPT A MUSEUM OF HATS MADE BY HIM. WORN BY FAMOUS MEN SUCH AS WEBSTER. CLAY. LINCOLN. GRANT. SHERMAN. ETC. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR ROBERT GOELET. Tom Thumb, the Famous Dwarf shoes out on wooden hangers. He lived opposite Lincoln Hall, where Eberle, in the early '70s, was proprietor. There was Cheshire of East Houston Street, dealer in twines ; old man Boehnert, sewing machines ; Oechs, Saxony worsteds ; old Mar- ket's confectionery, corner of the Bowery and Great Jones Street, all now pleasant recollections. The bank at Bowery and Houston Street was crowded with people waiting to see the first Third Avenue elevated train go by. There was a school at Second Street and Avenue A, called the St. Nicholas Academy. An old pump stood in those days on First Avenue, where any passerby might stop and get a cool drink. The houses of that neighborhood were equipped with old-fashioned knock- ers. Dr. Charles Monnell had a drug store at the corner of First Avenue and Hou- ston Street, which is still standing. At Orchard and Houston Street an honest grocer, Schmidt, sold nearly everything by weight — onions, potatoes, apples, etc. At Houston near the Bowery, where St. Augustine's Church now stands, was an old cemetery, surrounded by a stone wall. Edward Ridley's Sons' great store at Grand and Allen Streets was the Saturday night promenade for ladies shop- ping. The Christmas crowds of to-day, it is claimed, are the nearest comparisons. In those days Second Avenue was shaded on both sides by huge trees, long since cut down. "One of the old residents recounts with joyful recollection going to the Concert Hall, under the care and guidance of Artemus Ward, to see Maggie Mitchell in 'Fanchon.' All he remembered afterward of the play was the chicken flying in. Ward regaled his small companion with a lunch at one of the many basement res- taurants like Crook and Duff's about Nassau and Fulton Streets, frequented by newspaper men and artists. At that time the present building on the southwest corner of Fulton Street at Broadway was a high and very fine office building, with- out the present mansard roof, and, of course, with no elevators. My first visits to the new Central Park, about 1860, were made in the little green cars; the bodies turned on the trucks when the end of the route was reached at Broadway and after wearing ship they started uptown. On the northwest corner of Broadway and Canal Street was the San Francisco cigar store, and as a small boy just about to read I never could remember whether it was San Francisco or Fran Sancisco. One of the great events of my boyhood was the marriage in St. Paul's Church of the dwarfs Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, engineered by that prince of advertisers, P. T. Barnum. "What a sight on South Street were the majestic figureheads and massive bow- sprits of great sailing vessels overhanging the roadways, and the little jibbooms nearly in the windows of the sail lofts and shipping offices on the west side of the street. From the yards hung big canvas signs announcing the sailing, while the street was placarded with big posters of the Sutton and other lines. The sights, sounds and even the smells of that part of the town were alluring to the boys of the day, delightful in their suggestion of the sea and the unknown lands beyond it. The little Old New York that ended with Twenty-third Street was a pleasant town, and many of the old timers would like to revisit it." [83] NEW YORK A MILITARY GAMP CONFEDERATE PRISONERS AT THE BATTERY Fairs, etc., for the Benefit of Soldiers' Widows — Street Scenes in the Days of the Civil War During the dark days of the Civil War, New York was a busy city. Troops from all over the country gathered here to entrain for the front. The City Hall Park was one vast encampment for Union soldiers. Prisoners from the South were confined in Battery Park till exchanged or otherwise disposed of. Regiments were continually coming or going, sanitary fairs were constantly being held, and other efforts made to alleviate the condition of the widows and children of the soldiers. The following sketch is a good pen picture of those trying days: "The soldiers' barracks were standing in the Battery, which was then enclosed in a tall iron spiked fence with gate openings. From State Street and Whitehall to the Staten Island Ferry all kinds of refreshments were sold from stands backed up against the fence and owned mostly by old Irish women, who smoked their dudeens in perfect composure before the passing crowds. The Confederate pris- oners were a feature that impressed itself upon one's memory. They were there in '65 in great numbers, probably on their way South. The barracks were hung in mourning after Lincoln was shot, and his dead body in its funeral carriage passed along Battery Place around the Bowling Green and up Broadway to the City Hall, where it lay in state. "The Battery then had a little beach that sloped gently into the water. About a hundred feet or more beyond the beach was a ledge of rocks, where the granite wall now stands. It has all been filled in since except the basin where the row- boats still are. There were a number of trees in the park, of which the weeping willows stand out conspicuous in memory. There were baseball grounds and a crack team, known as the Mohawks. A fellow named Taaffe was their pitcher. Old Bob Peach was then the crack rower of the world. He beat everything in sight and out of sight. He opened oysters then, as he does now, and at intervals grappled for the drowned. "Do you recall the primary school on Stone Street just east of Whitehall Street? A Mr. Duffy, a tall, lank man, with a long, red beard, was principal. P. G. Duffy taught the highest class. "At the old Post Office building at Cedar and Nassau Streets there was a tower from which a bell rang fire alarms, indicating by the number of its strokes the loca- tion of the fire. The children in winter used to coast down Exchange Place from Broadway to Broad Street at the peril of their lives. The ice floes used to pack so tight in the East River that people walked across in safety to Brooklyn. Gangs [84] THE ABOVE SHOWS THE EXERCISES ATTENDING THE DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT TO WILLIAM JENKINS WORTH IN MADISON SQUARE. HE WON FAME IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO. THE PICTURE IS INTERESTING AS SHOWING TYPES OF CITIZENS. SOLDIERY. LOCAL BANDS AND REGULAR TROOPS IT IS ALSO VALUABLE AS SHOWING THE TYPE OF PRIVATE RESI- DENCES WHICH THEN LINED THE SQUARE THE PRESENT SITE OF THE METROPOLITAN TOWER IS SHOWN AT THE RIGHT FACING YOU. AND THE LEFT IS 26th STREET THE BLANK SPACE BEHIND THE MONUMENT WAS THE LOW-LYING BUILDINGS OF THE HARLEM RAILROAD DEPOT— NOW MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FROM A RARE OLD LITHOGRAPH ISSUED TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR J CLARENCE DAVIES 1 Explosion of the "Westfield" of Italians with picks and axes were employed to chop solid blocks of dirty ice out of Broadway below Fulton Street at night. "The city was wide open then. Chatham Street was an abomination; so was lower Greenwich Street. Policy shops were all over the First Ward; even the children knew of them and what they meant. Politics was red hot. Bloodshed, even murder, was not of uncommon occurrence. The city, comparatively, is now a gar- den of the Lord. "About that time two boys distinguished themselves at the explosion of the Westfield, a Staten Island ferryboat, that blew up one Sunday in J uly as it was about to leave the slip. They were wharf rats and were named Rat Conners and Red Jack Barry. They saved a number of lives, and the newspapers of the day were full of their praise. Another Barry of the old First Ward and a contem- porary of Red Jack has fared better than his namesake. He is now a Major-Gen- eral of the United States Army and in charge of West Point. "Maybe some of the old New Yorkers will remember Lamartine Place, now West Twenty-ninth Street. A gentleman who lived at 21 Lamartine Place was pointed out in the draft riots as Horace Greeley, and the rioters very nearly killed him before the mistake was discovered. A copy of the Sun, issued Thursday, July 16, 1863, contains a brief account of this happening. I wonder what the read- ers of the Sun to-day would say if the paper appeared with such headlines as this one does, as 'Third Day of Mob Rule,' 'More Murder and Destruction,' 'Negro Killed and Hung Up,' 'Houses Robbed and Burned,' etc." THE ••HERALD'S" HOAX AND THE MOON HOAX About thirty years ago all New York was horrified by a circumstantial account of an escape by wild beasts in Central Park. The front page of the Herald, with flaring headlines describing the onslaught of the infuriated beasts upon unprotected citizens, created the most intense excitement. Business men sent hurried messenger boys with instructions for none of the family to leave the house. Schools were de- serted, and for several hours the city was in a veritable panic. When the article was read to the end it was discovered to be nothing but a fig- ment of imagination. One of the reporters had woven the story out of whole cloth, but not until the last paragraph was the trick disclosed. Another similar hoax some years before, in which the moon was visited, created equal excitement. We quote from the latter the following: Up Fulton Street at the corner of Nassau Street was the publishing office of the Sun. Moses Y. Beach, the publisher, had just issued a wonderful story about the moon, written by a Mr. Locke. The story stated that Sir John Herschel had, by means of his large telescope at Cape of Good Hope, brought the moon to within thirty miles of the earth, and he could see plainly enough what the inhabitants were busy about and how their buildings were constructed. The story was so admirably written that it deceived thousands of people, and Cyrus W. Field, of ocean cable fame, made a bet against its truth of a fine lunch at the old Rainbow Hotel (burned down forty years ago). [87] SOCIAL CENTRES OF YESTERDAY Memories of Once Fashionable Quarters The Battery, State Street, Bowling Green, Wall Street, Hanover Square, Queen Street, Park Place, St. John's Park, Bond Street, St. Mark's Place, Washington Square THE BATTERY AND STATE STREET, BOWLING GREEN AND BROADWAY After the close of the Revolutionary War and the troublous years which fol- lowed the readjustment to the new order of things, the social world was more or less unsettled. Gradually order came out of chaos and the leading families settled in lower Broadway and State Street, but soon business compelled removal farther north. Events moved so rapidly in old New York that society was sadly harassed to find a location which promised any degree of permanency. Although the Battery was then and still is to-day one of the most charming sections of the city, its popularity as a residential neigh- borhood was short-lived. After the old Fort was dismantled and the new administration came into power, they erected the Government House on its site when the city was for a brief period the capital of the United States. General Washington gave all his state functions in the new structure, himself residing in the Kennedy House at No. 1 Broadway. Society then clustered around lower Broadway facing Bowling Green and overflowing into Wall Street, Hanover Square, Pearl and Pine Streets. With the removal of the seat of Government to Philadelphia and subsequently to Washington, society moved a little farther north, stopping for a brief period at Greenwich Street, which for a time rejoiced in the sobriquet of Millionaires' Row. Business, however, began its relentless march and soon the social life moved up to College Place. Broadway up to Warren Street was also a delightful residential section. Sunday mornings in those days were certainly ideal. There were, perhaps, a dozen churches within easy walking distance of College Place: Trinity at the head of Wall Street, St. Paul's at Vesey Street, Dr. Mason's in Murray Street — the doctor being one of the most popular divines of the day — the Brick Presbyterian just across the Park, St. George's Chapel farther down on Beekman Street, the Methodist Church in John Street, the North Church on Fulton Street, the Middle Dutch on Nassau and the French Church on Garden Street. At the tolling of the bells, our grandfathers and grandmothers came from all the neigh- boring streets and Broadway, the Park and adjacent thoroughfares taking on an air of spright- liness and vivacity during churchgoing hours that was certainly unlike anything we know of to-day. The men, in tall beaver hats, tight trousers, high rolling stocks, varicolored waist- coats and carrying stout canes, made a picturesque accompaniment to the wide-spreading crino- lines, snow-white pantalettes, huge bonnets and brightly colored parasols of their wives and their cousins and their aunts. Service over, they repaired to their homes, sometimes taking an afternoon stroll into the woods and amid the streams that began where Canal Street is now. [88] COPYRIGHT, 1913. H. C. BROWN iFnnrtli Anrmtr anil 22nb ^trrrt ST. PAULS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. WHICH FORMERLY STOOD ON THE CORNER OF FOURTH AVENUE AND 22nd STREET. NOW OCCUPIED BY THE UNITED CHARITIES BUILDING. A VERY RARE AND INTERESTING LITHOGRAPH. OF WHICH ONLY TWO COPIES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST-THE OTHER OWNED BY MR ROBERT GOELET DR. McCHESNEY WAS THE PREACHER AT THE TIME THIS VIEW WAS MADE. AND IS AFFECTIONATELY REMEMBERED BY MANY OLD FAMILIES FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR J CLARENCE DAVIES A Delightful Locality PARK PLAGE Park Place, before its extension, was rightly styled a "place," for it was shut off on each end by the Park on the east and by the college grounds on the west. The grounds were situated on the west side of Church Street ; the buildings were of brick, stuccoed, fronting south, with rear yards extending to Murray Street; the chapel, library and lecture rooms, etc., were in the centre, the projecting wings being the residence of the president and professors; and in the front was an extended open space, with fine old trees, mostly sycamore. The removal of the building was effected in 1857, two or three years after the extension of the street. (From an old Scrap Book in possession of Mr. 22. Fulton Cutting) I propose now to make a start from these grounds and to take a stroll through this old place, beginning on the north side of Church Street. The first building was at one time the residence of Mr. Vanbrugh Livingston. To him succeeded Col. Trumbull, the well-known painter of portraits and historic subjects. In the year 1828 Mr. Gould Hoyt was the occu- pant. Of Mr. Hoyt's family the only surviving member is his eldest son Henry, who married the daughter of Judge Wm. A. Duer, once president of the college. There were besides his two sons, Lydig, who married Miss Livingston, and Gould, who married the daughter of Gen. Winfield Scott ; and two daughters, Mrs. William Redmond and Mrs. Sears, of Boston. At the adjoining house, No. 25, resided Mr. Joshua Waddington, who, after a long resi- dence, retired to the country. It was then occupied by Mr. L. P. de Luze, who married a daughter of Thomas Ludlow Ogden, and it afterwards came into the possession of the eminent surgeon, Dr. Valentine Mott. Mr. Waddington was an Englishman and was married to a sister of Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Abraham Ogden. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was associated with Alexander Hamilton and other prominent citizens in the establishment and direction of the Bank of New York, the first of our bank- ing corporations. The late W. D. Waddington was his only son. His daughter, Mrs. Van Rensselaer, the widow of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, M.D., and Mrs. S. Cornell Ogden, are now living. In the adjoining house lived Alderman Augustus Lawrence with his daughters; next, Mr. Peter Schermerhorn. I can recall his four sons: Jones, who married the daughter of Philip Hone, once Mayor of New York; Augustus, married to Miss Cooper; Edmund H, and Wm. C. Schermerhorn, married to Miss Cottinet. And here I must pause to offer a passing tribute to the memory of Augustus Schermerhorn. He was my classmate in Columbia College, and looking through the vista of years, I see in him the purest and most refined youth I have ever encountered. The qualities which win respect and affection at col- lege attracted throughout his life, cut too short, all who were brought within his influence. Two children survive him ; one, Augustus, unmarried, and a daughter, married to Mr. Tilden Auchmuty. Beyond, though perhaps not in succession, and at different periods, there lived Mr. Garret Abell, Mr. Thomas Suffern, Mr. Augustus Lawrence, Jr., Mr. Nehemiah Rogers, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Champlin and Mr. Whitehouse, an Englishman, father of Henry, who be- came the Bishop of Illinois, and Edward, long known and respected in the banking circles of Wall Street. At No. 15 in early days resided Mr. Lewis, among whose children were Horatio Gates Lewis, who married Mrs. Ludlow Ogden, counsellor at law, in his early life associated in [91] Mayor Philip Hone's House and Dr. Mason's Church business with Gen. Alexander Hamilton after his retirement from the army and return to professional pursuits. Mr. Ogden was for many years a Trustee of Columbia College and Vestryman of Trinity Church, a position now held by his grandson bearing the same name. No. 11 was occupied by Mr. Ogden before his removal to No. 13 and afterwards by Mr. Henry Laight and his sister, Miss Maria Laight, and in the year 1828 by Mr. Eleazer Parmly, who practised there the profession of dentistry with a skill and knowledge unknown before in the city. In the year 1815 there lived in the same vicinity Dr. James McNevin, who married the widow of Mr. Thorn, whose daughter, Miss Anna Thorn, married Thomas Addis Emmet, nephew of Robert Emmet, the Irish Patriot, and son of Thomas Addis Emmet, a dis- tinguished counsellor at law in our city, whose monument may be seen in St. Paul's Church- yard. Nearby resided Mr. John McKesson, whose son, bearing the same name, married Miss Suffern. Next, Mr. Main, the father of Dr. Austin Main, who married a daughter of Mr. Allison Post and resided for many years in Paris. On the corner was Mechanics' Hall, in which lodged at different periods many respecta- ble occupants. In the innocent period to which I look back, there were no such convenient memories as now exist, combining perfect knowledge as to the people of the right sort, with complete igno- rance as to even the existence of those of the other sort, though just as near by. On the contrary, there was a friendly feeling prevailing throughout the neighborhood; a knowledge and interest in all that was going on, especially births and deaths, and important events occurring between those final periods, such as marriages and christenings. At funerals, the houses adjoining were opened to receive the overflow of the house of death, and colored serv- ants with napkins around the arm stood, as I well remember, at the respective doors ready to do the honors with the grace peculiar to the race, and within doors were comfortable sit- tings, and on the sideboard was the decanter with the old Madeira ready for support and comfort on occasions so melancholy. The immediate neighborhood had also many well-known families. Mr. Philip Hone's house was around the corner on Broadway, between Park Place and Barclay. He had for next-door neighbors Mr. Philip Lydig, Mr. Kilian Van Rensselaer and Mr. William Schuyler. Dr. Mason's church, one of the most popular divines of the day, was on Mur- ray Street, and was well attended by all the surrounding neighborhood. With the Brick Presbyterian Church directly across on Park Row, and St. Paul's on the corner of Broad- way and Vesey Street, the neighborhood was well calculated to provide for the spiritual as well as the social needs of the vicinity. Long before the College moved trade had made serious inroads on the old street, and before the stately old buildings were finally demolished, most of the old neighbors had gone farther uptown — some as far as Bond Street, and some even to Washington Square. With the fountain playing in the Park just at the entrance to the Place, with the tall sycamores and elms in the College grounds, and the handsome shade trees which lined both sides of the street, quaint old aristocratic Park Place was for many years one of the show places of the town. But its period of tranquillity was doomed to an early demise. Busi- ness crept along Broadway up and down the side streets and soon society fled northward — this time a long distance — to St. John's Park. There they seemed secure from further en- croachment and soon this favorite locality became the centre of the city's social life. [92] IT IS DOUBTFUL IF ANY BUILDING IN NEW YORK AT THAT TIME WAS BETTER KNOWN THAN BARNUM S MUSEUM AND WHEN IT BURNED DOWN IT FURNISHED A FITTING CLIMAX TO THE LONG LIST OF SENSATIONS WHICH IT HAD ALREADY CREATED A DEAD WHALE LAY IN THE STREETS FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRE. AND A MARBLE STATUE OF QUEEN VICTORIA PERCHED BLITHELY AMONG THE BLACKENED RUINS FOR A WEEK SO THOROUGHLY DID BARNUM EXPLOIT HIS CATASTROPHE THAT IT ULTIMATELY BECAME A TRIUMPH. THE MUSEUM STOOD ON THE CORNER OF BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. WHERE THE ST. PAUL BUILDING NOW IS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR HENRT MORGENTHAU. St. John's Organ Captured by the British, 1812 ST. JOHN'S PARK The streets immediately adjoining the Park and the church were the most favored locali- ties. Varick Place took the lead. At No. 1 lived Mr. John Aspinwall; No. 2, Mr. Philip Henry ; No. 3, Mr. G. R. Berry, James Loved, Willie Gorg ; No. 4, Mr. G. T. Plum ; at No. 6, Mr. P. V. King; 7, H. W. D. Olson; 8, Samuel Coleman; 9, Moses Henriques; 10, Alex- ander Frazier; 11, Mr. J. L. Pratt; 12, Mr. John Wordsworth; 13, Mr. Abraham Van Nest; 14, Mr. S. S. Benedict; 16, Mr. James Adriance; 18, Ezra Wheeler, and 20, Ebenezer Hoyt. On Beach Street, among others, were Mr. George Griffen, Mr. C. G. Smedberg, Mr. Wm. Kemble, Mr. Daniel Lord, Jr., Mr. George de Forrest, and Mr. Robert Hyslop. The Park at that time stretched from the Church to Hudson Street, and, as can be seen from our illustration, was a delightful spot with its tall sycamore and chestnut trees and its abundant flowers. For a long time this neighborhood held undisputed sway as the leading social centre, but with the sale of the Park to the New York Central Railroad for a freight station, its glory rapidly departed and once more migration resumed its northern march. Depau Row on Bleecker Street between Thompson and Sullivan — convenient to the Park — was a very distinguished block. Mr. A. T. Stewart, the great dry-goods merchant, lived at No. 6; Mr. H. A. Schiff, Mr. T. 0. Fowler, Sylvie de Grasse Depau in No. 2, and Mr. P. M. Wetmore in No. 1. For a long time Depau Row was one of the show places in town. Its architecture was in decided contrast to anything else in the city and it retained its social prestige for many years. ' St. John's Chapel itself, on Varick Street, was completed in 1807, at an unparalleled cost for that day. The ground upon which it stood was part of King's Farm, granted by Queen Anne to Trinity Church. St. John's was modelled after St. Martin's in the Fields of London, as had been St. Paul's at Broadway and Fulton Street. The organ, which was built in Philadelphia, was captured en route by the British cruiser Plantagenet in the War of 1812, and was in London for several years until a ransom of $2,000.00 was paid. (We append a rather quaint account of this incident copied from the daily press of that period.) The church bell and the clock were imported from England before the War of 1812. (From the Weekly Register of Baltimore) Contemptible. — Many of the little craft captured by the Plantagenet, of seventy-four guns, are ransomed at the price of from one to two hundred dollars each. A great business this, for a ship of the line! Among its captures was a vessel with an organ for one of the Episcopal churches in New York. Now, a gentleman might suppose that this article would have passed harmless. No; no; they who robbed the church at Hampton, demanded and received for its ransom $2,000. I ask emphatically — and let every one answer the question — Is there any officer in the American navy that would do this thing? The commander of a row-boat pirateer would despise it. BOND STREET This short street, running only from Broadway to Third Avenue, made up by the promi- nence of its occupants for any physical deficiency. The famous Samuel Ward lived on the corner of Broadway and Bond. The first Circulating Library in the city was organized in this street, by the ladies of the Sunday School of Grace Church. [95] Once the Home of Society Great Jones Street, a block above and which is included in the Bond Street district, contained the residence of Mr. Philip Hone, Mayor of the city in 1824, and whose delightful "Diary" has given us the most accurate picture of New York social life in the early years of the nineteenth century. Next to him lived his brother, Mr. Robert Hone. These homes were the rendezvous of all the leading men and women of the day in society and letters, and Mr. Philip Hone also entertained nearly every visitor of prominence who came from abroad. His "Diary" is at once the most informing and illuminating book of its time, and a perusal is even at this late day replete with interest to the student of old New York. Up from Bond Street came Lafayette Place, the site chosen by John Jacob Astor after his removal from Broadway. His home stood south of where the old Library was — now about 417 Lafayette Street. On the corner of Astor Place and Lafayette was the home of his mar- ried daughter, Mrs. Woodbury Langdon. This building was torn down in 1875 to make room for J. J. Little's Printing House. Along Lafayette Place was a row of houses flanked by a line of columns. This later became celebrated as "Colonnade Row" and is still standing (1913), but in a rather dilapidated condition. But again business encroached and the social centre moved to St. Mark's Place on the east and to Washington Square on the west. ST. MARK'S PLACE IN THE FIFTIES The hand of Time has fallen heavily upon beautiful St. Mark's Place, as it has fallen on all the former residential sections of the city, and where some of our most representative families once lived, the moving picture and garish cafes now hold full sway, and make it difficult for even memory and imagination to restore the splendors of yesterday. Fifty or sixty years ago St. Mark's Place was at the height of its glory. Mr. D. Anthon lived on the corner of Tenth Street and Second Avenue. He was for many years the rector of old St. Mark's Church and died in charge of that parish. On the northwest corner of Eleventh Street and Second Avenue Mr. P. G. Stuyvesant had his residence, and two doors north lived Mr. D. Ellis, whose five sons fought in the Battle of Bull Run, two of whom were afterwards killed during the war. The garden of Mr. Bruen, who lived in the granite house now occupied by a cafe, was well-nigh famous, and extended to near Ninth Street, on the corner of which lived Dr. Rippen. Mrs. N. W. Stuyvesant lived on the east side of Second Avenue between Eighth and Ninth Streets; on the corner next to her dwelt Benjamin Win- throp, and near Ninth Street Mr. Hamilton Fish had his home. He was among the first to leave the neighborhood, and built a very fine residence on the block between Seventeenth and Eighteenth Streets on Second Avenue, the ground of which is now occupied by the Lying-in Hospital built by the late Mr. J. P. Morgan. The fine house of Mr. Eugene Keteltas occu- pied the corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue, which until within the past year was occupied by Miss Alice Keteltas. Next to the Keteltases lived Mr. Reuben Withers. At num- ber 145 Stuyvesant Place, which was part of St. Mark's Place, lived Mr. Joseph Kernochan, and at number 127 lived Mr. Schuyler Livingston. Mr. Gerard Stuyvesant resided at num- ber 124 Second Avenue, or number 126 as it now is, in which house the present Mr. A. Van Horne Stuyvesant was born. This old mansion has now fallen from its once high estate and is a moving picture theatre. The Mortimer family lived next door, and just below was the [96] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN An Jmportant lirut from Urooklgu Sjrighta THE SKY LINE OF NEW YORK AS SEEN FROM BROOKLYN HEIGHTS IN 1825. SHOWN ABOVE, IS A VASTLY DIFFERENT THING FROM WHAT WE SEE TO DAY; AND THE HOMES ON THE HEIGHTS IN BROOKLYN WERE ALSO STRANGELY DIFFERENT- THE SHIPPING IN THE RIVER IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING, AS ARE ALSO THE PIGEONS AND RURAL AIR OF THIS HOME ON THE HEIGHTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS AQUATINTS BY BENNETT, OF WHICH VERY FEW COPIES EXIST THE ORIGINAL COPPER PLATE RECENTLY DISCOVERED IS OWNED BY MR. HARRIS D COLT. WHO HAS HAD IT CLEANED AND FRAMED FOR HIS COLLECTION. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. HERBERT L. PRATT. Last Stand of the Knickerbockers Brown home. In Stuyvesant Place were the residences of L. W. Wells, Mr. George Kinney, Eli Benedict, H. W. Livingston, I. H. Abeel, G. J. Leeds, W. B. Brewster, M. M. Quackenbos, P. L. Chauncey, William Hoze, J. E. Edgar and C. 0. Halsted. Ah, surely, those were palmy days for old St. Mark's ! WASHINGTON SQUARE The North Side of Washington Square still bids defiance to the encroachments of trade, the advent of cliff dwellers, and the hordes of aliens who disport themselves in the park, where formerly only the blue bloods were permitted to mingle. Three sides of the quadrangle have already surrendered, but the fourth remains obdurate. It is pathetic — this last desperate stand of the Knickerbockers — but at the same time inspiring. They and their families are not unused to such experiences. They can remember their grandmothers' talk of Bowling Green, State Street, College Place, St. John's Park, Bond Street, Lafayette Place and other strongholds of fashionable society — all of them long ages ago abandoned and surrendered to the ruthless onslaught of commerce. Time was, and not so long ago, when Washington Square was the ultima thule of all things fashionable. It was the home of all that was most desirable in New York Society. It con- tained more families bearing old names than any other section of the city, and, in fact, to live in Washington Square was tantamount to a select niche in the inner shrines of New York's most exclusive circles. And to this day there still remain some of the best known names in the city — De Forest, Tailers, Rhinelanders, Heckschers, Stewarts, Duncans, etc., etc. Some few years ago the old New York University Buildings were finally removed to make room for a business building. When the University was new, all the four sides of Washing- ton Square were occupied by substantial three and four story brick houses of ample width. Stately trees lined the streets and the Square itself was a place of endless delight with its tall sycamores and velvety lawns. Here came the Seventh and other regiments to have their open air parade and exhibition drills. Such occasions were gala days in the old Square, the memory of which is graciously cherished. A man on an income of thirty or fifty thousand dollars a year in those days was consid- ered very wealthy. The coachman and footmen were not above acting as butlers and waiters on occasion, and the nursemaids would turn to and help the other servants on occasions of hospitality. The groom did many other things than merely tend the horses — he brought wood for the fires, cleaned windows and made himself generally useful. Six servants were con- sidered sufficient for a well-appointed household, and there were no such niceties of distinc- tion in household service as exist to-day. Most of the houses had their own stables and gar- dens attached and all the work incident to their upkeep was performed without outside assist- ance. The rooms above the stable made comfortable quarters for the coachman and his fam- ily, with accommodations for others when needed. Elaborate country residences in addition to the town house were not imperative then as they are to-day. A short visit to Newport during the season in a modest rented cottage was sufficient, interspersed with an occasional trip to Europe. Far Rockaway and Long Branch were considered fashionable resorts nearby, while Saratoga, Richfield Springs and the Hudson River were eminently proper as social centres. An idea of the importance of Rockaway as a fashionable resort may be gained from the fact that a subscription was completed for building a Marine Pavilion at Rockaway, as an [99] Summer Vacations Hardly Known elegant place of summer resort. Some seventy gentlemen subscribed five hundred dollars each, the list including such names as Prime, Ray, King, Hone, Cruger, Howland, Suffern, Coster, Hoyt, Schermerhorn, Crosby, Whitney, Newbold, Gihon, Parish, Thorne, Grinnell, Suydam, Kissam, Heckscher, Cutting, Livingston, Stuyvesant, etc., but notwithstanding these names and the expectations of success, this resort, though established according to the plan and being a delightful place, never prospered. New Yorkers of fashion, including most of the subscribers, soon after abandoned Rockaway as too near the town. The summer season was short — August being the only real holiday month. Vacations from business were practically unknown, and the schools kept open through July. A few weeks dur- ing the worst of the heated term were about all that was expected, and by September vacation would end. The denizens of the Square to-day on the North Side can recall those days quite clearly. It is not ancient history to them. Some have changed with the times. Others have remained about the same. But the north is not the only side of the Square. On the south tower great loft buildings, occupied by the factories of garment makers where imposing private residences formerly stood. On the west, impertinent apartment houses and studio buildings flaunt themselves, their newness seeming to scoff and jeer at the old, like naughty lads ridiculing a prophet's baldness. But it is a question whether this stiff newness is more painful than the old broken-down buildings bor- dering the south, decrepit and ancient, occupied by saloons, cheap table-d'hotes and rooming houses. Nor is the present the only side of the Square. In "Cyril Greene" Mr. Theodore Win- throp gives another side — the bleak desolation of winter days when the old park began to degenerate from its former estate. In later days came the breadline, though since discon- tinued, when the derelicts of society came to receive the pittance of charity from those more fortunate. And soundly sleep those who were buried there long before Washington Square became fashionable, whom all of these changes have failed to disturb, for, like others of New York's squares, this was a pauper burial place. The Washington Arch was erected in 1889 during the Centennial celebration for which Mr. William Rhinelander Stewart deserves due credit as originator. It serves as a sort of dividing line at which Goths and Vandals of downtown New York swerve to the east and west and leave Fifth Avenue unmolested. [100] g>trn>t UpttjoiHst GUjurrt?, 17BB THIS IS THE CRADLE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING STOOD ON THIS SAME SITE BACK IN 1768. THE CHURCH WAS STARTED IN A SAIL LOFT AT 120 WILLIAM STREET BY BARBARA HECK. WILLIAM EMBURY AND CAPTAIN WEBB. AND WAS THE FIRST OF THAT DENOMINATION IT IS ONE OF THE VERY OLDEST CHURCHES IN AMERICA. ALMOST ACROSS THE STREET, AT 15-2 1. STOOD ALSO THE FIRST THEATRE BUILT IN NEW YORK — THE "ROYAL." MAJOR ANDRE PERFORMED HERE IN PRODUCTIONS OF HIS OWN DURING THE REVOLUTION. AND "HAIL COLUMBIA" WAS PLAYED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONOR OF WASHINGTON; BY FYLES, ITS COMPOSER JOE JEFFERSON MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE HERE. ALSO. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. N F. PALMER SOME PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF GREENWICH VILLAGE By Euphemia M. Olcott The contact of our family with Greenwich Village dates back to the days of my great-grandfather, the Rev. John M. Mason, D.D., of the Presbyterian Church in Murray Street, who lived for some time at what became the corner of Eleventh Street and Sixth Avenue. I never saw him, but visited the house in my child- hood, when it was occupied by an old Mr. Pringle, who was a friend of the family. My mother was born away out in the country, on Lovers' Lane on the Oothout Farm, where her grandfather had rented a house to take his family out of the reach of cholera, then prevalent in the city. She was born on the third of August, 1819 — a contemporary of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Her birthplace was a frame house with hip roof. In after years a brick front was put on and the hip roof was straightened up with bricks. The house was divided into two, and became either 32 and 34 West Twentieth Street, or 34 and 36 — I am not sure which. Only a dozen years ago, when business made its inroads into that section, I discovered workmen razing the building, and the next one having been previously demolished, I could see the outline of the old roof and some of the original clapboards. Much to the amazement of the laborers I asked for and secured some pieces of these clap- boards and distributed sections of them at our family dinner table on the next Thanksgiving Day. My mother grew up at the corner of Fulton and Nassau Streets, her father being the Rev. John Knox, D.D., whose pastorate of forty years was in the Collegiate Dutch Church. She often visited in Greenwich Village, both at her grandfather's and at the home of Mr. Abraham Van Nest, which had been built and originally occupied by Sir Peter Warren. But she never thought of going so far for less than a week! There was a city conveyance for part of the way, and then the old Greenwich stage enabled them to complete the long journey. This ran several times a day, and when my mother committed her hymn, "Hasten, sinner, to be be wise, Ere this evening's stage be run," she told us that for some years it never occurred to her that it could mean any- thing in the world but the Greenwich stage. Mr. Van Nest's house was as dear to my young days as to those of my mother. It was a square frame house on a slight elevation in the midst of land bounded by Fourth and Bleecker, Charles and Perry Streets. It was the country residence of a gentleman, with flower and vege- [103] White Pantalettes, Red Merino Skirts table gardens, a stable, a cow, chickens, pigeons and a peacock, all dear to childish hearts. And likewise "In that mansion used to be Free-hearted hospitality." From its doors many children had married and gone forth before my time came, and the mother I never knew. But "old Mr. Van Nest," a faithful elder in our church, one especially liberal in his ideas of what the ministers ought to receive, and his daughter, Miss Katherine Van Nest, made many young hearts happy, not only the returning grandchildren, but those who, like myself, could present only claims of friendship with kinship. A large hall ran through the house and a large mahogany table stood there, and this was always furnished with a large silver cake- basket full of delicious sponge-cake, a batch of which must have been made every morning, I am sure, by the colored cook. And from this basket we were urged — no! we never needed urging — we were permitted to help ourselves — and we did. This was just for ordinary days, but yearly, at least, there was a children's party where mirth and jollity reigned and all old-fashioned games were played and every child carried home a charming little gift. A party dress then was — I remember one such very distinctly from my pride in its acquisition — a red merino, short enough to show the white pantalettes which went down to our ankles, and over it a dotted Swiss muslin apron with straps over the shoulders. And we felt just as fine as the more bedizened little creatures of to-day — and I yield to no generations, before our days or since, in the good times we had. It was in 1843 that my mother married, her father then being resident at the corner of Fourth and Mercer Streets. There I was born in 1844, and when I was two months old I was carried to her home, where I still reside. This is in Thir- teenth Street, west of Sixth Avenue. There was a drugstore, kept by Mrs. M. Giles, on the corner, and beyond that lot began a row of dwelling houses of which my father bought the fifth, but latterly business has absorbed four of these, so that we are now the first residence on the block. It was very far uptown in those days — there is a letter still extant which predicts that my mother will never see her old friends, for they cannot go so far up — and it was thought very narrow, being only twenty feet wide. Oilcloth was in those days laid in the halls, but my grandfather advised against it, saying, "Throw down a strip of carpet, Helen; you won't stay here five years." She stayed sixty-five, until she was within two months of ninety years, when she went to her home above. Nine children were born there, one of whom made a very brief stay in this world — but eight of us grew up, four boys and four girls, a natural, wholesome, noisy, merry set of young- sters, whose old-fashioned ways would doubtless amaze the succeeding generations. Just to mention one thing — no Sunday paper has ever been delivered at our door. The location, considered from a sanitary point of view, has always been excel- lent; in fact, it was a knowledge of this that determined its choice. The Croton water was in the house, and even a bath-tub, but no stationary tubs for a good many years, and well do I remember seeing the maids on Monday afternoon carry- [ 104 ] ON THE SITE OF THE RESIDENCE OF MR PETER DELANCEY ON BROADWAY. ABOVE TRINITY CHURCH. WAS ERECTED THE FIRST REGULAR HOTEL IN OUR CITY IT WAS AN IMPOSING STRUCTURE FOR SO YOUNG A METROPOLIS. AND FOR A LONG TIME WAS THE LARGEST AND MOST CONSPICUOUS BUILDING IN NEW YORK. IT IS A NOTED FEATURE IN ST. MEMIN'S PANTOGRAPH (PUBLISHED IN PARIS. 1798). WHICH WAS THE FIRST SKY LINE" VIEW OF NEW YORK. A REFERENCE TO THE QUAINT OLD LITHOGRAPH ABOVE SHOWS THAT IT WAS JUSTLY ENTITLED TO THE FAME WHICH IT ACHIEVED. BOTH AS A BUILDING AND AS A HOTEL OF THE VERY FIRST RANK. PRIOR TO THIS TIME TAVERNS AND PRIVATE HOUSES WERE THE ONLY PLACES TO WHICH A TRAVELLER MIGHT REPAIR FOR SHELTER. AND THE CITY HOTEL WAS A VAST IMPROVEMENT AFTER A LONG CAREER OF UNUSUAL PROSPERITY. DURING WHICH TIME IT WAS THE SCENE OF THE FAMOUS BACHELORS - BALL." THE ONE GREAT SOCIETY EVENT OF THE SEASON . AND ENTER- TAINED NEARLY ALL THE DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO NEW YORK, OFFICIALLY AND SOCIALLY. IT WAS TURNED INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PARK VIEW HOTEL. OR ASTOR HOUSE. MUCH FURTHER UPTOWN. 1835. SUCCEEDING TO ITS PATRONAGE AND PRESTIGE THE WELL- REMEMBERED BOREEL BUILDING SUCCEEDED THE OFFICE BUILDING NOW THE SITE OF THE MAGNIFICENT TWIN OFFICE BUILDINGS. TRINITY (No 111) AND UNITED STATES REALTY (No 1 15). FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. J. C. B R E VOO RT. Delightful Intimacy among Neighbors ing out the round tubs and emptying them into the gutter, and great was our glee if the water soused a great black pig from its siesta — for these creatures roamed at large and were the only scavengers of any consequence. Well do I remember also the introduction of gas and how we followed our father from room to room as he triumphantly lit each burner. It was a frolic after that on winter evenings to shuffle across the carpet and light the gas with an electric spark from the tips of our fingers, I being the one most usually suc- cessful in this feat. Our back yard — about 40 x 60 feet — contained a peach tree, an apricot tree and a grape-vine. These bore plentifully and our peaches took a prize one year at the American Institute Fair. We also had beautiful roses and many other flowers. From one back window we could look up to Fifteenth Street and Sixth Avenue, where a frame Lutheran church stood, the singing of whose hymns we could distinctly hear on Sunday afternoons. The frame church was replaced by a stone one, but that was long since swept away by the onrush of business. Where the armory now stands, there was a marble yard, and it was one of our pleasures to pick up bits of the marble and use them for sharpening the then necessary but now obsolete slate-pencil. Just above Fourteenth Street on the west side of Sixth Avenue was a plot of ground, surrounded by a high wooden fence — and in this was a building from which I first learned the French word "creche." It was, of course, a day nursery and we used to stop at the fence and watch the little tots whose blue-checked gingham aprons I can still see. Ours was a neighborhood of young married people with constantly increasing families — the news of "a new baby at our house" being frequently heralded. We all knew each other and played together in the little court-yards, on the balconies or on the front stoops. Paper doll families experienced all the vicissitudes of our own families, pin wheels at certain seasons were exposed on the balconies and sold for pins, small fairs were gotten up for charities, valentines were exchanged, and when the great revival of 1857-8 surged through the city, there were neighborhood children's prayer meet- ings held from house to house. When more active pursuits were craved, there was always opportunity to jump the rope or roll the hoople, and several of us achieved the coveted distinction of running entirely round the block, through Sixth Avenue to Fourteenth Street, thence to Seventh Avenue and back to Thirteenth Street without letting the hoople drop. Farther afield was Union Square, to which our nurses accompanied us — a high fence surrounded it and dogs were excluded. I do not recall any pump there, but in "The Parade Ground" (Washington Square) I frequently turned at the pump and quenched my thirst from the public tin cup without any fears of germs or any disastrous results. In my grandfather's backyard at Fourth and Mercer Streets there was also a pump — and to this day I do not understand physics well enough to know why was poured a dipper full of water into the pump before we could draw any, but we were always rewarded with a copious flow. [107] Passing of the "Village" Fourteenth Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues I have seen with three sets of buildings — first, shanties near Sixth Avenue from the rear of which it was rumored a bogy would be likely to pursue and kidnap us. I remember the man from whom we fled ; he was a chimney-sweep of somewhat fierce aspect but I doubt extremely that he had any malicious propensities. These shanties were followed by fine brownstone residences, and at the corners of Fifth Avenue lived Mr. I. M. Halsted, who had a garden, Mr. Myndert Van Schank, chief eigineer for years of the Croton Aqueduct, Mr. Moses N. Grinnell, and Mr. Hemming, and perhaps earlier, Mr. Suffern. Some of these, however, I think came when there had ceased to be a village. Later on came business into Fourteenth Street — but I am passing the village period and getting into the time of the Civil War. I must not begin on those memories for they would never end, and there was no longer any Greenwich Village. The old days were good, but I believe in every step of progress, and in spite of din and roar, in spite of crowds, in spite of the foreign population crowding into what long continued to be the American section of the city, I still lift my head with St. Paul and say, "I am a citizen of no mean city." HOW THE NEWS OF THE FALL OF VIGKSBURG REACHED GREENWICH VILLAGE The Civil War covered the most impressionable part of my life. Well do I remember being roused by the "Extras" in the night which proclaimed the origi- nal attack upon Sumter. I sprang from my bed, and from the third story hall saw my mother gazing up from the second, asking, "Do you hear? It has come." Then followed the four years of such living as we hope and believe our country will never see again. Of course, every day saw the enlistment of relatives and friends — of course I stood in the street and saw the Seventh and the Twenty- second regiments of the N". Y. militia go off — with many friends of my own age going with them. I may say parenthetically that, after fifty years, I saw, from the same spot in Lafayette Place, the Seventh Regiment start over the same route, the veterans either on foot or in carriages. And from the old Oriental Hotel, kept by the same ladies, floated the same flag — with the stars all there, saluted alike by veteran and the boys of to-day. In those days there was great intimacy between our family and the Roose- velts, and we always witnessed parades from the house of Mr. C. V. S. Roose- velt, grandfather of "Teddy," at the corner of Fourteenth Street and Broadway, with a garden stretching down towards Thirteenth Street, through whose green gate we entered when the stoop was crowded by the public. From those windows I saw the Prince of Wales, afterwards Edward VII, and from that roof I gazed upon the immense mass meeting which expressed the loyalty of the North, which was memorably addressed by Henry Ward Beecher, and the scarcely less [108] EJall §>trrrt Abmrt 1B45 HERE WE HAVE AN INTERESTING VIEW OF WALL STREET AT AN IMPORTANT TRANSITION STAGE. AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF 1835. THIS STREET WAS REBUILT IN A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL MANNER — TH E BUILDINGS HAVING A MORE OR LESS ARCHITECTURAL MERIT AND IN KEEPING WITH THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE STREET AS A BUSINESS CENTRE. THE SOUTH SIDE STILL SHOWS AN ALMOST UNBROKEN ROW OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS. AND A TREE STILL ADORNS THE SIDEWALK WHERE NOW STANDS THE BANKERS' TRUST COMPANY. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. N. F. PALMER. Dark Days m Old Greenwich eloquent George W. Bethune, D.D. I remember how on that day we gazed a little doubtfully at the mother of President Roosevelt — lovely and dear always — because, forsooth, she came from Georgia ! The call of the President for 75,000 troops met with instant response, and from all sections of the country we kept hearing of relations and friends who were expecting speedily to advance "On to Richmond." Alas! it took the disastrous Bull Run and many similar events to make us realize that it was not a three months' war. Many, many friends never came back, and when, years afterwards, I heard Joseph Cook say, "I belong to a decimated generation," I knew that he and I were contemporaries. But there were victories — as I write these words, the fiftieth anniversary of Gettysburg is being celebrated. All through the first, second and third days of July, 1863, we kept getting word of success. On the night of the Fourth we were on our roof, watching the skyrockets, not then concealed by skyscrapers, and the sound of extras arose. "More news from Gettysburg," we cried, and hastened down, my father being the first to get to the street. From the front door he shouted, "It isn't Gettysburg — Vicksburg has surrendered" — and of course our joy knew no bounds. Then followed an illumination — how often I think of it as I go along the "great white way" — for electricity was then only harnessed to telegraph wires and a little tallow dip in each pane satisfied our ideas of brilliancy. On the nineteenth of that July I left New York with a merry party for a summer outing in New Hampshire. At Bellows Falls we had to wait for a train from Boston, and when it came, there were extras again. And lo! they told us of the draft riots in New York, which had been so peaceful that morning. My father was still in the city, and of course he did patrol work, as every one else did who was on the right side. I have not spoken of the great fair of the Sanitary Commission, and I am not sure in which year it occurred, but all women and girls consecrated their time and their money, with what results the world knows. Nor have I mentioned how boys and girls alike scraped lint and rolled bandages and made "Havelocks" during classes in school — and doubtless sent them off laden with germs which would make the surgeons of to-day shudder and turn pale. So we lived — and at last the troops did get to Richmond and the day of great rejoicing came. And after the assassina- tion of our President, ah me ! I sometimes think the gay and happy young people of the next generation have not known what living means, even if they did have a bit of a taste of war during that hot summer when we liberated Cuba and took upon ourselves the responsibility of the Philippines. [Ill] GREENWICH VILLAGE IN HISTORY An Old-time Beauty Spot on Manhattan Island — Still Lovingly Referred to by Its Former Residents as "the Village" — Many Prominent New Yorkers Born There. Admiral Sir Peter Warren was in New York in 1744. He had then returned from Martinique, where he had captured many French and Spanish prizes with his squadron of sixteen sailing craft. These were sold for him by Stephen De Lancey & Co., and netted him a considerable fortune, and it is said that he bought his Greenwich farm of three hundred acres with a part of the money. At any rate, the rise of Greenwich is attributed to Sir Peter, who married the daughter of his sales agent, Susannah De Lancey. Abingdon Square, with its little park, is a me- mento of the Warren farm, the oldest of Sir Peter's three daughters having mar- ried the Earl of Abingdon for whom the Square is named. Abijah Hammond be- came the owner of the farm after the death of the vice-admiral, and in 1819 Mr. Van Nest purchased from him the mansion, with the square bounded by Fourth, Bleecker, Perry and Charles Streets. In 1865 the house was torn down, and most of the present houses were erected on its site. No more bewildering confusion of street formation exists anywhere than in this section of the city, where was once old Greenwich. An example is Fourth Street, which crosses Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Streets at very nearly right angles. Other streets start all right, run for a block or two with regularity, and then take unreasonable turns, or else bring one up before a brick wall. This condi- tion may be attributed to the fantastic ideas of the owners of land in that section in the early period of the city's growth. When a short cut from one place to another was desired they cut a lane, and perhaps another to some part of the farm land, leaving, with what improved conditions the city has made in street-making there, a tangled network of the old and the new that will not assimilate. Greenwich Road followed the line of the present Greenwich Street, along the shore front, and led to Greenwich Village. While in dry weather most of the route was good ground, in wet weather, especially in the region of the Lispenard salt meadows, which then lay north and south of the present Canal Street, and of the marshy valley of Minetta Creek (about Charlton Street), it was difficult of ac- cess. An inland road was therefore approved in 1768 from the Post Road (the present Bowery) to what is now Astor Place, then to Waverly Place, then to Greenwich Avenue. Two sections of this road exist to-day: Astor Place, and Greenwich Avenue between Eighth and Fourteenth Streets. The rest is obliter- ated. The open space at Astor Place is a part of the road to Greenwich known as Monument Lane, or "road to the Obelisk," because at its northern extremity, [112] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H C BROWN glair Attest anb lattprij, 1B20 THE HOUSES IN THE FOREGROUND WERE THE RESIDENCES OF THE COLE FAMILY. ARCHIBALD GRACIE. JONATHAN OGDEN. ROBERT LIVINGSTON . DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY IN THE CORNER HOUSE FULTON MADE HIS PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL STEAMBOAT. THE "CLERMONT ." NO SECTION OF NEW YORK WAS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN STATE STREET. COMMANDING. AS IT DID. A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE BAY. AND FOR A LONG TIME IT WAS THE MOST FASHIONABLE REGION IN TOWN. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR, J. H. JORDAN. Great Exodus to Greenwich or where is now Eighth Avenue and Fifteenth Street, General Wolfe, the hero of Quebec, had a memorial erected to him. The lane extended from the Bowery to Washington Square, turned northwest and skirted Greenwich Village. At Jef- ferson Market, where Greenwich Avenue joins Sixth Avenue, the reader will find the last section of the inland road. No more healthful location exists in New York than what was once the site of the village. The epidemics of virulent diseases that attacked the old city found no lodgment in Greenwich. This healthfulness is due to the fact that the under- lying soil of the district to a depth of at least fifty feet is a pure sand, and pro- vides excellent natural drainage. Bank Street is reminiscent of the yellow fever epidemic in 1798, in that the Bank of New York and a branch of the Bank of the United States purchased two plots of eight city lots each in Greenwich Village, far away from the city proper, to which they could remove in case of being placed in danger of quaran- tine. In 1799 two houses were erected on them, and in September of the same year the banks were removed to the village, and gave the name to the present street, which was then a lane. The year 1822 saw another influx of population to Greenwich Village because of its healthfulness. "The town fairly exploded and went flying beyond its borders, as though the pestilence had been a burning mine. The city presented the appearance of a town besieged. From daybreak till night one line of carts, containing merchandise and effects, were seen moving toward Greenwich Village and the upper parts of the city. Carriages and hacks, wagons and horsemen, were scouring the streets and filling the roads. Tem- porary stores and offices were erecting. Even on Sunday carts were in motion, and the saw and hammer busily at work. Within a few days thereafter (Septem- ber) the Custom House, the Post Office, the bank, the insurance offices and the printers of newspapers located themselves in the village, or in the upper part of Broadway, where they were free from the impending danger, and these places almost instantaneously became the seat of the immense business usually carried on in the great metropolis." This epidemic "caused the building up of many streets with numerous wooden buildings, for the uses of the merchants, banks, offices, etc." An old authority says that he "saw corn growing on the present corner of Ham- mond (West Eleventh) and Fourth Streets on a Saturday morning, and on the following Monday Sykes and Niblo had a house erected capable of accommodat- ing three hundred boarders. Even the Brooklyn ferryboats ran up here daily." Three remnants of Greenwich Village are the two old frame dwellings at the southwest corner of Eleventh Street and Sixth Avenue, and the triangular grave- yard near the corner, the second place of burial owned by the Jews on the island. When Eleventh Street was opened almost the whole of the Jewish burial ground was swept away. The street went directly across it, leaving only the corner on its south side and a still smaller corner on its north side. A walk through the heart of this interesting locality — the American quarter, from Fourteenth Street down to Canal, west of Sixth Avenue — will reveal a moral and physical cleanliness not found in any other semi-congested part of New [115] Thomas Paine's Home York; an individuality of the positive sort transmitted from generation to gener- ation; a picturesqueness in its old houses, "standing squarely on their right to be individual" alongside those of modern times, and above all else, a truly American atmosphere reminiscent of the town when it was a village. Elsewhere in this book we have given an extended account of Richmond Hill, Aaron Burr's home in old Greenwich Village. Perhaps the next most notable name which would occur to us would be Thomas Paine, who lived at 58 Grove Street, where he wrote his famous pamphlets "The Age of Reason" and "Com- monsense." The latter contribution to the then current literature touching on questions pertaining to the Revolution did more than all other efforts to unite and solidify public opinion on the question of final separation, which up to that time had only been considered by a few of the most virulent radicals. Another old landmark was the New York University Building, where Theo- dore Winthrop wrote his "Cecil Greene." The Richmond Hill Theatre, Aaron Burr's old home, was not the only con- tribution to the New York stage made by Greenwich Village. At Greenwich Avenue and Twelfth Street there was the once popular Columbia Opera House. Polly Smith, who was known to everyone as the village tomboy, won the Adam Forepaugh prize of ten thousand dollars for the most beautiful girl in America. She then changed her name to Louise Montague and made a big hit at Tony Pastor's and as the captain's daughter in "Pinafore." Leonard Dare, a trapeze per- former, lived in Abingdon Square before she went to London and married into the nobility. Johnny Hart, a famous old minstrel, was also a resident. His brother Bob was the prize drinker of the neighborhood, but when he was sober (and broke) he gave temperance lectures and passed the hat for collections. There were many other old characters in the village that can be easily re- called — Crazy Paddy, who never missed a fire and who was a familiar figure sprinting down the street in front of the "Department"; Johnny Lookup, who had an uncontrollable penchant for attending funerals and considered it his bounden duty to accompany the remains of any villager to its last resting place. Then there was Susy Walsh, the school teacher, who was so pretty that all the boys hung around her desk waiting for the chance to carry her books home. Old-timers recollect the Jefferson Market Bell Tower and the bell they used to ring for fires ; all had a book that gave the location of the fire as indicated by the strokes of the bell, and all would run with the machine. Then there was the old slaughter-house on the southwest corner of Bank and Hudson' Streets, where the boys used to look over the old-fashioned half door and see them hoist up the beeves with block and fall, and hit them in the head with an axe. Directly oppo- site on the northwest corner was the old Village House where the "boys" used to play billiards, drink "Tom & Jerrys" and swap stories. West Tenth Street was called Amos Street, and where the brewery now is, be- tween Greenwich and Washington Streets, stood the old state prison where many were hanged. In the ice house of Beadleston & Woerz's they still point out the old beam used for this function of the law. West Eleventh Street was called Ham- [116] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN. 3FtftI| AupnitP i^otrl. 1350 THE ONLY KNOWN COPY OF BURFORD S LITHOGRAPH OF THIS FAMOUS HOSTELRY ISSUED AT ITS OPENING. CONSIDERABLE ARTISTIC LICENSE IS SHOWN IN THE VASTCROWDS IN THE PICTURE. AS THE LOCATION AT THAT TIME WAS SO FAR UPTOWN AS TO BE ALMOST IN THE COUNTRY. NEVERTHELESS. THE SCENE IS CHARAC- TERISTIC. AND THE VARIOUS COSTUMES. VEHICLES. ETC.. ARE COR- RECT. IT WAS THE FIRST BUILDING IN WHICH AN ELEVATOR WAS INSTALLED. NOTICE THE TREES AND PRIVATE HOUSES STILL STANDING ON BROADWAY AS FAR UP AS 34th STREET. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND. "Wes" Jacobus and John Huyler mond Street, and what is now Fourth Street Park, at the end of Fifth Avenue, was the old Washington Parade Ground, where all the troops drilled and paraded to their hearts' content. The grounds were surrounded by a high iron railing and there were large iron gates which were opened for the entrance of the troops and closed to keep the crowds out while the regiments were parading. Delamater's iron works and foundry were at the foot of West Thirteenth Street, where the boys used to dive off the big derrick into the clean water of the Hudson — not dirty as it is now. The old Hudson Street burying grounds (St. John's) were at Leroy, Clarkson, Hudson and Carmine Streets, and at one end Avas the caretaker's old-fashioned house, who cultivated quite a large farm on the unused portion of the cemetery. It is now called Skelly's Grove on account of the tough characters that infest the vicinity. The old marble yard, where they cut huge blocks of marble with swing saws, was on Bank Street between Hudson and Bleecker Streets. The different social clubs held their receptions and dances, and the politicians in turn held forth in the old Bleecker building, situated in Bleecker Street. In this hall Frederick House, now Judge House, was nominated for the Assembly, and John W. Jacobus — "Wes" Jacobus — formerly Alderman of the Ward and leader of the district, later U. S. Marshal, held forth as boss of the political meetings. Other unique features of interest were the Tough Club, the oyster boats at the foot of Tenth Street, Jackson Square and Tin Can Alley. In his father's bakery at the corner of Jane Street and Eighth Avenue John Huyler, of Huyler's candy fame, started his fortune. In connection with the bread business they started making old- fashioned molasses candy, and from that modest beginning sprang the immense present candy enterprise. The bakery is still standing. A curious feature of the village is the Northern Dispensary, which occupies a whole block. The block is triangular in shape and is about eighteen or twenty feet on each side. It is bounded by a small park, by Christopher Street and by Waverly Place on the other two sides. It may seem strange that this building is bounded on two sides by Waverly Place, yet such is the case, Waverly Place being a street with three ends. Gay Street is also located in the Ninth Ward. [119] JENNY LIND AND THE GREAT P. T. BARNUM There have been famous entertainments in New York, but for lasting renown and world-wide notoriety the appearance of Jenny Lind at the Castle Garden in 1853 still shines as the one particular star in all the firmament of dramatic and musical annals during the Nineteenth Century. Mr. Barnum was conceded to be easily the most adroit advertiser the world had ever known, but to have his achieve- ments still talked of three-quarters of a century later is certainly something of which to boast. Nevertheless the tour in question would be considered a notable success even in these times. Here are the receipts for the tour, excluding those for charity, which numbered twelve. The total number of concerts was ninety-five, and the gross receipts were $712,161.24. As the average receipts were over $10,000 per concert (and more in case of charity), the total money receipts were not far from $850,000. This for a tour lasting less than a hundred nights is rather impressive. Nineteen cities were visited, but strange to say Chicago, Cleveland and a score of well-known places were not represented, for the simple reason that at that time they were not of sufficient size to warrant a visit. Havana, Rich- mond and Charleston, however, loomed large in the receipts. Castle Garden, where the first concert was held, was perhaps the most desir- able auditorium that could have been found. For many years the Battery was the sea-breathing spot of the city and in proportion to the population it was much more frequented than is Central Park at the present time. Philip Hone's "Diary" describes Castle Garden as "the most splendid and largest theatre I ever saw — a place capable of seating comfortably six or eight thousand persons. The pit or area of the pavilion is provided with some hundred small, white tables and movable chairs, by which people are enabled to congregate into little squads, and take their ices between the acts. In front of the stage is a beautiful fountain, which plays when the performers do not." Castle Garden was originally erected as a fortification during the War of 1812. It was named Fort Clinton. It was not connected with the mainland, being reached by a bridge about 200 feet in length. In 1822 the Federal Government ceded it back to the city, when it was renamed Castle Garden. For a long time it was the most noted amusement resort in the country. Then it became a landing place for emigrants, and finally the site of the Aquarium, one of the noblest buildings in our city and one of the most deservedly popular. It was about 1866 that the interven- ing space was finally filled in and the Castle joined to the mainland. It is still one of the most beautiful spots in our city, and presents a view of ever-moving marine life seen nowhere else in the world. [ 120 ] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H C BROWN ©In JhiHt ©ffirr tit Nassau g>trrrt ANOTHER PARTICULARLY INTERESTING VIEW OF THE OLD MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH, AS IT ALSO SHOWS THE OFFICES OF F. S. WINSTON a CO.. IN CEDAR STREET. DIRECTLY OPPOSITE. MR. FREDERICK S. WINSTON. OF THIS FIRM. SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. WHOSE MASSIVE BUILD- ING NOW COVERS THE SITE OF THE OLD CHURCH. A DELIVERY WAGON OF LIVINGSTON WELLS & COMPANY S EXPRESS IS SHOWN IN THE FOREGROUND. THE DRIVER WEARS A SILK TOPPER." AS DO THE GENTLEMEN IN THE TWO-WHEELER. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. C. OWEN WINSTON. RICHMOND HILL HOME OF AARON BURR On the block between Varick and Charlton Streets in the early part of the last century there stood a quaint old-fashioned tree-embowered mansion, around which clusters more of delightful romance and heart-breaking tragedy than has fallen to the lot of almost any other house in old New York. This was the home of Aaron Burr, a dashing officer in the Revolutionary War, Senator of the United States, and Vice-President. Burr came of distinguished ancestry, his father and grandfather being presi- dents of Princeton College. At nineteen he was side by side with Montgomery at the storming of Quebec and bore the body of the dead General from the field at the risk of his own life. Quarrelling with Arnold, whom he accused of in- competency, he returned to New York and joined the staff of Washington. When the British descended upon New York and General Knox's brigade was apparently surrounded, it was Burr who led it in safety to the main body in Harlem. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Monmouth, routed the enemy at Hackensack and performed heroic service at Valley Forge during that terrible winter. A serious sickness that completely prostrated him led to his re- tirement from active service in 1779. His home life was ideal. His wife died early, leaving an only daughter, Theodosia, whom he regarded with almost idolatrous affection. His commanding talents soon placed him at the head of his profession and his income was re- garded as stupendous for the times. His party had showered many civic honors upon him and the Presidency seemed easily within reach. Such was the enviable position of the Master of Richmond Hill on that terrible morning of his duel with Hamilton in 1804. After the fatal meeting at Weehawken, Burr returned to his home to partake of breakfast. He greeted cordially a favorite nephew who had come to visit him from Canada, and chatted gaily with him on topics of the day. By no word or action did he betray the exciting incidents of a few hours previous and the young man proceeded downtown entirely ignorant of the frightful calamity that had en- gulfed his beloved uncle. Hardly had he reached the business section ere he noted groups of excited men gathered here and there. Broadsides rapidly appeared on walls and windows and news of the fatal duel travelled like wildfire. The scene was dramatic in the extreme — Hamilton, Washington's most trusted friend, Hamilton, the framer of the Constitution, the genius of the Revolution, lay dead, the victim of an assas- sin's bullet. No such outburst of outraged public feeling had ever before been witnessed. And as the news spread, the excitment increased. Business was [123] Startling Effect of the Duel suspended and for days nothing was talked of but the duel. The whole city took part in Hamilton's funeral and the death of no other man of that period except Washington called forth such expressions of profound sorrow. Duelling was common in those days and no one was more greatly surprised at the sudden change in the public opinion regarding it than was Burr himself. In the twinkling of an eye he saw himself torn from his proud position, stripped of his fortune and denounced as a cowardly murderer. In a few days he was indicted for that crime and that same evening under cover of darkness entered a barge at Richmond Hill, which bordered the river, and escaped. Of the series of calami- ties which pursued Burr to the end of his long life and his death in poverty and misery on Staten Island we need not here speak. The dreadful fate that befell his beloved Theodosia alone would seem atonement for all his sins. The vessel on which she sailed from Carolina after a visit to her husband's people was wrecked and she fell into the hands of pirates; her end can better be imagined than described. Before Burr's possession of Richmond Hill, it had been the scene of many notable gatherings. Built by Paymaster General Mortier of the British Army, it was the scene of may brilliant gatherings during the British occupancy. It was the headquarters of General Washington in 1776 and Vice-President Adams lived there in 1788. It was frequently the scene of lavish hospitality and the most dis- tinguished men from all lands were among its guests. Talleyrand spent many a quiet hour idly turning over the pages of a favorite book and more than one volume was afterwards discovered with his annotations and initials on the margin of the pages. Like its last possessor, it was doomed to fall from its high estate, and many an old New Yorker, viewing the degradation of its later days, was glad when the encroachments of business finally compelled its demolition. Its downward career began by its conversion into a theatre known as the "Richmond Hill Theatre." Thomas Apthorpe Cooper, the tragedian, was in the opening company. The first of the Hollands, the first of the Thornes and the first of the Mestayers, all famous theatrical names, were in the company; also, no less a poet than Fitz Greene Halleck wrote the dedicatory address. A circus troupe played there briefly in 1832. Then came Italian opera, the director being Antonio Bagioli. In 1836 its name was changed and it became Miss Nelson's Theatre. Miss Nelson was at that time Mrs. John Brougham in private life. In 1840 it passed through a short spell of bad luck as Tivoli Garden, with concerts, etc. In 1843 it passed under the control of the indefatigable but not always successful Tom Flynn, who called it the National Theatre. Still the hoodoo clung, and in 1846 it was rebuilt and opened as the New Greenwich Theatre, with "Romeo and Juliet" as the initial play, Mrs. W. W. Crisp appear- ing as Juliet. This lady's husband, then an excellent orator, was later destined to display his fine oratory in Congress and was Speaker of the House for a time. In 1847 still another change of name was made, this time to the New York Opera House, and in 1848 its doors closed for good until the building was demolished. [124] (HurtouB Urtligr at Sina&iuaii aitii Suiltuu S>lrrrt, IBDH THIS STRUCTURE WAS ERECTED TO RELIEVE CONGESTION OF TRAFFIC AT THIS BUSY CORNER AND WAS KNOWN AS THE LOEW BRIDGE EVERY FEW MINUTES A PHOTOGRAPHER WOULD BLOW A FISH HORN AND RING A HUGE BELL PEOPLE WOULD NATURALLY STOP AND HE WOULD THEN TAKE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS. KNOX. THE HATTER DID NOT LIKE THE BRIDGE AND COMPELLED ITS REMOVAL A SHORT TIME AFTER ITS ERECTION. FROM THE COLLECTION OF COL. E. M KNOX ALEXANDER HAMILTON Some five miles north of Varick Street still stands a stately Colonial man- sion on Washington Heights from which, in days gone by, could be seen an entrancing view of the solemn Palisades on the west, the rolling hills of West- chester to the north and the blue waters of the ocean to the east. A short dis- tance from the house stood a picturesque group of trees — one for each of the original States, and they stood in the grounds of "The Grange," the home of Alexander Hamilton, one of New York's most illustrious sons. Of all the men who rendered service to the cause of Independence, Wash- ington alone excepted, Alexander Hamilton easily came first. His remarkable achievements in the field were no less conspicuous than his subsequent brilliant administration of affairs of state, and the country owes him an unending debt of gratitude for his part in framing the Constitution and establishing the public credit. We have already alluded to the frightful consequences which Burr suffered as a result of the duel. The same blight to a certain extent fell also across the fair acres of "The Grange." Hamilton left a large family of young children, a wife whom he had married after a most romantic courtship and between whom there existed the most tender affection. He was at the very zenith of his career at the time of the fatal meeting, being less than forty-seven. The death of Wash- ington had left him easily the foremost citizen of the Republic and his wonderful genius as a statesman and financier gave promise of a future that would dim even the brilliancy of the past. The duel put an end to all that. Not only did the city lose its most illustri- ous citizen but the country at large its most able counsellor. His beautiful widow survived him nearly half a century, though her life was at an end when she crossed the threshold of William Bayard's home, whither he had been carried from the scene of conflict, and gazed upon him for the last time. Hamilton was buried with every pomp and circumstance which the city could bestow, and his remains rest in the churchyard of old Trinity. "The Grange" is still standing but the broad acres of old are cut up into streets and covered with apartment houses. The memorial trees are fast disappearing and will soon all be gone. The Bayard house at 82 Jane Street in old Greenwich Village stood till early in 1890. [127] ELLIS ISLAND A POWDER MAGAZINE AS LATE AS FORTY YEARS AGO The magnificent structures on Ellis Island to-day, through which hundreds of thousands of emigrants of all nations pass every month, bear small resemblance to the location in 1868. That is not so very long ago, but at that time Castle Garden was supposed to be adequate for the handling of this business, and Ellis Island was occupied as a storage point for powder. The proximity of this station with its direful possibilities was constantly the theme of complaints to the daily papers, and the following article from Harper's Weekly accurately reflects the attitude of the public mind toward this situation: The New York Sun lately called attention to the startling fact that New York, Brook- lyn, Jersey City, and the numerous villages on Staten Island, are now, and have been for a long time, in imminent peril of being at once destroyed by the explosions of the magazines on Ellis's Island, which lies in New York Harbor, about half-way between the Battery and the New Jersey shore. We have had a sketch made of the Island, and after some inquiries into the facts in the case, find that the fears of the Sun are well founded; the million and a half of people residing in the vicinity of the City Hall of New York are daily and hourly in imminent danger of being blown into atoms ! For more than forty years Ellis's Island has been a fortified post and magazine of the Government. Fort Gibson, which is situated on it, is one of the last of the chain of defenses of the harbor, and mounts twelve forty-two-pounder guns. The magazine buildings, six in number, are built of solid masonry with slate roofs. The capacity of the buildings admits of the storage of 5000 barrels or at least 1000 tons of powder. There are at this time stored on the Island about 3000 barrels and a very large number of shells ; while in the vicinity and even nearer to Jersey City (in fact, within a few rods of the Depot of the Jersey Central Railroad) are the powder-boats of Messrs. Smith & Rand, Dupont, and Hazzard, usually containing at least 5000 barrels, or more than 1000 tons. Thus, on the Island and in its immediate vicinity are stored at least 1500 tons of powder! It has been clearly demonstrated b'y a simple arithmetical calculation, based on actual experiments, that the gas generated by the sudden combustion of 1500 tons of powder would exert, at a distance of eight miles, a pressure of 200 pounds to the square yard. Within eight miles of Ellis's Island lies all of Jersey City, all of Brooklyn, and all of the populous part of New York below Central Park. Every building in either of these cities has a front- age of at least 150 square yards, and would, therefore, in case of an explosion, receive a sudden shock of 30,000 pounds, before which the stoutest wall would instantly give way. . . . There is not the slightest necessity for accumulating this amount of powder in such close proximity to the most populous city in the country; and safety imperatively demands that Mr. Gideon Welles, of the Navy Department, familiarly called "Father Welles," by whose authority the powder is there, shall awake to the danger, and at once remove the combustible article from our doors. [128] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN THIS SHOWS THE FAMOUS JEFFERSON MARKET AND ONE OF THE MANY BELL TOWERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WHICH RANG THE ALARM FOR VOLUNTEER FIREMEN. AND ALSO GIVES A GOOD VIEW OF LOWER SIXTH AVENUE BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE ELEVATED RAILROAD, AND A GENERAL IDEA OF OLD GREEN- WICH VILLAGE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. E. H . SAUER. BEGINNINGS OF CENTRAL PARK Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, Olmstead and Vaux Early Figures Andrew J. Downing, in letters to the Horticulturist in the autumn of 1855, pointed out the lack of open public spaces and places for common recreation in New York, and urged the necessity of providing for a Great Park. This was the actual beginning of Central Park, the birth of the idea, and Downing should be forever remembered with gratitude. The commission was aided by an advisory park board, which included Wash- ington Irving, as President, William Cullen Bryant and George Bancroft. This commission first met on May 29, 1856. Action by the commission being held to be dilatory, the legislature in 1857 appointed a new board, which invited designs, and in this year, on April 1, from thirty-three plans submitted, that of Frederick L. Olmstead and Calvert Vaux was approved, and the work was begun. By the ori- ginal design the northern boundary of the park was fixed at One Hundred and Sixth Street, but in 1859 it was transferred to One Hundred and Tenth Street. There is a prevalent idea that Central Park is an accidental work of nature, whereas it is an intentional work of art. Five hundred and twenty pounds of gunpowder were exploded in blasting for it, and should the material carted in its construction be placed in the then used one-horse carts, and these be placed in procession, it would encircle the world on its equator and there would yet remain six thousand miles of carts. But these astonishing figures constitute in slight part the Park's claim to con- sideration. It is the first landscape park ever created by a municipality for the benefit of the public; its historic place in the development of landscape art is of the greatest importance, while its wondrous beauty is beyond praise. The condition of the site before park operations were commenced seems in- credible to us of the present day. They have thus been described by Gen. Wingate, an eye-witness: "For the most part, it was a succession of stone quarries, interspersed with pestiferous swamps. The squatter population of 5,000 lived upon the city refuse drawn daily in dog carts to feed fowls and domestic creatures and to supply the adjacent bone-boiling establishments. The locality swarmed with chickens, geese, dogs, cats, swine, horses and cows, which destroyed every bit of verdure, tearing up roots and soil until the rocks were laid bare. There was an air of utter desolation, made more repulsive by the odors of de- caying refuse. Gen. Viele says he was forced to go armed when making his surveys, and to carry an ample stock of deodorizers. In short, it was a combination of Hell's Kitchen, Jackson's Hollow and Barren Island, filled with shanties occupied by scowling slatterns, ragged, dirty children, drunken, quarrelling men and in- numerable mongrel dogs and yelping curs of low degree." Jones's Wood, at Sixty-fourth Street, was originally chosen for the site, but later the change was made to the present location, which was infinitely preferable. This was certainly not an inviting spot from which to create such a work of natural beauty as the Park now is. [131] BEFORE THE TAXICAB The chronic war between hackmen and fares waged as bitterly fifty years ago as it does to-day. The rates of cabs were regulated then as now by ordi- nances, but with this very remarkable and luminous difference, that where a dis- agreement arose between the stranger and the driver as to the distance traversed, the dispute was ordered "to be referred to the street commissioner, who would decide." The rates were as follows: For taking a person any distance not exceeding one mile $ .25 For taking a person any distance not exceeding one mile and within the lamp and watch district 50 For conveying one or more passengers around the fourth of Apthorp's tour, with the privilege of detaining the carriage two hours 3.50 (The Apthorp Apartments now occupy the site of the Apthorp Mansion.) For conveying one or more passengers to Harlem and returning, with the priv- ilege of detaining the carriage two hours 4.00 The above are extracts from the Co-operative laws of 1839. The "lamp and watch " district was that part within which the city supplied lights and watchmen and extended to about Great Jones Street in 1848. It was curious also to note that in those days the question of more and better "rapid transit" was continually to the front. The local government was bitterly assailed for its failure to provide more streets and street cars in the districts north of Twenty-third Street in sufficiently short time to suit the real estate speculators and dealers. The mayor, of course, came in for a round share of this denunciation and the whole city government was denounced as incompetent, dis- honest and favoring private interests. It is a curious fact that practically the same abuse is bestowed on the present mayor for his failure to provide additional subway lines, as were applied to his predecessors for failing to provide additional car lines. It is also remarkable that, if you drew a line thirty miles from the City Hall in any direction to-day, the line would still be within shorter distance of that locality than was Sixtieth Street in those days. It is safe to say that anywhere beyond Twenty-third Street took from an hour and ten minutes to an hour and a half to get downtown. The Harlem boats, to which reference has already been made, were, however, an exception and frequently made the trip within one hour. In the rush hours, like our present Subway, they were crowded to the guards, frequently carrying three and four thousand passengers on a trip. The round trip fare was seven cents. With the opening of the elevated road in the early seventies, the usefulness of these boats was ended. [132] 3$ix&t (§f&te of tfie Western Union (Trlrgraylj (So. AN INTERESTING VIEW/CORNER OF WALL AND BROAD STREETS, DUR- ING "BLACK FRIDAY." 1873. THE BUILDING ON THE RIGHT IS- THE OLD WILKES BUILDING. FIRST HOME OF THE WESTERN UNION COM: PA NY AFTER ITS ORGANIZATION BY H I RAM SIBLEY AND ITS REMOVAL FROM ROCHESTER IN I860. FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS KNOWN AS KIERNAN'S CORNER/' AND HAD A LARGE CLOCK. IN THE SHAPE OF THE WORLD. ON THE WALL STREET SIDE. ' I^Tfe " FftOft TH€ COLLECTION OF MR WILLIAM BAVLIS. 5 \ ^ ' JL BEFORE THE TAXIGAB The chronic war between hackmen and fares waged as bitterly fifty years •fro as it does to-day. The rates of cabs were regulated then as now by ordi- nances, but with this very remarkable and luminous difference, that where a dis- agreement arose between the stranger and the driver as to the distance traversed, the dispute was ordered "to be referred to the street commissioner, who would decide." The rates were as follows: For taking a person any distance not exceeding one mile $ £$ For taking a person any distance not exceeding one mile and cithin the lamp and watch district For conveying one or more passengers around the fourth of Aptfaorp's tow, with the privilege of detaining the carriage two hours 3.50 (The Apthorp Apartments now occupy the site of the Apthory Mansion.) For conveying one or more passengers to Harl. m nnd return; .a. with the priv- ilege of detaining the carriage two hours 4 00 The above are extracts from the Co-operative laws >f 1 839. The "lamp and watch " district was that part withn vhich the city supplied lights and watchmen and extended to about Great Jones Mreet in 1848. It was curious also to note that in those days the quest.'' mi of more and better "rapid transit" was continually to the front. The local g.n, rnment was bitterly assailed for its failure to provide more street* and street cars in the districts north of Twenty-third Street in sufficienth short time to suit the real estate speculators and dealers. The mayor, of con . arne in i mid share of this denunciation and the whole city government was denounced as incompetent, dis- honest and favoring private interests. It is a curious fact that practically the same abuse is bestowed on the present mayor far his failure to provide additional subway lines, as were applied to his predecessors for failing to provide additional car lines. It is also remarkable that, if you drew a line thirty miles from the City Hall in any direction to-day, the line would st ill be within shorter distance of that locality than was Sixtieth Street in those days. It is safe to say that anywhere beyond Twenty-third Street took from an hour and ten minutes to an hour and a half to get downtown. The Harlem boats, t > which reference has already been made, were, however, an exception and frequently made the trip within one hour. In the rush hours, like our present Subway they were - row-fled to the guards, nlD frf^^^Kaf 1 '.)*^ passen^ i trip. The round aua&il&AMfoB^^M^faffiBteiwaW^T&lm opening wi 1 he elevated road in the early 3... .. . .- ...... , ., JAVOM3H 3TI GMAY3J8I2 MAHIH Y9 MOITASIMADflO 8TI H3T3A YHA1 8A MWOUX 8AW Tl 2HA3Y YUAM H03 .0881 Ml R3T83HDOH MOH3 30 33AH2 3HT Ml .XDOJ3 33HAJ A QAH Q M A \fl3Mfl03 fHAMlM" .3018 T33BT8 JJAW 3HT MO .ClJflOW 3 HT aiJYA9 MAIJJIW AM TO M0ITD3JJ0D 1MT MOH^ 132 J NEW YORK INTRODUCES BASEBALL TO THE WORLD ALSO STARTS THE BEGINNING OF ORGANIZED BASEBALL McGraw and his doughty Champions, together with the million or more fans in our city will be glad to know that little old New York originated the national game. In 1842 and '43 a number of gentlemen used to get together afternoons to play baseball, the progeny of English rounders and American genius, on a plot of ground in Twenty-seventh Street, later occupied by the old Harlem Railroad depot. Retreating before the relentless northward march of the building contrac- tor, they moved up to the north slope of Murray Hill, "between the railroad cut and Third Avenue." These informal meetings were so popular that in the spring of 1845 Alexander J. Cartwright, an enthusiastic player, proposed organization. So the famous old Knickerbocker Club came into being. As it was evident that the field on Murray Hill would not long be available, a party crossed the Barclay Street Ferry and explored the Jersey country for a playing ground, finally settling on the "Elysian Fields," scene of many a spirited battle. The Knickerbocker rules adopted September 23, 1845, are probably the first official playing code the national game ever had. Omitting clauses of club govern- ment, the actual laws of play were: "The bases shall be from 'home' to second base, forty-five paces; from first to third base, forty-two paces, equidistant. The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces (runs); but at the conclusion an equal number of hands (innings for each side) must be played. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat. A ball knocked out of the field or outside the range of first or third base is foul. Three balls being struck at and missed, and the last one caught is a hand out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run. If a ball be struck or tipped, and caught either flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out. A player running the bases shall be out if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base or if the runner is touched with it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him. (In 'rounders' a runner was out if hit with the ball by a fielder or if the ball was thrown into the hole at 'home' while he was off base.) A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base is a hand out. Three hands out all out. Players must take their strikes in regular turn. (Here is the primeval expression for the modern 'batting order'.) All disputes and differences relative to the game to be decided by the umpire, from which there is no appeal. No ace (score) or base can be made on a foul strike. A runner cannot be put out in making one base when a balk (underfilled) is made by the pitcher. But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck." And there is the germ of that bulky and baffling volume, the twentieth century rule book. It is primitive but understandable. Most of the essential details of the modern game are there, but imagine Mr. Tyrus Cobb claiming a "hand" out on his catch of a fly on the first bound, and Mr. F. Baker's emotions on being- told that the ball he boosted out of the grounds was a foul because of the length of its flight. In 1852 another club, the Gotham, was founded, and in rapid succession there sprang into being those names whose mere recital makes the oldster close his eyes [135] NEW YORK INTRODUCES BASEBALL TO THE WORLD ALSO STARTS THE BEGINNING OF ORGANIZED BASEBALL McGraw and his doughty Champions, together with the million or more fans in our city will be glad to know that little old New York originated the national game. In 1842 and '43 a number of gentlemen used to get together afternoons to play baseball, the progeny of English rounders and American genius, on a plot of ground in Twenty-seventh Street, later occupied by the old Harlem Railroad depot. Retreating before the relentless northward march of the building contrac- tor, they moved up to the north slope of Murray Hill, "between the railroad cut and Third Avenue." These informal meetings were so popular that in the spring of 1845 Alexander J. Cartwright, an enthusiastic player, proposed organization. So the famous old Knickerbocker Club came into being. As it was evident that the field on Murray Hill would not long be available, a party crossed the Barclay Street Ferry and explored the Jersey country for a playing ground, finally settling on the "Elysian Fields," scene of many a spirited battle. The Knickerbocker rules adopted September 23, 1845, are probably the first official playing code the national game ever had. Omitting clauses of club govern- ment, the actual laws of play were: "The bases shall be from 'home' to second base, forty-five paces; from first to third base, forty-two paces, equidistant. The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces (runs) ; but at the conclusion an equal number of hands (innings for each side) must be played. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat. A ball knocked out of the field or outside the range of first or third base is foul. Three balls being struck at and missed, and the last one caught is a hand out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run. If a ball be struck or tipped, and caught either flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out. A player running the bases shall be out if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base or if the runner is touched with it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him. (In 'rounders' a runner was out if hit with the ball by a fielder or if the ball was thrown into the hole at 'home' while he was off base.) A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base is a hand out. Three hands out all out. Players must take their strikes in regular turn. (Here is the primeval expression for the modern 'batting order'.) All disputes and differences relative to the game to be decided by the umpire, from which there is no appeal. No ace (score) or base can be made on a foul strike. A runner cannot be put out in making one base when a balk (underlined) is made by the pitcher. But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck." And there is the germ of that bulky and baffling volume, the twentieth century rule book. It is primitive but understandable. Most of the essential details of the modern game are there, but imagine Mr. Tyrus Cobb claiming a "hand" out on his catch of a fly on the first bound, and Mr. F. Baker's emotions on being told that the ball he boosted out of the grounds was a foul because of the length of its flight. In 1852 another club, the Gotham, was founded, and in rapid succession there sprang into being those names whose mere recital makes the oldster close his eyes [135] The Union Grounds in Brooklyn in ecstasy. Eheu fug aces, how the years do drop away! In 1855 alone came the Eckfords, Excelsiors and Atlantics of Brooklyn, and the Unions of Morrisania, and so mightily did the sport thrive and prosper that by 1866 there were present at the tenth annual convention of the National Association of Base Ball Players, held at Clinton Hall, New York, December 12, representatives of 202 clubs and of associations comprising an additional 200 clubs. Enterprise, Resolute, Eagle and Excelsior were popular names. There were the Mutuals of New York, the Orioles of Baltimore. Philadelphia had its Ath- letics, then as now renowned. New Jersey clubs were the Americus and Newark of Newark, Olympic of Paterson, Monmouth of Hoboken, Atlantic of Trenton, Liberty of New Brunswick, Champion of Jersey City, Resolute of Elizabeth, Sea Side of Long Branch, Kearny of Rahway. West Virginia had a Hunkidori Club, Kansas a Frontier, Oregon a Pioneer, and Ohio a Buckeye Club. Gay, not to say gaudy, were the uniforms. The Knickerbockers wore blue woollen "pants," white flannel shirts with narrow blue braid, mohair caps, patent leather belts. Gotham was resplendent in red, white and blue. The Unions sported a tricolored web belt, the Eckfords had dazzling red stars on their white headgear. And the scores! A Gotham-Eagle game at "The Red House" in Harlem resulted in six runs to two, a low- water mark from which they ran all the way to such lopsided figures as the Philadelphia- Athletics' 114-2 against the Jersey City Nationals and 162-14 against the Alerts of Danville. There was no official championship and the rules of the national association, organized in 1858, did not recognize the title of "champion," but for several years Gotham flew a proud pennant and for a long period the Atlantics of Brooklyn claimed first place and displayed a "championship" banner on their clubhouse. The Union Grounds in Brooklyn (Eastern District) and the Capitoline (Western) were the first regularly constituted ball fields at which admission was charged. The price for star games — as, for instance, the Mutuals and the Red Stockings (the Bostons) — was fifty cents for the so-called grandstand and twenty- five cents for the bleachers. After the third inning the exit gates were opened and admission to the field was only ten cents. The wooden fence which surrounded the Union Grounds had many knotholes and spaces, and all these free points of vision were eagerly seized upon by the enthusiastic fans. Small boys sold water at one cent per glass to the fence contingent, who were continually athirst by reason of the fierce sun which beat down upon them. The Wrights, the Spauldings (now the great sporting-goods men), Dan Brouthers, Dickey Pierce, were among the stars in those days. [136] ONE OF THE FAMOUS ENDICOTT LITHOGRAPHS OF A HOSTELRY WELL KNOWN AND LARGELY PATRONIZED IN ITS DAY THIS VIEW SHOWS THE EAST SIDE OF BROADWAY, FROM MAIDEN LANE TO THE NORTH CORNER OF JOHN STREET, AND IS THE ONLY VIEW WE HAVE LEFT OF THIS SECTION ONLY ONE OTHER PERFECT IMPRESSION IS KNOWN, THOMAS ft ROE ARE GIVEN AS THE PRO- PRIETORS FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR- PERCY R. PYNE. 2ND. NO CHRISTMAS IN YE OLDEN TIME In compiling this work, the writer has met more than one person who com- bats the statement that Christmas as we know it to-day was a thing unheard of fifty or more years ago. He has been at considerable pains to investigate the facts and is forced to conclude that Christmas in the time of our grandfathers was scarcely observed at all. And it was not until the German element of our population had increased so enormously that the celebration became at all gen- eral. On this point, Mr. Haswell also writes: "Christmas was very slightly observed as a general holiday at the time of which I write (1860) and Christmas shopping and Christmas presents, except those of 'Santa Claus' for children, scarcely existed. New Year's Day was the popular winter holiday, the very old custom of paying New Year's visits being universal, as indeed it continued to be until 1874." A letter to the Sun further corroborates this evidence: "Mr. A. S. Kirkman asks for confirmation of his recollection that on Christmas fifty years ago or so the Protestant churches, excepting the Episcopalian, were closed and the public schools open. In regard to the schools my memory does not serve me, but I re- call very distinctly that no services were held on that day in the Presbyterian and other churches and that the most of us children received our presents on New Year's Day. Only a few days ago I told my family about this condition and they could hardly realize it, so much have times changed. The prejudice against Christmas under the Puritans of the Com- monwealth is well known. The feeling against any Christmas religious ceremony still exists in Scotland among certain of the Presbyterians. A. J. S." Other authorities bear out the same contention, so it seems that we shall have to admit that St. Nicholas really made his appearance in New York with the ad- vent of the Germans. [139] INTERESTING FORECAST OF REAL ESTATE VALUES SIXTY YEARS AGO No subject is perhaps more interesting than the changes in real estate values in our city during the past half century. In the extracts which follow we repro- duce some contributions addressed to the Evening Post in 1858, '59 and '60, by a retired merchant. We have since learned that he was a leading authority in his day. In these letters the writer entertainingly sets forth substantial reasons for his faith in a constantly rising market. His predictions have not only been realized, but the increase in some instances has so far largely exceeded his modest forecasts as to be almost laughable. In order to bring comparisons down to date, we have asked Mr. Joseph P. Day, the well-known real estate expert, to place in brackets, against some of the items, an estimate of to-day's values. I wish to express through your columns a few predictions in regard to the future value of real estate in the city of New York, which have been made within the past week, by one whose judgment has for a long period been found by experience to be more reliable than that of any other man within the scope of my acquaintance. This person, while he has ever been much more sanguine in favor of the constant advance in real estate than most other men, has been found, in reviewing his opinions for the past thirty years, far behind the reality. His former opinions having been found so reliable gives me great confidence in his predictions for the future. Fourth. He predicts that every lot fronting on the Central Park, 25 by 100 feet, will before 1870 bring $25,000, as there will be no residence in the world equal to it — a per- fect garden of 750 acres, elegantly ornamented in part with fountains, flowers, trees and drives — between two great rivers, with Croton and gas in every room and in the centre of one of the greatest cities in the world. Seventh. He predicts that lots around Mount Morris Square, between Fourth and Sixth Avenues, and One Hundred and Twentieth and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Streets (now selling at say $700, and about as dull sale as lots were at the same price in 1825, around Washington Square, which are now worth $8,000), will be more valuable in 1870 than lots will then be around Washington Square. Eighth. He predicts that men of wealth, from all parts of the United States and Europe, will be drawn to New York, for the purpose of enjoying a residence around Central Park. September 25th, 1858. In your valued paper of the 24th instant, you allowed me to insert the predictions of an experienced man, regarding the future value of real estate in the city of New York. I now ask your permission to give a few of the changes which have taken place dur- ing the past thirty years. In a former number I have recorded the predictions that the changes will be much greater during the ten years yet to come. [ 140 ] : f A '_T 1 D TIAL 'I 1 l£t £ AjP 2S "Jil NEW YORK. ®Ijr Nattmial ©brato THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS EARLY THEATRES IN NEW YORK AND THE SECOND ONE TO ATTAIN ANY PROMINENCE. "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN 'WAS PRODUCED HERE FOR THE FIRSTTIME IN ANYTHEATRE. WITH GEORGE L FOX AND THE LINGARDS IN THE CAST. THE "J. W. WALLACK. LESSEE/' WAS THE FATHER OF OUR LESTER WALLACK. THE THEATRE STOOD AT THE CORN ER OF LEON A RD AN D CHURCH STREETS AND WAS BURNED. IT THEN RELOCATED WHERE COWPERTHWAIT'S NOW IS AND WAS CONVENIENT TO THE THEN FASHIONABLE REGION OF PEARL. CATHARINE. MARION. DOVER AND PELL STREETS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR WM F. HAVEMEYER. Corner 5th Avenue and 36th Street Sells for $2,400 in 1845 First. In 1824 St. Thomas' Church purchased eight lots on the corner of Broadway and Houston Street, at $1,100 each. The Vestry were unwilling and actually refused to embarrass the church with such a purchase. Finally, Messrs. David Hadden, Richard Oakley, and some others of the Vestry gave their individual bond, as a guaranty to the church, that if she would make the purchase the church should sustain no loss. This secured the lots to the church at an aggregate cost of $8,000 — now they are worth $250,000. Second. In 1843 lots on Fifth Avenue, from Thirty-fifth to Fortieth Street, could be bought at $500 (with $100 paid down). Now the same lots on an average will bring $10,000, and many of them over $12,000. [To-day worth $35,000 to $40,000.] Third. In 1845 John Hunt, a millionaire, purchased on the corner of Thirty-sixth Street and Fifth Avenue a lot at $2,400. Mr. Hunt was deemed insane, and this, and other similar purchases, were brought up in court as evidences of his insanity. The same lot is now worth $15,000. [To-day worth $750,000.] Fourth. In 1847 lots in Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Streets, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, were purchased by ex-Mayor Brady, at corporation auction sale, at $300 each. The same lots are now worth $6,000 each. [To-day worth $85,000 each.] Fifth. In 1826 the late Zachariah Lewis, Esq., purchased four lots, corner of Eighth Avenue and Forty-second Street, at $150 each. The same lots are now worth $7,500 each, having been sold in 1854, together, for over $31,000. [Now worth $350,000.] Sixth. In 1832 Mr. J. M. Welley sold three lots on Forty-seventh Street, near Third Avenue, at $133 each. Now they are worth $2,000 each. Seventh. In 1850 Mr. C. O. Billings was offered by Mr. Wm. Paine eighteen lots, twenty-five by one hundred feet, at $1,700 each, viz. : eight lots on Fifth Avenue, and five on Thirty-sixth Street, adjoining — now worth $12,000 each. [Now worth $375,000 on Fifth Avenue; $85,000 on Thirty-sixth Street.] These changes in the value of property, so recently experienced, would have been thought more improbable at the time the sales were made than the predictions now are as recorded in your paper of the 24th instant. September 27th, 1858. Your courtesy enabled me to express in your paper of September 25th, some predic- tions regarding the immense rise in value of real estate anticipated the next ten years ; and in your paper of September 27th, I gave some facts illustrating the wonderful advance during the past twenty-five years. I then mentioned that St. Thomas's Church, in 1824, bought lots corner of Broadway and Houston Street, at $1,000 each, now worth, say, $50,000. I wish now to say that there is not a lot of ground, now unoccupied, of good grade, on this island, between the Battery and Harlem River, and the North and the East Rivers, that is not intrinsically worth this day $1,100, for 25 by 100 feet, to any man who will at once improve it — and can be made at once to pay six per cent, per annum on that sum — and in ten years, if the past is any guide for the future, any of said lots will be worth more than twice that sum, and many of them more than $10,000 each. In confirmation of this, there are now thousands of families wanting a home at $100 rent per annum. A two-story house, 20 by 32 of brick, can be built for $1,400 — lot $1,100, is $2,500. Interest six, taxes, etc., one, is seven per cent on $2,500, is $175 per annum. This house will give four good rooms on each floor (with cellar under the whole), mak- ing ample accommodations for two respectable families, with four rooms to each family, [143] Prophetic Forecast of Great Rise in Values at say $87.50 each (say $7 a month). The houses can be placed on the rear of the lot, and will answer at a future day for extensions to larger houses to be built in front, in the same way as Mr. S. B. Ruggles built his small houses, some of which are now stand- ing as tea-rooms on the rear of the large houses fronting on Union Square. The object of Mr. Ruggles, in this plan, was probably to keep down the interest on the lots till the waves of population could reach his property. This was as late as 1830. No pru- dent man then believed that lots so far out of town would ever be of much value. In- deed, the insurance companies were unwilling to loan much on mortgage above the park. Mr. Ruggles consulted his own judgment — disregarded the croakers — and has lived to see that lots which would not bring in 1830 $1,100 are now worth $10,000, and soon are to be taken for stores, at over $20,000. That lots at One Hundredth Street will bring $1,000 is not now as improbable as it was in 1825 that lots around Union Square would ever bring $1,000 at that time. Madison Square was only sold by the acre. It was all hill and dale, bogs and swamps ; nobody offered to sell it, and no one would hardly take it as a gift comparatively; now every lot around it is worth, on an average, over $10,000. [To-day from $125,000 to $175,000.] In 1825 the lots on Houston Street, in rear of St. Thomas's Church, were all inclosed in a common coarse farm rail fence, and were let out for cow pastures. The whole block where the New York Hotel stands, on Broadway and Waverly Place, as late as 1830, was offered twenty times, without finding a buyer, for $20,000. Finally some one agreed to buy it at $20,000, and the owner got his eyes open by degrees, and kept advancing his price $5,000 at a leap, till at last he sold for $80,000, and now the land would, if unoccupied, bring $500,000. All this has been done while our population has been increasing from less than 200,000 to 800,000. If the wave of 200,000 people in ten to twenty years has produced such results, what will 800,000 produce in ten years more? There is not a man in the city of New York at this moment insane enough to dare to record his opinion equal to what the reality will be. The able address of Dr. King, of Columbia College, at the opening of the new Chamber of Com- merce, in August last, with the addresses on that occasion from Messrs. Griffith, J. D. Ogden, C. A. Davis, and other gentlemen, has opened to me a train of thought in relation to the future growth of New York, as boundless as ocean itself. I dare not intrude upon your columns what I feel and see. I only give you such predictions as the past will sustain. History itself must be doubted before these predictions can be overthrown. This day I see before me hundreds of men going through Wall Street, not knowing what to do with their money. All property, they say, is too high. So these same men said in 1825, when they could have bought lots at $1,000 now worth $50,000. So they said in 1830 — same lots at $2,000. So they have continued to say till at last lots below Twentieth Street are higher in proportion than those above. This is what they have said. Now, what will they say during the next ten years? Why, when they are offered lots at $1,000, they will say, "too high" ; and so they will continue to say till they will see the same lots at $10,000. This is just what they have seen, and just what they will see again. I call upon every capitalist to look into this subject, and to benefit the poor while he enriches himself. Let him buy lots and build small houses ; this will aid the poor, and give him in ten years better than an investment of two per cent, per month, and far more safe and satisfactory. Buy anywhere on the island; on any spot of good grade a house will rent of the kind described. Look at Harlem, with 30,000 population above Yorkville, [ 144 ] COPYRIGHT Sitr nf &tanJiar& mi linking, 1B48 A NEW LIGHT. * f HXOSENE, OR COAL ML! T^HB IKTKSSWTf OF THE USUI OB- JL t>ni>pYtto« tHia oil. »iu h» loam » ni>n m of aaj other oil or Uqui4 hora*oft>rt> known to tbe pablic. Thfa Oil bein? a PUKJI DISTILLATION F&OM COAL, ♦r ilfcowt lb«,adinl*lT« of BPlBil d Or VU&PUt 1'I.lK or ilr ' wwianiU to ba not upkwiro. INSLTRAjiCJS MPAKLE}, allow tt to bo pal without additional ptomiaaa. who roo" or wifto ncch lIIgw it to b« jped wtthowl additional prominaa, ' tai< or wift« awch M fctol't TllHail ir t rrrnj - 4 BOTtLS, FLIGHT HOUHBS.tbJo oil teas yet wajetTulJaw. rtbras brtUiantlj without SKQKIXG or ^KCbm'G Uw Ue o^n«oo^o^kr jKtMBi«,«ad a »ot rial Uwotortot tho t l d t r H* to tt t »«« % t a iifc-W oqnaj to tw¥ I EY TH* OOLHBBT ' !I«HtO to twafca. , are reconiniendM as Ike boot « iBdefitena*. Hot Jaalldes of the oil, eaco lamp giTio* tlx foot gas burners. Thl« oil can Uj u-td it CAMPHKKE and SYLYIC OIL LAMPS, odd Ob be ids pud 10 ChamliBwrw for 110TKL3. COUtTRT KH»TDRN0K8, ««d 8TK AV.KR*. -LJJPJ. Tho Brawl alapoaut to who ratio doaleia. . Ai;«TF.N», AS«tl »r . TlTl? UOBTH AJtthlCAN h.fcR!i»Sttttt (EmrH of Nero $crk. Abrnrt 1350 1. Etft ©traiubrrru (Sirl 3. SIi? Ka&talf (Sirl 2. ullje (ttlam-arlUr 4. Stye &tiBB0ra-ijrinbfr ELSEWHERE WE HAVE DESCRIBED THIS CURIOUS PHASE OF CITY LIFE WHICH HAS NOW TOTALLY DISAPPEARED- THERE STILL RE- MAINS A SUGGESTION OF THIS CUSTOM IN THE FEW PEDDLERS' WAGONS WHICH PERVADE THE OUTLYING SECTIONS AND NEARBY SUBURBS OF THE CITY. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR, W. 0 • SNOW Hakey Montague Joins "Wallace's" that visit began the affectionate intimacy that ever after existed between them. I was present on that occasion, and during the dinner the subject of Mr. Montague accepting an engagement as leading man at Wallack's was mooted. Montague requested a day to think it over, and two days after came by appoint- ment to Wallack's Theatre and expressed his desire to become a member of the company. The salary question was raised and Montague asked what Charles Mathews' monthly salary had been while a member of Wallack's. Wallack an- swered, "Five hundred dollars." "Well," said Montague, "I think I am worth half as much as Mathews; don't you, Mr. Wallack?" Wallack thought so, too, and Montague's salary was placed at two hundred and fifty dollars. "Montie," as he was affectionately called by his intimates, was equally at home in the drawing room, behind the scenes, or in his club, and popular everywhere. Women, both young and old, raved over him, and as a matinee idol, during the four short years of his life in New York, he reigned without a rival. It seems strange, but in all the notices I have had of my father's theatrical career, I have never seen in print the reason for his coming to this country. He had a reason, and a good one, apart from the fact that his father had already firmly established himself as a New York favorite. Madame Vestris had seen "Mr. Lester" in Dublin and recommended him to Benjamin Webster, then manager of the Haymarket, London, as a most promising young actor. The result was that he became a member of the famed Haymarket company. Like all young actors, he was ambitious, and as play after play was pro- duced without his services being called upon, he conceived that he was not being well treated, and complained to the management, demanding that he have a chance to appear before a London audience, the ambition of every young actor then as now. But his pleading was in vain, Leigh Murray being chosen for the parts he deemed by right belonged to him. He therefore wrote to Webster tendering his resignation, which was accepted after a somewhat wordjr war. He came to New York immediately after and made his appearance at the Broadway Theatre as Sir Charles Coldstream in "Used Up." Although he visited England several times afterward, it was never in a professional way. The year 1880 was a notable one for the number of American actors that made their appearance before London audiences. To begin with, on April 26, Mr. and Mrs. McKee Rankin, supported by an American company, made their first ap- pearance in "The Danites." The papers spoke highly of the company in general, especially of Mr. and Mrs. Rankin and Mr. Holland, while the play was pro- nounced "interesting and well proportioned." On July 19 Mr. John T. Raymond made his bow to a London audience at the Gaiety Theatre as Col. Mulberry Sellers in a dramatization of Mark Twain's "Gilded Age." The plajr itself was a failure, but Mr. Raymond made a distinct personal success by his quaint and humorous portrayal of the character of Sellers. Two weeks later at the same theatre Mr. and Mrs. William J. Florence made their appearance in "The Mighty [171] American Actors Successfully Invade England, 1880 Antonio Me. Clifford Marco Mr. Harwood Dollar." On October 21 Mr. Boucicault opened at the Adelphi in his own drama, "The ODowd." On November 20 Mr. Florence made his appearance at the Gaiety Theatre as Captain Cuttle in a dramatization of Dickens's "Dombey & Son." On November 6 Edwin Booth made his appearance in London for the first time in nineteen years. The occasion was the opening of the new Princess Theatre, the old house having been torn down and a new one built. The play was, of course, "Plamlet," a character which Mr. Booth had made peculiarly his own in this coun- try. His next impersonation was Bertuccio in "The Fool's Revenge," and served to firnuy establish him in the public favor, everyone agreeing as to the extraordinary versatility and flexibility of his art. The following year, in May, 1881, Mr. Booth appeared at the Lyceum in connection with Mr. Irving, the play being "Othello," in which they alternated the parts of Othello and lago. The rest of the cast was as follows: Cassio Mr. Wm. Terriss Messenger Mr. Mathison Brabantio Me. Mead p au i 0 Mr. Ferrand Roderigo Mr. Arthur W. Pinero Duke Mr. Beaumont Montano Mr. Ttaes Gratiano Mr. Carter Emilia Miss Pauncefote Lodovico Mr. Hudson Desdemona Miss Ellen Terry Mr. Booth appeared again in London at the Adelphi Theatre, in June, 1822. He produced "Richelieu," "The Fool's Revenge" and "Don Caesar de Bazan." In his company was also Mr. Eben Plympton. The original Browne's Chop House was on Fourth Avenue, just opposite the stage door of Wallack's Theatre, then at Thirteenth Street and Broadway. It was owned by George F. Browne, who at that time was a member of the Wallack Company. He had in former years been attached to a circus and had been famous as a trick rider of horses. The chop house became a rendezvous of actors and men-about-town, and was widely known for its Welsh rarebits, chops and old Eng- lish ale. As a member of the stock company he played small parts, and for many years he was attached to the theatre. In those days it was customary upon the opening night of the season for each actor and actress to receive a welcome from the audience, which was great or small according to their popularity. It so happened that "Money" was the piece chosen for the opening. Browne played the part of the lawyer who reads the will in the first act. He does not make his appearance until near the end of the act, and after all the other charac- ters are on the stage. As he came on with his lawyer's bag under his arm, he was at once recognized by the boys in the gallery, one of whom shouted, "Two chops and a rarebit, George!" Charles Wyndham (now Sir Charles) made his appearance as a member of the company during the season of 1869-70. He played Charles Surface in "The School for Scandal," with a dash and a go that had not been seen for years, and firmly established himself as a favorite. He appeared also in "The Lancers." [172] Murray g-trrrt About 1350 SHOWING THE OLD FIRM OF KEMP. DAY & CO.. WHO DATE BACK TO 1833. AND ARE THE OLDEST FIRM IN THEIR LINE IN NEW YORK THEIR WALL STREET STORE. ESTABLISHED BY AARON KEMP IN 1833. IS THE OLDEST BUILDING IN THAT STREET CONTINUOUSLY OCCU- PIED BY THE SAME FIRM FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. SIDNEY THURSBY. Famous Cast in "School for Scandal," 1874 My father had been told that there was a young girl of great promise playing the part of Esmeralda in the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" at the Lyceum (now the Fourteenth Street Theatre), and he sent me over to see the performance and report upon it. As it was the first time I had been entrusted with so important a mission I was not a little gratified. My report was evidently favorable, for my father sent for the lady and offered her an engagement, which she accepted. The lady was Miss Jeffreys Lewis. She made her appearance in Foote's comedy, "The Liar," and received a most gratifying reception, remaining for some seasons a val- ued and favorite member of the company. On March 19, 1874, Lester Wallack and Augustin Daly united in giving a grand charity benefit. The play chosen was "The School for Scandal" and the place the Academy of Music. The cast was one which has never been equalled on this or any other continent, and probably never will be. As it may prove of interest, I give it in full: Sir Peter Teazle Johx Gilbert Snake J. W. Carroll Sir Oliver Surface John Brougham Joseph Surface's Servant J. W. Peck Charles Surface Lester Wallack Sir Harry Bumper C. E. Edwin Joseph Surface Charles Fisher Lady Sneerwell's Servant F. Chapman Crabtree W. Davtdge Lady Candour Miss Fanny Morant Moses Harry Beckett Lady Teazle Miss Madeline Hexriques Careless (with song) Edwin Arnott (Mrs. L. J. Jennings) Trip George L. Fox Lady Sneerwell Madame Ponisi Sir Benjamin Backbite Louis James Maria Miss Dora Goldthwaite Rowley D. Whiting Maid Miss Griffiths Add to this that between the acts Pauline Lucca introduced two charming songs with "Home, Sweet Home" as an encore. The results were $6,274.00. On the same evening Edwin Booth opened his new theatre at the south- west corner of Sixth Avenue and Twenty-third Street, appearing as Romeo, his wife, Mary McVickar, as Juliet. The play was produced in the most lavish manner. At that time my boyhood chum was Digby Bell, or, as he was affectionately known to the members of our family, all of whom were much attached to him, "Kibbie." He was then a handsome, bright boy, full of life and fun, and with an especial fondness for the stage. He had two idols whom he had placed upon ped- estals, — Edwin Booth and Lester Wallack, — and I remember how in the fervor of his admiration he used to say that if he ever went upon the stage he would take the name of Lester Booth. Hero Worship, Mr. Carlyle, could scarce go further than that! Little did he think then that the day would come when he would be one of our foremost comedians and a favorite both on and off the stage. My father, on the evening in question, knowing that I was in front, sent for me to come to his dressing rooms, and I was admitted to the sacred precincts "behind the scenes." He gave me a note to take to Mr. Booth, in which he congratulated him on the opening of his theatre and wished him success in his management. Kibbie and I were two proud boys as we went up town, messen- gers of good will from Lester Wallack to Edwin Booth, for I confess I shared with him in his adulation. [175] Founding or the Lambs Club The note was duly delivered and we were entrusted with one from Mr. Booth in which he returned my father's good wishes. We remained to see the first act and were witnesses of a somewhat unfortunate occurrence. As Mr. Booth was making his exit after the balcony scene, he tripped and fell. A suppressed murmur went through the house, and there were many who looked upon the accident as an augury of ill-fortune, and so unhappily it proved, for, after a few seasons, Mr. Booth was obliged to relinquish the management and the theatre came into the hands of Jarrett and Palmer. It was at Christmas time this year that the Lambs Club was founded. George McLean, a close friend of mine, used to spend much of his time with me in my office at the theatre, and in that way came to know Montague, Beckett and Arnott. Desirous of showing his appreciation of their friendship, he gave a little supper in their honor, in the historic blue room at Delmonico's, then at Fourteenth Street and Fifth Avenue. We had such a delightful evening that it was proposed that we should meet once a month, and that each of us should have the privilege of inviting one guest. As "Del's" was somewhat expensive for our limited means, I was appointed a committee of one to find a more suit- able meeting place. This being decided upon, it was then proposed that we give ourselves a name. Many were submitted, but it was not until Mr. Montague told us of a club he had belonged to in London and which was called "The Lambs" that we finally decided upon that title. So the "Lambs" we called ourselves and the "Lambs" we have been ever since. From occupying a room once a week for meetings and once a month for supper to a superb clubhouse on Forty-fourth Street, with a thousand members, is somewhat of a growth. The season of 1875-76 at Wallack's opened with the "Overland Route." It was an elaborate production in its way, and a scene representing the deck of a ship at sea was a credit to the stage carpenters. The deck was raised from the stage about two or three feet, and by a clever mechanical contrivance it was made to rock gently in a most realistic manner, so much so that one of the women of the cast complained that it made her seasick. When it was done in "Brewster's Millions" a few seasons ago it was considered a great novelty! The ship is supposed to be wrecked upon an uninhabited island, and when it struck, the supports upon one side were removed, causing the deck to assume an angle approaching forty-five de- grees. This was done so suddenly on the first night that dear old John Gilbert, taken by surprise, slid from one side to the other in a most undignified manner and greatly to his disgust. Nothing like that slide was ever seen on a ball field! What he said to the stage hands after the end of the act is better imagined than described. When it came to cuss words, Edwin Forrest had nothing on John Gil- bert. Nor did even Edwin Eddy, also a past master in un-Biblical diction. On the night of December 31st, after the audience had been dismissed, I managed, I forget now upon what pretext, to inveigle my father, who was not [ 176 ] SITE NOW COVERED WITH PRIVATE RESIDENCES. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. H, 0. BABCOCK. "Surprise Party" for Mr. Wallace: acting, from his office in front of the house into going back on the stage. The curtain had been lowered and the house darkened, but as soon as he entered the auditorium the lights were turned on again, the band struck up "Hail to the Chief" and the curtain slowly rising disclosed the whole company, all the em- ployees, and down centre of the stage a table with what appeared to be a draped figure upon it. My father was escorted by Montague to the stage, too astonished to speak, but no doubt with an inkling that something unusual was up. Dear old John Gilbert then, in a speech in which his voice broke more than once, spoke touchingly of the years many of them had served under the manage- ment of Mr. Wallack and his father, of their appreciation of his kindness and courtesy upon all occasions and ended by begging him to accept from them this evidence of their affection and esteem for him "as manager, actor and friend." He then uncovered a magnificent silver epergne, standing upon a base of ebony, upon which, in silver plates, were inscribed the names of all the donors. For once "the governor" was knocked clean off his perch, and it was some moments before he could sufficiently pull himself together to reply. But he did in a speech that brought the house down, and perhaps we didn't make a night of it! I know it was nearing daylight before "Montie," Harry Beckett, Charlie Steven- son and myself parted company — I have forgotten just how and where, we parted. On Friday, August 9, 1878, on the occasion of his benefit, when the largest audience that had yet filled the California Theatre, during the management of Barton and Lawlor, was present, poor "Montie" was unable to proceed with his part of Lord Arthur Chilton in "False Shame" after having been on the stage but fifteen minutes. The curtain was rung down, an apology made, and the play proceeded with F. B. Warde assuming Mr. Montague's part. Montague was taken to his dressing room, and physicians were summoned from the audience to his as- sistance. He had a severe hemorrhage, and it was some time before he was suf- ficiently recovered to be removed to his rooms at the Palace Hotel. He remained in bed until Sunday, when, feeling better, he got up and dressed. During that after- noon, Mr. Warde and Mr. Carroll were chatting with him, and when the dinner hour arrived he insisted upon their remaining and dining with him. He seemed then to be in the best of spirits, and his conversation was hearty and hopeful. While dinner was being served the doctor arrived, and going with him into the bedroom, Mr. Montague submitted to an examination. In the best possible humor he returned to his friends, and with great glee slapped his chest and cried out, "It's all right, boys! There's nothing the matter with my lungs! The verdict is not guilty!" Only a few minutes after he complained of a feeling of suffocation, and staggering into his bedroom, called for ice. Almost immediately the terrible hemorrhages began. The doctors were summoned at once. In vain did his friends minister to him in every possible way. By this time, Mr. Shannon, Miss Grainger and Mrs. Shannon had joined Mr. Warde and Mr. Carroll, and were gathered about the bedside of the poor sufferer. Touched by their kindness, and by the anxious looks of grief in their faces, he looked up at [179] Death and Funeral of .Harry Montague them and in tones growing fainter and fainter, said, "It's no use. I am going, boys. God bless you all." The doctors arrived but it was too late, and at five minutes past nine on Sunday evening, August 11, 1878, our poor, dear "Montie" passed away. Out of respect to his memory the California Theatre was closed on Mon- day evening following his death. It was decided to disband the company, but I think this idea was abandoned and Maurice Barrymore was engaged to play Montague's part. The first intimation I received of his death was at the West End Hotel, Long Branch, when I received a telegram which I have by me now, signed T. W. Carroll, F. B. Warde and J. W. Shannon, saying, "Our dear Montague died at nine to-night; his last words, 'It's no use; God bless you all.' " I was about to join a party going to the White Mountains, in which were several who were well known to Montague, and who, upon hearing the sad news, at once decided to postpone their trip until after the funeral. As both my father and Mr. Boucicault were away, I went at once to Mr. Moss, and we telegraphed to San Francisco to have the body sent on and that Mr. Simon, an old friend of Mr. Montague, would meet it at Chicago. In the meantime Mr. Wallack and Mr. Boucicault arrived from Newport, where they had been on their boats, and they at once made arrangements for the funeral, which it was decided should take place from the Church of the Transfiguration ("The Little Church Around the Corner"), and that tickets should be issued to those desiring to be present. The demand was so enormous that we were obliged to limit the number. A delegation from the Lambs Club, of which he was the Shepherd, consisting of Mr. Beckett, Mr. Grainger and several others, met the body at the Grand Central Station. The church was crowded and there were thousands outside in the grounds and the street. The services were most impressive and there were many who were unable to control their feelings. There was a large crowd pres- ent at the interment, which was in Greenwood Cemetery in our lot, and there his dear friend and companion lies side by side with Lester Wallack, who died ten years later. Montague's right name was Harry J. Mann. He was born in London in 1840, and was therefore thirty-eight years old at the time of his death. He was originally a clerk in an insurance office, but he had always had a great liking for the stage and belonged to an amateur dramatic club, which counted Henry Irving also among its members. His fondness for the profession led him to become private secretary to Dion Boucicault, who gave him his first chance on the stage in the part of the counsel for the prosecution in the play of "Jeanie Deans." His rise was rapid. Possessed of a handsome stage presence, and with an irre- sistible charm of manner, it was not long before he became the foremost "jeune premier" in England. He was associated with Thome and James in the manage- ment of the Vaudeville, London, and later became manager of the Globe Theatre. Of his coming to this country on a visit and his subsequent engagement and appearance at Wallack's, I have already written. [180] THE SOUTH PORTICO OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE. ABOUT 1 874. SHOW- ING GROUP OF STUDENTS. SOME WITH THE THEN POPULAR SILK HAT A VERY RARE PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. H. D BABCOCK The Little Church Around the Corner I know that he had great hope of being manager of a theatre in New York, though he desired the matter kept a secret until his return from California. There is no doubt, however, that had he lived he would have been the manager of the Park Theatre, at that time on the east side of Broadway near Twenty-second Street. Montague's temperament and personality peculiarly fitted him for a certain line of parts, of a light and elegant character, which no actor since has filled quite so satisfactorily. It was in the modern Robertsonian comedy that he shone. In such parts as D'Alroy in "Caste," Lord Beaufoy in "School," and Captain Moty- neuoc in "The Shaughraun," a part which Boucicault wrote for him, he was delight- ful. Of his private life I can say as his constant companion for four years that it was most exemplary. He never dissipated, and found his greatest pleasure in spending such time as he could spare from his business quietly at his home or in visiting the many friends he had made while here. He was a regular attendant at the church from which he was buried and where our family had a pew. He spent his summers at our place in Stamford, and we shared the same room. Like the present-day "matinee idol," but more so, Montague was much ad- mired by the fair sex, and I frequently, after a matinee, was obliged to let him out by the front door of the theatre in order that he might escape a crowd of women collected at the stage door on Fourth Avenue. His favorite flower was the violet, and one persistent admirer sent him a bouquet of those flowers every Saturday. This was kept up for two years. At first he paid little attention to it, but after a while his curiosity being aroused, he enlisted my services to aid him in finding out who the sender was. Our efforts were in vain, for though the flow- ers continued to arrive with never-ending regularity, we were never able to trace the source from which they came. When we went to Boston, where he played at the Boston Museum, he received on his first night a box containing the usual bunch of violets, and every morning thereafter at the Parker House, where we stopped, a similar box would arrive. Whether he ever eventually ascertained who the donor was I do not know, but I don't think he did. There was a huge bunch of violets placed on his grave on the day of his funeral and I have always thought they were sent by the fair unknown. Montague was never carried away by the adulation he received and it is to his credit that during the four years of his professional life in this country his name was never connected, directly or indirectly, with any unpleasant gossip. He was one of the most gentle and lovable natures that I have ever met, and I am happy to have the opportunity of paying this slight tribute of love and esteem to his memory. On the night of September 5th, 1888, I heard my father walking restlessly up and down his room, and I thought once or twice that I heard him groan. I knocked at his door, and called to him, "What's the matter, Dad; are you ill?" "No, my dear boy, only a little wakeful. Go to bed. I'm all right." The follow- ing morning I went into his room as was always my custom and found him sit- [183] Curtain for Lester Wallack ting up in bed. He asked for the paper and I called to my brother to bring it. I then left him for the purpose of going to the end of the pier on our property to catch a few tomcod, of which he was very fond, for his breakfast. I had but taken a few steps from his room when my brother called me back. I returned to find my father looking wildly about him and asking for the editorial sheet of the paper, which was in his hand. In another moment he threw up his arms and fell back in convulsions. ... As the end approached and he became weaker, I went to my mother's room and led her to his side, to take a farewell after forty years. A moment later I took my father's handsome head, crowned with its silver curls, in my arms, and so he breathed his last, passing most peacefully away. His funeral took place on September 16 from "The Little Church Around the Corner" in West Twenty-ninth Street. At an early hour that morning we left Stamford by a special train. On arrival at the Grand Central Depot we found it so crowded that it was with great difficulty that we managed to force our way through the dense mass of people. My poor mother fainted and had to be carried to her carriage. I could see that the streets were lined with people all the way from Forty-second Street. When we reached West Twenty-ninth Street, it was so crowded that it was only through the exertions of the police that we managed to enter the church. Even the roofs of houses were packed with people, and as the Evening Post for that date remarked: "The house tops, stoops and windows were one mass of spectators. And it could be seen that no building in this city would have held the friends and acquaintances of Lester Wallack, who wished to pay their last respects." The pall bearers were Joseph Jefferson, Wm. J. Florence, R. M. Field, Henry E. Abbey, A. M. Palmer, Leonard Jerome, Steele Mackaye, Abram S. Hewitt, Judge J. R. Brady, Judge A. J. Dittenhoefer, Alexander Taylor, Sr., George A. Freeman, Edmund Stanton, and John A. Stow. At the request of many of his old friends and with the consent of the Rev. Dr. Houghton, the casket was opened in the churchyard in order that they might look, for the last time, upon the features so dear to them in life. The temporary inter- ment took place in Woodlawn, in the presence of some five or six hundred people. Some months later, I found there was room in our plot in Greenwood, so I had the body removed, and there he lies, by his father, and close to his friend, Harry J. Montague. JOE JEFFERSON The Joe Jefferson referred to under the John Street Methodist Church, on page 101, was the grandfather of our Joe. [184] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H C BROWN ®ljr Sbturlattiirr t^omt in Utlltam S>trrrt THE ORIGINAL HOME OF THE RHINE LANDERS AT 228 WILLIAM STREET. ABOUT I 725 FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR LISPENARO STEWART. FOOTLIGHT FAVORITES OF THIRTY YEARS AGO Memories of the Old Lyceum, the Madison Square, W attack's, the Star, the Stan- dard, the Casino, the Bijou, Niblo's Garden, the Fourteenth Street, the Park, the Academy of Music, Fifth Avenue, Daly's Union Square and Grand Opera House, Harrigan § Hart's, Tony Pastor's, the Bowery, Etc. Early in the '80s Daly's Theatre was the leading attraction in town, and the social season was opened only when Daly's First Night was announced. No matter where else you might go, Daly's was the one place in New York where you had to be seen to be reckoned of some social account. And a brilliant company he had! It included in its palmy days the never-to- be-forgotten Ada Rehan, the beautiful Edith Kingdon, charming Virginia Dreher, the lithesome (in those days) May Irwin, and dear old Mrs. Gilbert. Kitty Cheatham, Mary Mannering, Julie Opp, Clara Morris and other brilliant per- formers were in the cast from time to time, and the men folks included such finished actors as John Gilbert, James Lewis, John Drew, Otis Skinner, George Parkes, William Gilbert, augmented from time to time by other equally capable artists such as Richard Mansfield, Henry Miller, Walden Ramsay, W. J. LeMoyne and many others. It was just about the beginning of "star" days, but the custom had not then reached the proportions it did a few years later. John Drew, Henry Miller, Richard Mansfield, Rose Coghlan, Ada Rehan, Edith Kingdon and others of similar stand- ing were content to act in one company where all were featured alike, and the stock companies at the Madison Square and Wallack's included such famous names as Ada Dyas, Mme. Ponisi, Maude Harrison, Annie Russell, Agnes Booth, Her- bert Kelcey, Fanny Davenport, Annie Robe, Virginia Dreher, Effie Germon, Sophie Eyre, Kathryn Kidder, Viola Allen, Effie Ellsler, Rosina Vokes and others. "Nancy & Co.," "7-20-8," "A Night Off" and other light farces adapted from the German were a feature of Daly's, relieved occasionally by magnificent revivals of Shakespeare's comedies — "Much Ado About Nothing," "Katherine and Petru- chio," "Twelfth Night" — in which Ada Rehan, John Drew, Miss Kingdon and Mr. Skinner gave presentations which lingered long in the memory of those privi- leged to witness them. Lester Wallack was born in Hudson Street, this city, but his parents removed to England when he was only a few weeks old and he was nearly twenty-five years old when he returned. To his last breath he was as devoted an Englishman as was his father. Nothing that did not originate in England was ever seriously considered by him, and most of his company were imported from London. He was one of [187] Richard Mansfield Springs into Fame the most popular actors this city has ever possessed and was highly esteemed in private as well as professional life. The great aping of all things English, in society at that time, may have had much to do with Wallack's attitude. But, how- ever that may be, "She Stoops to Conquer," "Rosedale," "Our Boys" and dozens of others of the old English School succeeded in establishing Mr. Wallack's fame as a successful actor and manager. At the Union Square between Fourth Avenue and Broadway — now one of Keith's "Movies" — Richard Mansfield sprang into fame and fortune in one night by his extraordinarily effective acting in the "Parisian Romance." His subsequent brilliant career is too well known to require repetition here, except to add that the critics who witnessed that performance and also his work in "Rip Van Winkle" (a comic opera, by the way), Sardou's "Andrea" and finally in "Prince Karl" made bold enough to say that it seemed to them that Mr. Mansfield pos- sessed "the sound merit of originality." Mr. Mansfield not only realized this halting prediction but proved himself the greatest actor on our stage. But what is more important, he used his talents and his money in a constant endeavor to make the stage what it should be and succeeded to a remarkable extent. He made and lost fortunes with equal equa- nimity. And when Mansfield died, the American stage was infinitely richer for his living. He did not leave the fortune that some other popular actors did, but if he had been content to wander around the country with a cheap company for thirty or forty years in "Old Heidelberg," "Beau Brummel" or any one of a dozen plays, as they did, he might have been a millionaire, too. Across town on Fourth Avenue near Twenty-third Street stood the Lyceum. This famous theatre was erected by Steele Mackaye in 1885. It was not alone the scene of many historic triumphs but to me is particularly interesting as the first office of Gustave Frohman. He was the eldest and the pioneer of the famous managers of that name, and no doubt laid the foundations of the eminence to which Daniel and Charles were afterwards to attain. In May, 1887, Daniel Froh- man's first production occurred, "The Highest Bidder," with E. H. Sothern. Here also were first shown the joint productions of Belasco and De Mille, and of De Mille and Bernard, whose production of "The Main Line" had an extraordi- nary run. "The Charity Ball," by Belasco and De Mille, in which poor Georgia Cavyan made such a tremendous success, was also given here and ran the entire season. Many other plays at this old house, especially Sothern in a revival of his father's famous play "Lord Chumley," and Anthony Hope's "Prisoner of Zenda," added to his fame. The Lyceum was considered ultra-fashionable in those days and claimed a little more exclusive patronage than was accorded Daly's. The run of Helen Dauvray in Bronson Howard's fine comedy "One of Our Girls" extended over 200 nights, exceeding, I believe, "The Charity Ball." Other long to be remembered successes were "Editha's Burglar" (in which Elsie Leslie made her first appearance after "Lord Fauntleroy" ) , "Sweet Laven- der," "Squire Kate," "Captain Letterblair," "The Case of Rebellious Susan," "The [188] Heaiuu-H of &nmtg at ti\t $nttr**8 Sail. I860 ELSEWHERE WE PRINT THE NAMES OF THE LADIES REPRESENTED IN THE ABOVE PICTURE IN THE COSTUMES WORN AT THE GREAT BALL GIVEN THE LATE KING EDWARD. WHEN PRINCE OF WALES. AT THE OLD ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN 1 4th STREET. JUST BEFORE THE WAR FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. H H. CAMMANN. Miss Bessie Tyree, Miss Julie Opp, May Mannering, Etc. Moth and the Flame," "Trelawney of the Wells," "Merry Gotham" and "The Wife" — the latter a second tremendous success of Belasco and De Mille. The regular company was reinforced from time to time by notable acces- sions. Miss Cayvan was the leading woman, Herbert Kelcey, leading man in the first production. They were joined later by E. H. Sothern, Henry Miller, Mr. Faversham, Jas. K. Hackett, E. J. Morgan, Felix Morris, Wm. Courtleigh, Miss Mannering, Julie Opp, Elizabeth Tyree, Annie Russell, Miss Gilbert, Isabelle Irving, Hilda Spong, Miss McKee Rankin and Virginia Harned. The sprightliness of Miss Tyree, the Dresden china-like effect of Miss Irving, the charms of Miss Russell and the buoyancy of Miss Mannering and Miss Opp are, indeed, pleasant memories. They were certainly a delightful coterie. On the occasion of the final performance at the Lyceum previous to the demolition of the building, Miss Annie Russell read some appropriate lines, of which the following is the conclusion: The end has come. Dare we, who face you thus, To bid good-bye to you, as you to us, Dare we expect a place, however small, With those you love to turn to and recall? Ah, yes! Then, when destruction lays its ruthless hand Where once the play and player took their stand, Hope and not grief will cause our hearts to swell, Since "au revoir" will lurk behind "farewell," And from afar there sounds a sweet Te Deum, Because the New springs from the Old Lyceum ! The Star, at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Broadway (now Rogers, Peet & Co.) was then under the management of Lester. Wallack and housed such im- portant foreign companies as were wont to visit New York for a brief stay. Notable among these visitors was Henry Irving and Ellen Terry on their first visit here, and their reception was all that could be desired. As Olivia Ellen Terry never had a more congenial part, nor had Irving as Mathias in "The Bells." Their entire repertoire was performed here to crowded houses and unbounded enthusiasm. Fanny Davenport was here as a star in "Fedora," a play in which she secured a financial and artistic success of great magnitude. Lydia Thomp- son essayed here some burlesque extravaganza roles, in which she achieved some success. But nothing ever approached the havoc wrought by her and her fasci- nating "British Blondes" a decade previous. Nothing had ever appeared like them and the town went wild over the novelty. "The Black Crook" followed this and the era of tights may be said then to have commenced. It was some years before the managers had again to resort to skirts. The theatre erected by Edwin Booth on Twenty-third Street and Sixth Avenue, now McCreery's, was an ambitious undertaking, but did not prove a financial success. It was the scene, however, of some notable Shakespearian revi- vals with Booth as the star. The famous combination of Booth, Bangs, Barrett, and Davenport started en tour from here; John McCullough was also a frequent actor in New York in "Virginia." Of the other actors whose names frequently ap- [191] The Famous "Mulligan Guards" peared on the boards at this time were E. M. Holland, C. W. Couldock, Osmond Tearle, Frank Mayo, Steele Mackaye, Dion Boucicault, Maurice Barrymore, Sol Smith Russell, Roland Reed, Jo Jefferson, Joseph Wheelock, Joseph Howarth, Frank Chanfrau, W. J. Florence, Barney Williams, Henry Edwards, Nate Salisbury and many others. Robson and Crane are well remembered. "The Henrietta" was perhaps their most famous play, but they had a long line of successes to their credit and were sure of a hearty welcome when they came to New York. Mr. Crane is still doing good work. Another theatre that enjoyed a peculiar and remarkable popularity in New York was the Comique, better known as Harrigan and Hart's. The plays given here were entirely local in character and depicted familiar East Side scenes, at that time the home of the Irish population. The Mulligan series were the most famous— "The Mulligan Guards," "The Mulligan Guards' Pic Nic," "The Mulli- gan Guards' Ball," etc., etc. The chief actors were Ned Harrigan, Tony Hart, Johnny Wild and Annie Yeamans. This was a quartette that kept New York screaming with laughter for years. Dave Braham supplied the music and some of his songs have never been exceeded in popularity. "The Mulligan Guards' Ball" was one. Others were "Going Home with Nelly after Five," "Maggie Murphy's Home," "The Market on Saturday Night," "I never Drink behind the Bar," "Duffy's Cart," "Regular Army," "The Skidmore Guards," "Up at Dudley's Grove," "Major Gilfeather," "The Skids are out To-day," etc. In a way, these plays were more nearly native American art than had ever yet been offered. They burlesqued the every-day street life of New York and it was artistically done. No one ever excelled Ned Harrigan, Tony Hart or Johnny Wild in their respective fields and Annie Yeamans as the original tough girl was immense. To the deep regret of all theatre-goers the combination disagreed and the old firm of Harrigan and Hart dissolved. Harrigan continued alone and made some success, but Tony Hart and Johnny Wild did not exactly share the same fortunate ending. Nothing has ever appeared to take the place of those peculiar comedians. Perhaps the times have changed so that they would no longer be understood, but in their day and generation they were certainly an entertaining company. A. M. Palmer managed the Madison Square with a stock company. Among his notable successes were "The Banker's Daughter," "Young Mrs. Winthrop," "Hazel Kirke," "Passion's Slave," "The Danites," etc. "Davy Crockett," with Frank Mayo, was always a popular production, as were also "Michael Strogoff" and "The Danicheffs," while Kate Claxton in "The Two Orphans" did a lucrative business. It was during a performance of this play in Brooklyn that the terrible fire occurred in Col. Sinn's Park Theatre by which nearly three hundred lives were lost. It was one of the worst disasters of its kind on record, and had a depressing effect on theatres in general for a long time. [192] SIMMER RESIDENCE 01 FERNANDO WOOD, MAYOR, 1855, _ 5 6, _ 5 7, _ 5 8. Broadway ,>„t. 3laljn*0 (!Ihappl-ui-tl|p-JFtplftfl ELSEWHERE WE HAVE DESCRIBED THE MANY CHARMS OF THE REGION SURROUNDING THE THIRD CHAPEL BUILT BY TRINITY. WITH ITS LOFTY ELMS AND SECLUDED PARK, IT WAS FOR MANY YEARS THE CENTRE OF ALL THAT WAS MOST DESIRABLE IN NEW YORK SOCIETY. THE PARK WAS FINALLY SOLD TO THE NEW YORK CENTRAL FOR ITS PRESENT USE AS A FREIGHT DEPOT. AND THE GLORY OF ST. JOHN'S DEPARTED OUR PRINT IS TAKEN FROM THE "MIRROR." A LEADING SOCIETY JOURNAL IN ITS DAY. EDITED BY NATHANIEL P. WILLIS AND OTHER CELEBRITIES. TO DAY IT IS KNOWN AS TOWN AND COUNTRY '' FnOW THF COLLECTION OF MR. R. E. OOWLING. THE OLD CHURCHES OF NEW YORK The Collegiate Church and Its First Minister — The Wall Street Presbyterian — The Middle Dutch — The Brick Meeting House — The North Dutch — The Friends — The Old John Street Methodist Church, Etc., Etc. The old-time churches in our city have a special place in the affections of many of our people. Remembrances of other days and other scenes crowd the memory at the recollection. Most of the buildings of which we speak have long since been destroyed and other locations selected. But it is pleasant to recall the homes of worship sacred to the days that are no more. Although they were chiefly traders and planters, the founders of New York, in the very gray of the morning of their enterprise, took care to bring along with them the religion, as well as the maxims and virtues of their fatherland. With Director Minuit came officers of the Established Church of the Netherlands — not indeed clergymen, but two "Krank-besoeckers" or consolers of the sick — whose particular ecclesiastical duty it was in the absence of an ordained minister to read to the people on Sundays "some texts out of the Scriptures, together with the creeds." These early officers of the Church — we may call them the first officers of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America in the year 1626 — were Sebastian Jansen Krol (or Crol) and Jan Huyck. The roll of Dutch mis- sionary clergymen in 1628 begins with the name of Jonas Michaelius, who first preached in the loft of a horse mill in the Fort. When the population began to increase and a second church became neces- sary, and one minister could no longer attend to the duties required of him by a double service, the Consistory called a second minister, who, being duly installed, became the colleague of the first. From this comes the name by which the church is affectionately known — the Collegiate Church, or "Church in the Fort" — although its formal title is the REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK under which name it was regularly incorporated in 1696 by a royal charter granted by William III of England. It is therefore the oldest church in New York City. When the English conquered New Amsterdam they desired to have worship in their own tongue, and accordingly, the chaplain of the English forces officiated. But as he had no proper place in which to celebrate divine service an arrange- ment was made by which he could use "the Church in the Fort." After the Dutch had ended their own morning worship the Church of England service was read to the Governor and the garrison. This custom continued for more than thirty years. [199] All Were Located Downtown An account of the first services in the new church written by Dominie Michaelius himself to his friend Dominie Smoutious of Amsterdam whom he ad- dresses as "Honourable Sir, Well Beloved Brother in Christ, Kind Friend!" is of great interest. "Our coming here was agreeable to all, and I hope, by the grace of the Lord, that my services will not be unfruitful. The people for the most part are all free, somewhat rough and loose, but I find in most all of them both love and respect toward me; two things with which hitherto the Lord has everywhere graciously blessed my labors and which will produce us fruit in our special calling, as your Right Reverend self well knows and finds. We have first established the form of a church, as Rrother Bastiaen Crol very seldom comes down from Fort Orange, because the directorship of that fort and the trade there is com- mitted to him. We have had at the first administration of the Lord's Supper fully fifty communicants — not without great joy and comfort for so many — Walloons and Dutch; of whom a portion made their first confession of the faith before us, and others exhibited their church certificates. Others had forgotten to bring their certificates with them, not thinking that a Church would be formed and established here, and some, who brought them, had lost them unfortunately in a general conflagration, but they were admitted upon the satisfactory testimony of others to whom they were known, and also upon their daily good deportment, since we cannot observe strictly all the usual formalities in making a beginning under such circumstances." The First Presbyterian Church in Wall Street was founded in 1719 — enlarged in 1798 — rebuilt in 1809 — destroyed by fire in 1835, again rebuilt and taken down in 1844. For more than a hundred years this ground had been sacred for religious purposes and was for a long time the centre of population. The church was eventually taken down and removed in parts and again erected in Jersey City. With the money for which the church was sold, a new church was built on Fifth Avenue. French Church Du St Esprit — Episcopal. In Pine, near Nassau Street, was erected by the Huguenots from France in 1704. During the Revolutionary War the interior was entirely destroyed. In 1794 it underwent a thorough repair, and in 1803 the clergyman and congregation joined the Episcopal Church. We believe this is the only church in the city where the religious services have always been in the French language. In 1832 the church was taken down and sold, and a new and beautiful house at the corner of Franklin and Church Streets erected with the funds. The Brick Meeting (Presbyterian), corner of Nassau and Beekman Streets, was built in 1767. The Wall Street church, except this, is the oldest church of this denomination in the city, and probably had the most numerous congregation. It was burned in 1853 and was rebuilt at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street. St. Paul's Chapel (Episcopal), in Broadway, was erected in 1767, and is still considered one of the finest buildings in the city. This belongs to the Trinity Corporation. Its walls are surrounded with monuments, and beneath its chancel rest the remains of General Montgomery, who fell, leading the American army in their gallant attack on Quebec. [ 200 ] N? Ill BROADWAY. Richard Croker. Peter F.Meyer. PETER F.WEYcR REMOVE MAY 1st 190 J IMandMADWAK PETER F.MEYER OVE PETEft F.MEYER REMOVE MAY 1st 1903 COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN. ICaBt Saga of (Erokrr'H SUal Eatat* ©ffire 111 Srnaiiioag SEVERAL WELL-KNOWN REAL ESTATE MEN ARE IN THE ABOVE PICTURE. THEY ARE: JOSEPH P. DAY. BRYAN L KENNELLY. PETER F MEYER ADRIAN H MULLER. JAMES L WELLS. JOHN L. PARISH ROBERT E SIMON. D. PHOENIX I N G RAH AM . PH I LI P A. SM YT H . S DE WALLTEARSS. JOHN N. GOLDING. THIS WAS TAKEN THE DAY BE- FORE THE OLD BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE SPLENDID TRINITY BUILDING NOW ON ITS SITE FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. WM. F HAVEMETER. \ The Old North Dutch Church in William Street The Friends' (or Quaker) Meeting House, in Pearl, near Frankfort Street. A brick building was erected in 1775 and taken down, and the land sold about 1824. The Lutheran Church, corner of William and Frankfort Streets. A stone building erected in 1767. The Quakers' or Friends' Meeting House in Green Street, between Maiden Lane and Liberty Streets, erected in 1706. It was rebuilt and enlarged on Liberty, in 1802. About 1820, the house and grounds were sold to Grant Thorburn, who for years occupied the premises as a seed store. The Scotch Presbyterian Church in Cedar near Nassau Street was built in 1768. This was the congregation over whom the celebrated Dr. John M. Mason presided before the removal to Murray Street. The Methodist Church in John Street was built in 1767 and rebuilt in 1817. This church is still standing, and is memorable as the first Methodist church built in America. [See page 101.] The First Baptist Church — a stone building in Gold, near John Street, was built in 1769, rebuilt in 1802, and taken down in 1843. The North Dutch Church, in William, corner of Fulton Street, was built in 1769. The Middle Dutch or Reformed Church fronting on Cedar, Liberty and Nassau Streets, built in 1729, turned into a Riding School during the Revolution, often repaired and finally turned into the Post Office. The Reformed Dutch Church at Harlem — built of wood, 30x57 feet. It is not ascer- tained at what date it was founded, but it is generally believed to have been soon after the set- tlement of the city by the Dutch. It was taken down in 1825 and rebuilt of brick. The South Dutch Church in Garden Street, near Exchange Street, between William and Broad Streets, north side, was erected in 1693, rebuilt in 1807, and destroyed by fire in 1835. There was a large burying ground attached. The Jews' Synagogue in Mill, now South William Street, was a stone building, erected in 1730. For some years prior to its being erected the Hebrew congregation worshipped in a frame building opposite. In 1818 the Synagogue was rebuilt, and in the '30s the ground was sold and a new building erected in Crosby Street, where the congregation now worship. The Moravian Church in Fair, now Fulton Street, near William Street, was erected in 1751, and a few years since it was rebuilt. This was the only congregation of that denomina- tion in the city. St. George's Chapel (Episcopal) in Beekman, corner of Cliff Street, a stone building, was erected in 1759, was destroyed by fire in 1814, and rebuilt in 1817. This has always [ 203 ] A British Soldier in St. Paul's been one of the largest parishes in the city. For more than twenty years the eminently pious and zealous Dr. James Milnor was the Rector. After the Revolution a much larger number of churches were erected. Here is a partial list of the downtown churches in the early '40s: Dr. Chapin's Universalist Church, cor- ner of Murray and Church Streets; Dr. Mason's church in Murray Street near Greenwich Street, the building taken down and re-erected in Astor Place; the Presbyterian Church at Duane and Church Streets ; old Duane Methodist Church near Greenwich Street ; the colored Methodist Church, corner of Leonard and Church Streets ; the French Episcopal Church, corner of Franklin and Church Streets ; the Dutch Reformed Church, on the same block in Franklin Street; the Episcopal Church, in Anthony Street near Broadway; the Broadway Tabernacle, between Leonard and Anthony Streets; Vestry Street Methodist Church; the Laight Street Baptist Church; the Presbyterian Church at Canal and Greene Streets; the Methodist Church in Greene Street near Broome; the Dutch Reformed Church, corner of Broome and Greene Streets ; the Presbyterian Church, corner of Grand and Mercer Streets ; and also one on corner of Grand and Crosby Streets. Further uptown St. Peter's Catholic Church and Spring Street Presbyterian Church are the only two remaining on their original sites, and still nourishing. St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, at 346 West 20th Street, a relic of the days when Chelsea Village was a region of fashionable residences, celebrated on Sunday, November 19, 1912, the 80th anniversary of its founding. The birthplace of St. Peter's Church was the chapel of the General Theological Seminary in which the founders, the Rev. Bird Wilson, the Rev. Samuel Hulbert Turner, and Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, were professors. The seminary "long room" had become too small for the worshippers, who were students in the seminary and inhabitants of the village of Chelsea, which Major Thomas Clarke had bought from Teunis Somerindyk for a farm in 1750. And so on May 9, 1831, St. Peter's Church was organized with the present rectory as its chapel. In St. Paul's Chapel, Broadway and Vesey Street, the grave of Lieut. Thomas Swords, a British soldier, above which the Society of Colonial Wars has placed its marker, lies in the southeast corner just a few feet from Broadway. Lieut. Swords was born in Ireland in 1740. While an ensign in the British Army he was severely wounded in the attack on Fort Ticonderoga in the Aber- crombie expedition in 1758. In that action he was promoted to Lieutenant for bravery. Subsequently he was stationed at Fort George. In 1766 he resigned from the British Army. He never took up arms against the American forces and he would not fight against his King. He is the only British soldier buried in St. Paul's. [ 204 ] THE GREAT FiRE of the CITY or NEW -YORK. 16 DECEMBER 1835 COPY R16HT. 1913. H. C. BROWN. i 3 * u u = E E * 5 ^3 | Q 3 UJ „ T fl. U. < O LU Z UJ o: uj H? O u 3 u. «) 0 uj 1 CO uj X o cc I- z u . - > & ^ uj O Izg m < z ^ 5 « Q t- » - < O " a. The Stephensons and Others six different collections ; two copies only are known of two others, and of the re- maining two only four or five. The subjects of these are: (Six unique) Beekman Street, north side, Nassau to William Park Place, north side, Broadway to Church Warren Street, north side, Broadway to Church Worth Street, north side, Broadway to Church Broadway, west side, Morris Street to Exchange Alley Broadway, west side, Prince to Houston (Two only) Cortlandt Street, south side, Broadway to Greenwich Broadway, west side, Canal to Grand. (Four or five only) Broadway, west side, Warren to Chambers Broadway, west side, Cortlandt to Fulton Other very interesting views were made at this time by a French artist, John Bornet. His "Battery" in 1851, elsewhere shown, is undoubtedly the best view of this fashionable promenade that has been made, and is an especially fine example of colored lithography. Mr. Goelet's is the only one known, although an uncolored one has lately been found. Bornet made numerous city views of New York and elsewhere, which were published in a portfolio. Some of his original drawings were in the Holden collection, and are now owned by Mr. Davies and the New York Historical Society. There is also a series of fine lithographs of the famous hotels, several of which are unique. These were principally by Endicott: The Howard House, now the Title Guarantee and Trust Company Building; the Rathbun Hotel (City Investment Building) ; Franklin Hotel (Western Union Building) ; Park View Hotel (Astor House) ; the American Hotel (Wool worth Building) ; the Carrolton, St. Nicholas, Metropolitan, New York, etc., etc. By 1860 and during the war, photography began to encroach on this field, and with the invention of the photo-engraving processes came an end of all such fine repro- ductions. Of this later period we have been very fortunate in having had the use of many original photographs, that have been preserved, such as those of St. George's Chapel in Beekman Street; Dr. Tyng's Church on 42nd Street; the first stores of R. H. Macy, Lord & Taylor, Brooks Bros., Gunther, W. & J. Sloane, etc. Pho- tographers vied with each other in procuring the best views. They were equally artists in their profession. Unfortunately, the glass plate had less chance of life than other graphic work, and permanency had not yet become possible. It is heart- breaking to know of the multitude of old prints made by photography, of which so few now remain. The making of panoramic views was attempted by several pho- tographers. One in particular, Beale, as late as 1876 in his Centennial picture of New York, has shown what they wished to do, but, owing to the impracticability of them from a commercial standpoint, very few examples remain to-day. This latter [ 335 ] Fate of the Beale Negatives view was made from the Brooklyn tower of the bridge on five plates 16 by 20 inches, which are perfectly joined and form one complete view of New York from the upper Bay across the Hudson River, and north to the end of the Palisades, sixteen miles from the point of view, with the East River front in the immediate foreground up to Pell Street. Hundreds of old business buildings are shown. This was one of the greatest achievements in photography, and copies of this view are eagerly bought up at $100 and $150 apiece. The writer at one time owned the glass negatives. An assistant, while looking in the shelves above, stepped on the set, which were unfortunately on the counter, and the lot was ruined. I can hear the breaking of that glass to this day! ORIGIN OF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE The four bridges across the East River are looked on by present-day New Yorkers as a matter of course, but sixty years ago, when the only means of com- munication between the two cities was by ferry, the conception of an overhead span seemed a daring one, as may be gathered from the following account of it. (From the Journal of Commerce) The subjoined note has a profound interest of its own, as vindicating the claims of the late distinguished engineer, Mr. John A. Roebling, to the sole honor of that daring conception which has resulted in the building of the great bridge. In confirmation of Mr. Meissnor's reminis- cences it should be said that the grand idea was first broached in print in the columns of the Journal of Commerce by a letter from Mr. Roebling to Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, which was sent to us by the latter for publication: Editor of the Journal of Commerce: As everybody now is claiming to have originated the East River Bridge, might I ask you to publish the following little reminiscence as tending to throw light on the question : In the month of February, 1853, my uncle, the late John A. Roebling, accompanied by his wife and son Washington, then a lad of 15 years, came from Trenton to my house in Hicks Street, South Brooklyn, to attend the christening of my infant daughter Amelia. Returning in the afternoon by the Hamilton Ferry, the boat was caught in the ice, and drifted round in a helpless condition for three or four hours. A boat load of soldiers who were cast away from Governor's Island were rescued on the trip. Mrs. Roebling was in great anxiety of mind, hav- ing left an infant child at home. Mr. Roebling then took a solemn vow, in presence of the hungry half-frozen passengers, that if his life were spared he would yet build a bridge across the East River. If I remember right, during the same winter the Journal of Commerce discussed the feasibility of constructing a bridge between New York and Brooklyn, and Mr. Roebling sub- mitted his views about a suspension bridge in your valued paper. He then stated to me, however, that the time had not yet come for such an immense structure, which could not be built for less than ten millions of dollars, as it ought to connect the City Halls of both cities. His vow and the crowning idea of his life have been carried out, not by the father, but by the son who stood so ably by his side. Yours respectfully, Fr. Meissnoe. [ 336 ] COPYRIGHT 1913. H C BROWN Jirst ^oubp iEtgrttrfc by daa, IB 25 RESIDENCE OF MR. SAMUEL LEGGETT. PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST GAS COMPANY. AT No 7 CHERRY STREET. THEN A VERY FASHION- ABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. GEORGE B. CORTELVOU. OLD CHELSEA VILLAGE In Chelsea Village, which is that part of town west of Eighth Avenue between about Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Streets, the searcher after relics of bygone days may find a few, though many have been crushed out of existence. Modern improvements have not entirely obliterated the green wooden shutters or the curi- ously designed iron fences, or the carved doorways with brass knockers, or the dia- mond-pane windows, or the wide stairways with heavy posts, as, for instance, in the row of little houses west of Ninth Avenue on Twenty-fourth Street, known as the Chelsea Cottages. The old people of the section of New York where all that remains of old Chelsea Village is, can tell you of the quaint little houses, with pretty gardens, that stood behind such and such buildings standing to-day. They will point out to you little alleys, black and gloomy, that were one-time streets or short cuts from one place to another place. They will tell you that on the block between Twenty-second and Twenty-third Streets, from Eighth to Ninth Avenue, at one time stood the picturesque home of Clement C. Moore, son of the second Bishop of New York and writer of the nursery rhyme, " 'Twas the Night before Christmas." "The kindliest of scholars, the most learned of college professors, the most assiduous of bookworms" composed this little rhyme in what the old Chelsea resident will tell you was a cosey home surrounded by great oaks and elms. In the Church of St. Peter, in West Twentieth Street, reminiscent of the old days, a memorial tells the simple record of Clement C. Moore's good works. Old St. Peter's has been touched up with modern ideas during the last few years, but retains its solidity, evidence of honesty in building, and simplicity, as befits its mission. To Captain Thomas Clarke, a veteran of the French and Indian wars, is due the credit for establishing Chelsea. Far away in 1750 this American soldier built a house on a hill which stood opposite what is now London Terrace, on West Twenty-third Street, and called it Chelsea, after a retreat of that name in England for old soldiers. At the time mentioned this house was the only one to be seen for miles around. Shortly after its erection a fire occurred in it and it was burned almost to the ground. Captain Clarke, who was ill at the time, was carried from it and died at the house of a friend. After his death his wife rebuilt it and lived in it with her two daughters, until her death in 1802, when it became the property of the father of Clement C. Moore, and after the former's death passed to the son. From this old house is derived the name of the former village, and also the name of Chelsea Square. The present Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church stands on a part of the Moore Farm. What remains of London Terrace and its deep gardens is also an evidence of the beauty and respectability of old Chelsea before the rush of population engulfed them. [339] The Picturesque Cushman Homestead Another old landmark of Chelsea Village is at the corner of Twenty-eighth Street and Ninth Avenue, the Church of the Holy Aspostles. The founding of this church is of especial interest. For disobeying his father's wish that he should not adopt the ministry as a calling, a young man was disinherited. The father, see- ing the son consistently following his chosen religious path, made a new will leaving to him his entire possessions. With the death of the father, and the division equally by the son of the property among the heirs, his own share was given as a thank offering to build the church. There were many peculiarities about this old neighborhood. Certain streets were sacred to certain nationalities. The Scotch row on 19th Street east of Eighth Avenue was sacred to denizens of that country. This row was terraced about fif- teen feet above the walk. It has long ago disappeared. The Yankee row on West 19th Street near Seventh Avenue was given over to native sons, and London Ter- race on 24th Street to the sons of Albion. One of the picturesque sights of the old village was the Cushman homestead. This was adorned with a charming old-fashioned garden, with fruit trees, lilacs, sweet-william, hollyhocks, wistaria, ramblers and columbine. The coach house was on 21st Street. It stood back from the street and saw the neighborhood grow right up almost to its spacious entrance. When it was narrowed in on all sides by towering buildings it gave up the struggle and became the site of Chelsea Court. The Cushmans were as much a part of Chelsea as the village itself, so long had they lived there and so extensive was their estate. On another page we show a picture of the old garden. The well-known Hoffman family, to which Dean Hoffman belonged and who have done so much for the General Theological Seminary, also lived in the village, as also the Delamaters, who built all the small vessels during the Civil War at foot of 13th Street; Jake Sharp, famous as the man who put the street cars on Broadway, and was indicted for his pains. Lily Langtry lived for a while in that delightfully retired, fenced-in house at No. 347 on 23rd Street, now the Pasteur Institute; Josie Mansfield, the cause of the quarrel between Jim Fisk and Ed. Stokes, at 349. Robert Gair, now one of the leading financiers in Brooklyn, whose colony of huge factories is seen from the Bridge, lived on 22nd Street near Sev- enth Avenue. Hugh J. Grant's father had a liquor store on the northwest corner of 27th Street and Eighth Avenue. He had a sign with General Grant on horseback. The old Water Cure House stood on 22nd Street, west of Eighth Avenue, and had a tremendous vogue in its day. Everything was cured by water. An undertaker's shop that was famous all over the city was that conducted by old "Pop" Merritt. Everybody knew him and everybody wanted him. He was very good to the poor, and his friends ranged from the humblest to the high- est in the city. He buried General Grant. He was also a Methodist preacher. The present Stephen Merritt Burial Company is an offshoot of the old business. The Hall family is also pleasantly remembered. [340] (§\b Nrro lork llmurrmiy Suiliing in BHasljingtriu §>iiuarr. 1S45 JOHN JOHNSTON. GRANDFATHER OF MRS. ROBERT W. DE FOREST. AN OLD NEW YORK MERCHANT WHO LIVED AT No. 7 ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SQUARE. WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS AND A GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF THIS UNIVERSITY. IN IT PROF. HENRY DRAPER PERFECTED HIS INVENTION OF A DAGUERRE- OTYPE AND MADE THE FIRST PORTRAIT OF A HUMAN FACE. S. F. B. MORSE ALSO EXPERIMENTED WITH HIS TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS HERE. BOTH WERE PROFESSORS THERE. COLT IN- VENTED THE REVOLVER NAMED FOR HIM HERE. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR J. H. JORDAN. The Orange Riot Frederick C. Gibbs, for many years a member of the Assembly, was also a resident of 22nd Street. The block between Ninth and Tenth Avenues was known as Lenox Place. The old Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on Eighth Avenue still stands, and is one of the best known in the city. Judge Mead and John C. Sheehan, well-known men at that time, also lived there, and the Pequot Club of Tammany Hall, a celebrated political organization thirty years ago, was on 24th Street, north side, second house east of Eighth Avenue. The famous Orange Riot occurred on Eighth Avenue between 23rd Street and 27th Street in 1875. The Irish population in New York was very considerable, and determined to prevent the Orangemen's parade. Colonel Fisk's regiment was ordered out to quell the disturbance; the Colonel was hit on the foot by a brick, and carried into Essler's tailor shop. Herman's beer saloon had its windows rid- dled with bullets. Bricks were thrown from the roofs of adjoining houses, and be- fore the outbreak was quelled quite a large number of casualties occurred. The Erie Railroad had its offices in the Grand Opera House, and the books were thrown out of the windows during the memorable struggle with Vanderbilt. The Knick- erbocker stages had a barn where the Opera House is now, and the stables were on the corner of 27th Street and Ninth Avenue. Another very well-known family was the Lambs, who lived in 22nd Street. They made some radical changes in the appearance of their houses, so that they were quite distinct from anything else on the block. Both of the Lamb boys, Charles R. and Frederick S., rose to distinction, the former creating the famous Dewey Arch and other architectural successes, and the latter securing a prize at the Paris Exposition for a window design. Miss Ella Condie Lamb is also a noted painter of portraits and miniatures. They are among the oldest inhabitants of the "village." The name of the village is perpetuated in the most wonderful section of dock- front improvement the city has ever undertaken. It is quite within bounds to say that the Chelsea Docks are more scientifically constructed than any other similar place in the world. The old village is gone, but in its place is a section that seems destined to be an honor and credit to the city, thus living up to its past reputation. [343] STREET CRIES OF OLD DAYS A very curious feature of New York life fifty years ago was the numerous venders of eatables that were sold from door to door. Occasionally, one still comes across a peddler on the East side crying his wares, but, nowadays, it is the exception and not the rule. Yet in former times, the streets were alive at all hours of the day and night with hucksters of one sort or another and every trade had its special cry frequently varied by averse. The clam man sang : "Here's clams, here's clams, here's clams to-day, They lately came from Rockaway; They're good to roast, they're good to fry, They're good to make a clam pot-pie. Here they go!" The baker's boy, in the afternoon, took a basket with the fresh-baked tea rusk and cried "Tea ruk, ruk, ruk, tea ruk"; and the negro woman, in the summer and fall of the year, with a simple bandanna kerchief on her head, toted a pail and shouted "Hot corn, hot corn, here's your lily white hot corn; hot corn, all hot; just come out of the boiling pot!" And then another of a like type also toted and shouted "Baked pears, baked pears, fresh baked, baked pears !" Chimney sweeps, rendered necessary by the general use of wood or bitumi- nous coal, saluted the early morning with "Sweep O! Sweep O!" "Rags, rags, any old rags!" "Old clo', old clo\ any old clo'!" "Scissors to grind, scissors to grind!" and the jingle of the junkman's bells were familiar sounds. Venders of oysters, fish, buns, yeast, hot spiced ginger-bread, strawberries, ice cream and what not, all added to the din and even in those so-called peaceful days there was plenty of noise. They were a picturesque, hard-working lot with many a well-known character among them. So pronounced a feature of the city's life that curious drawings of them still exist; one in particular in the rooms of the N. Y. Historical Society shows at least a dozen characteristic poses of these itin- erant merchants. Strange to relate, the omnipresent newsboy of to-day had not made his appearance in any considerable number, but his beginning was noted. [ 344 ] ■ - • I THIS CORNER WAS TAKEN JUST BEFORE THE JONES 5 NEWMAN VIEW OF 1850. IN THE BUILDING SECOND FROM BROADWAY WAS THE ORIGINAL PRINT SHOP OF THEO L. DE VINNE. WHO AFTER- WARDS BECAME PRINTER TOTHE CENTURY MAGAZINE AND ESTAB- LISHED THE DE VINNE PRESS IN 1849 JOHN ANDERSON THE TOBACCO MERCHANT. VERY PROMINENT IN THOSE DAYS. DE- MOLISHED THESE BUILDINGS AND ERECTED A FIVE-STORY STRUC- TURE FOR HIS OWN BUSINESS ON THE SITE. THIS WAS A STRIKING INNOVATION FOR THE TIMES AND THE HIGHEST YET PROJECTED ONE OF THE GREAT SENSATIONS OF THE DAY WAS THE DISAPPEAR- ANCE OF A YOUNG WOMAN EMPLOYED BY ANDERSON AS CASHIER. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. JOHN N. GOLDING. FRAUNCES' TAVERN The Sons of the Revolution performed an act of signal patriotism when they secured for the use of the city so important an historical structure as this famous old Revolutionary landmark. The society owns the building, having purchased it out- right, being largely aided in this worthy enterprise by a large bequest from the late Mr. Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, one of its distinguished presidents. The following account of its history is taken from the City History Club's Guide Book: 1719. — Built by Etienne DeLancey as a residence. It descended to his son, Judge and Governor James DeLancey, and to his son, Oliver DeLancey. At some time before 1757, it became the residence of Col. Joseph Robinson, partner of Oliver DeLancey, James DeLancey having moved to his mansion on site of present No. 113 Broadway. (Excursion 1, 25.) 1757. — It became the store and warehouse of DeLancey, Robinson & Co., who announced in Gaines' "Mer- cury," May 28, 1757, that they had "moved to Col. Robinson's late dwelling next to the Royal Exchange, and should there continue to sell all sorts European and East Indian goods — shoes, shirts, white and checked, for the army, with a variety of other goods." 1762, January 15. — Purchased by Samuel Fraunces, called "Black Sam," from his swarthy appearance, he being a West Indian. Fraunces had been made a "freeman" of New York while an innkeeper in 1755. He opened here the Queen's Head or Queen Charlotte Tavern, named in honor of the young consort of George III. 1765. — Leased to John Jones as a tavern, while Fraunces for a time took charge of Vauxhall Gardens. 1766— Leased to Bolton & Sigell (Sigel). 1768. April 8. — The Chamber of Commerce, composed of twenty-four importers and merchants, organized, with John Cruger as President, in the Long Room, so called in imitation of the long Indian lodges used for tribal meetings. Monthly meetings of the Chamber were held for some time "at Bolton & Sigel's, precisely at the usual hour, six-thirty." 1769. — Richard Bolton alone in charge. One or more meetings were held to consider the passage of a second Non-Importation Agreement. (Wilson's Memorial History.) 1770. — Fraunces again in possession of the Queen's Head Tavern, "refitted in the most genteel and con- venient manner for the reception and entertainment of those gentlemen, ladies, and others who used to favor him with their company," dinners and suppers being served "not only to lodgers but to those who live at a convenient distance." The Long Room was also used for a series of lectures. 1774, April. — The Sons of Liberty and the Vigilance Committee met here to protest, as the ship Lon- don had just docked at the wharf of the East India Company in the vicinity of Fraunces' Tavern with a cargo of tea. The meeting resulted in those who participated marching to the dock, where the entire cargo was thrown overboard. 1775. — The Massachusetts delegates to the Second Continental Congress stopped here on their way to Phila- delphia. 1775, August 23. — The building was struck by a shot from the man-of-war Asia, giving rise to the oft- quoted lines of Philip Freneau: "Scarce a broadside was ended till 'nother begain again, By Jove! It was nothing but fire away, Flanagan! Some thought him saluting his Sallys and Nancys, Till he drove a round shot through the roof of Sam Francis." Ed. of 1786 reads: "At first we supposed it was only a sham, Till he drove a round ball through the roof of Black Sam." 1783, November 25. — Governor George Clinton gave a banquet on Evacuation Day to General Washington, the French ambassador, Chevalier de la Luzerne, and many Revolutionary officers and civilians. Thirteen toasts were given, beginning with "The United States of America," and "May this Day be a Lesson for Princes." Fireworks followed on the Bowling Green. [347 ] Washington's Farewell Address 1783, December 4. — Washington's farewell to forty-four officers, including Generals Greene, Knox, Wayne, Steuben, Carroll, Lincoln, Kosciusko, Moultrie, and Hamilton, Governor Clinton, Colonel Tallmadge and others. Says Colonel Tallmadge in original journal, now at Fraunces' Tavern: "We had been assembled but a few minutes when His Excellency entered the room. His emotion, too strong to be concealed, seemed to be reciprocated by every officer present. After partaking of a slight re- freshment amid almost breathless silence, the General filled his glass with wine and, turning to his officers, said: 'With a heart full of love and gratitude I must now take my leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable.' After the officers had taken a glass of wine, the General added: 'I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged to you if each will come and take me by the hand.' General Knox, being nearest to him, turned to the Commander-in-Chief, who, suffused in tears, was incapable of utterance, but grasped his hand, when they embraced each other in silence. In the same affectionate manner every officer in the room marched up to, kissed and parted with his General-in-Chief. Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never before witnessed, and hope I may never be called upon to witness again. Not a word was uttered to break the solemn silence that prevailed, or to interrupt the tenderness of the occasion." Thence Washington proceeded to the Whitehall Ferry, and took his departure from the city. 1785. — The Tavern was sold by Fraunces and came into various hands. After the Revolution the St. Andrew's Society, the Governors of the New York Hospital, the New York Society for Promoting Arts and Agriculture, all met here. Balls were also held in the Long Room. 1832. — Interior partly burnt out and a flat roof added. 1837. — Leased by John Gardner, a hotel proprietor, who had been burnt out in the great fire of 1835. 1844. — The New York Yacht Club was founded here. 1852, June 15. — While called the Broad Street House and kept by E. Beaumeyer, the Tavern was visited by a very disastrous fire, after which two stories were added, making it five stories high. Further alterations were made about 1890, when the taproom was lowered to the level of the street and the ground floor windows modernized. 1883, December 4. — On the 100th anniversary of Washington's Farewell the Society of the Sons of the Revolution was formally organized in the Long Room and met here annually for many years. 1889-1903. — The Preservation of Fraunces' Tavern. — At the time of the centennial celebration of Washing- ton's Inauguration (1889), attention was directed to the interesting associations of the building, and during the next thirteen years the Sons of the Revolution made several efforts to purchase the property in order to pre- serve and restore it. Efforts were also made by patriotic individuals and societies to insure its preservation. These finally resulted, in 1903, in the passage of an ordinance by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to buy the Tavern and half a block on which it stands for a Revolutionary museum and park. In the spring of 1904 Messrs. Alexander R. Thompson, James Mortimer Montgomery and Robert Olyphant, on behalf of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, successfully negotiated a contract for the purchase of the property. At the same time, these gentlemen induced the city to rescind the resolution authorizing the taking of the property by condemnation. The Mayor told them that they were the only delegation which had called on him for the purpose of saving the city's money. Thus the City of New York was saved the expense of acquiring the property, preserving and maintaining it, and yet the restoration of this shrine of patriotism was assured. At the time the property wa9 purchased it was subject to a lease with several years to run. Before the lease expired Mr. Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, late president of the Society, died, leaving a large bequest to the Society. This furnished ample funds for the restoration of the Tavern, which was planned with the great- est care. 1904, July 30. — Transfer of the property to the Sons of the Revolution recorded in the Registrar's office. 1906-7. — Restoration of the building. 1907, May 1. — Office of the Sons of the Revolution opened here. 1907, December 4. — Formal occupation and dedication (on the 124th anniversary of Washington's "Fare- well" here) of the building by the Sons of the Revolution. [348] ©liicst Suainraa iFirm in Nrui $ork P. Earillaril & (La., EHtabUaljfil 1T60 AFTER CAREFUL INVESTIGATION WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THIS IS NEW YORK'S OLDEST BUSINESS HOUSE. BY THAT WE MEAN ONE WITH WHICH SOME MEMBER OF THE SAME FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONNECTED. AND IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL NAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED. THEIR OLD SNUFF MILL. ESTABLISHED IN 1760. IN THE BRONX, IS STILL STANDING. THE FIRM NAME OF PETER AND GEORGE L0R1LLARD. AS TOBACCONISTS. APPEARS IN THE 1796 DIRECTORY OF NEW YORK CITY. AT 42 CHATHAM STREET. AND IN EVERY ONE SINCE. THIS PICTURE WHICH WE SHOW IS THEIR WARE- HOUSE AND FACTORY ON CHAMBERS STREET. NEAR CENTRE. NOW OCCUPIED BY THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING THIS IS ABOUT 1850. LATER THEY MOVED TO THE BLOCK BOUNDED BY FRANKLIN. LISPENARD AND CHURCH STREETS AND WEST BROADWAY. AND FINALLY TO MARION. NEW JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 153 YEARS THE FIRM HAS NOW NO OFFICE OR WAREHOUSE ACTUALLY IN THE CITY. WHICH IS TO BE REGRETTED FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR W MCCULLUM. PICTURESQUE DAYS OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THE BOYS "RAN WITH THE MACHINE" No more spectacular or thrilling sight was seen in our city than the gathering of the clans when the bell-tower clanged forth a midnight alarm and the boys turned out to run with the machine. For many years this city depended entirely upon a volunteer system. Early in 1686 an ordinance was enacted that every house having two chimneys should be provided with a fire bucket, and that those having more than two fireplaces should have two buckets. This, however, did not suffice, and it was enacted, in 1696, that every tenant, under a penalty, should procure the necessary number of buckets, and deduct the cost of them from the rent. The practice of having every house supplied with fire buckets now became general, and was con- tinued long after the introduction of fire engines. If a fire broke out at night, the watchman gave the alarm with his rattle, and knocked at the doors of the houses with the cry, "Throw out your buckets," the alarm being further spread by the ringing of the bell at the Fort and by the bells in the steeples of the dif- ferent churches. When the inmates of a house were aroused, the first act was to throw out the buckets into the street, which were of sole leather, holding about three gallons, and were always hung in the passage close to the door. They were picked up by those who were hastening to the fire, it being the general custom for nearly every householder to hurry to the fire, whether by day or by night, and ren- der his assistance. As soon as possible, two lines were formed from the fire to the nearest well or pump, and when that gave out, the line was carried to the next one or to the river. The one line passed up the full buckets and the empty ones were passed down the other. No one was permitted to break through these lines, and if any one attempted to do so, and would not fall in, a bucket of water or several were instantly thrown over him. Each bucket was marked with the name or number of the owner, and when the fire was over, they were all collected together and taken in a cart belonging to the City Hall. A city bellman then went round to announce that they were ready for delivery, when each householder sent for his buckets and hung them up in the allotted place, ready for the next emergency. With the growth of the city this somewhat antiquated method of fire-fighting acquired a more responsible management and the volunteer service received ever- increasing support from the city. Engine-houses were provided and signal towers maintained. The day of the volunteer fire laddie in New York was certainly a picturesque era. Thousands still remember old Harry Howard, the last of the clan. Bill [351] Riley's Fifth Ward Hotel Tweed had his first prominence as chief of Big Six. Hundreds of well-known New Yorkers were members of this company or of that. Riley's Fifth Ward Hotel, on the corner of West Broadway and Franklin Street, had an immensely tall flagpole for those days, and around it would gather many of the engines in a friendly contest as to which could throw the highest stream. If as a boy you wandered into an unfamiliar part of the city, you would be at once asked by other boys what hose you ran with. If you happened to be in Fourth Street, you would answer "47," or if in the Dry Dock region, you would say "Forest 3." These would change to "Live Oak 44" or "Marion 9," as the case might be. Should you fail to answer correctly, a good punching was your reward, as the small boy aped the rivalry of his elders. In the beginning and for a long time afterwards, the Volunteers did excellent work. But the city grew with astonishing rapidity and it soon became a physical impossibility to drag the machines the intolerable distances demanded, and reach the scene of action in good condition. Naturally, those who had joined to protect their immediate vicinity could no longer respond to alarms miles away, and thus a body of men of a totally different character from the original "Fire Laddies" usurped their places. Politics also crept in and soon the Volunteers assumed a po- sition in the city's civic development entirely foreign to their original purpose. Fights and brawls were an almost constant occurrence at fires, and soon the citizens knew not which to dread most — a fire or the firemen. It is a matter of record that they consistently and persistently opposed the introduction of nearly every new improvement in fire-fighting apparatus and finally brought down upon themselves the wrath of the community, and with it their own extinction. Toward the end, almost 1,000 men would appear at nearlj"- every fire. An alarm was also the signal for a general outpouring of the city's worst and most dangerous characters, and in addition to the near-riots of the firemen themselves were added the looting, robbing and pillaging of these lawless toughs. Upon the introduction of the paid department these abuses to a great extent ceased and soon passed away entirely. Nevertheless, the Volunteer Fire Laddie in Old New York was a brave citizen, an intrepid fighter, and repeatedly endangered his life with no thought of the consequences. For many years they served the city with rare courage and unquestioned heroism. That their services were valuable and are still remembered with great appreciation there is no doubt, and to the old New Yorker the recollection of the boys "running with the machine" still remains an inspiring and romantic memory. Many of them recall with zest the spirited encounters in which they bore, no doubt, a part. It is not our purpose to do more than recall this interesting feature of picturesque days that are no more. To the reader of to-day it may seem that the system long outlived its usefulness. That New York City with a population of nearly a million souls depended upon a Volunteer Fire Department as late as 1865 sounds like a joke. Boston, Baltimore, St. Louis, Cincinnati and many other cities had long ago abolished the system and were operating a paid department at a tremendous saving. There were, [ 352 ] COPT RIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m QDlb Irhnont %amsa, 3tftftl? Aupnur anil lBtlt Bttnt, IB93 THESE OLD HOUSES WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF FIFTH AVENUE WHEN IT WAS STILL THE CENTRE OF FASHION BELOW 23rd STREET THEY WERE CONNECTED. AND OCCUPIED BY MR AND MRS BELMONT AND THEIR CHILDREN THE PICTURE GALLERY EXTENDED BACK ON 18th STREET THE SITE IS OCCUPIED BY THE CONSTABLE BUILDING. IN WHICH ARE THE OFFICES OF THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CO Volunteer System Antiquated all told, about 4,000 volunteers in the service. The expense for the last year of its existence was over $500,000, merely for the items paid for by the city. For bell ringers alone, $38,000 was spent. The system was antiquated and no longer prac- tical under the new conditions. The new paid department started with less than 600 members. AN OLD-TIME BASEBALL TEAM: 1870 (SEE PAGE 135) [355 ] GREAT FIRES IN NEW YORK Three times New York has suffered severely from fires, in one of which she was almost annihilated. That was in 1835. The property loss, considering the size of the city at the time, was enormous. It is still referred to as the Great Fire. Those of 1776 and 1845, while destructive enough to be forever chronicled, did not ap- proach the terrible disaster of 1835. We append accounts of those of 1835 and 1776 from contemporary writers. Notwithstanding the huge losses in 1835, it was less than a year before rebuild- ing on a larger and better scale was well under way, and the vigor and promptness with which this work was prosecuted remain unmatched to the present day. The curious pictures which were published both here and abroad of the Great Fire in 1835 largely exceed in interest almost any other view of New York at that time. The ones which we show, from the collections of Mr. Goelet, Mr. Davies and Mr. Pyne, are notable as among the best examples obtainable. CONTEMPORARY DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17, 1835, WHICH PRACTICALLY DESTROYED THE CITY (From the Mercantile Advertiser and New York Advocate) A little before 9 o'clock last evening, a fire broke out in the store of Comstock & Andrews, in Merchant Street, which theatened extensive destruction. The street is narrow, and built on both sides with high stores, principally occupied by dry-goods jobbers and im- porters. The wind blowing a gale at N. W., the thermometer at or below zero, the hydrants mostly frozen, and the engines almost unfit for service in consequence of the freezing of the hose from their exposure the preceding night, great fears of extensive damage were expressed at the commencement of the fire and these fears have been more than realized. — Never has such a conflagration been witnessed in this City. — The amount of property destroyed must be MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. In the course of twenty minutes from the commencement of the fire, not only the building in which it originated, but the whole on both sides of the street to Pearl Street were in a blaze. Never was a more rapid extension of the flames. The stores on Pearl Street and on each side of Merchant Street were soon enveloped in the devouring element. Soon the flames extended across to the south side of Pearl Street, and at this time, Eleven o'clock, have destroyed nearly the whole block, on that side of the street from and including the store of Arthur Tappan & Co., to Wall Street. Thence they have already extended to Water Street, in- creasing in strength and violence, and now threaten the destruction of all the property on Water, Front, and South Street, from Pearl Street to the river, and from the west side of Wall Street nearly to Old Slip. Some vessels in Coffee House Slip are already on fire — the night is intensely cold — and the scene of destruction is most sublime and awful! It is just reported that the stores in Exchange Place, in the rear of the Exchange, have taken fire. There is now [ 356 ] fBmaimiag in 1355 AN INTERESTING VIEW OF BROADWAY IN 1855. SHOWING DE L M ON I- CO S ON THE CORNER OF CHAMBERS STREET. AND THE CHEMICAL BANK. WHICH IS STILL IN THE SAME LOCATION. THE SIGN OF THE FIRST MAKERS OF FOUNTAIN PENS IS SHOWN ON THE BUILDING WITH THE HIGH STOOP ON THE CORNER — PRINCE'S PROTEAN FOUN- TAIN PEN." GOODYEAR'S SUCCESSFUL INVENTION OF VULCANIZING RUBBER HAD JUST BROUGHT HIS PRODUCT ON THE MARKET AND HIS FIRST RETAIL STORE IS SHOWN HERE. HEGEMAN. CLARK & CO. — FOREBEARS OF OUR PRESENT WELL-KNOWN RIKER - HEGEMAN DRUG STORES— ARE ALSO SHOWN ON THE CORNER ROBERT RAIT WAS THE FASHIONABLE JEWELER AND THE TIFFANY OF HIS DAY THE IRVING HOUSE. NEXT TO DELMONICO'S. WAS A POPULAR COMMERCIAL HOTEL THE TYPES OF PEOPLE CORRECTLY REPRESENT THE COSTUMES OF THE DAY. AND THE COSMOPOLITAN CHARACTER OF TH E CROWDS IS SHOWN IN THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. THE STAGES. CARRIAGES. CURIOUS TWO-WHEELED HANSOMS. WAGONS AND TRUCKS ARE ALSO AUTHENTIC. THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE FAMOUS "STEPHENSON VIEWS" FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. ROBERT GOELET. Progress of the Fire a loud explosion of powder or the bursting of casks of spirituous liquors in a store in Water or Front Street. The engines can do nothing to stop the progress of the flames. Half past 11. — The flames are now raging in every direction from the place where they origi- nated. All the buildings in Exchange Street, below the Exchange, are destroyed — three or four of the buildings in Exchange Place are on fire, and the whole block to William Street, as well as the Exchange, is in danger. The wind has somewhat subsided. It is impossible to calculate the amount of damage already sustained — such goods as could be hastily saved are strewed in the streets. We shall annex a list of such of the occu- pants of the stores and sufferers as we can gather in the confusion that prevails. Many im- mense stocks of goods are consumed. It is believed that more than one hundred stores and warehouses, including many of the most valuable in the city, are already destroyed. Twelve o'clock. — The rear of the Exchange is now on fire, which is extending into the Post Office. A strong force of firemen is placed there, and hopes are entertained that this building will be saved. — The fire is still extending to South Street — some of the vessels be- tween Coffee House and Old Slips have taken fire. One o'clock. — The Exchange still on fire in the rear. The letters have been removed from the Post Office. There is now no knowing where the flames will be stayed — the hydrants are exhausted — the hose of many of the engines are frozen and useless, and the flames extending. Never was a more awful sight than is now presented. The fire is yet extending west in Pearl Street — and will probably extend to Old Slip, and sweep off all the valuable buildings on the three squares bounded by Pearl, South, and Wall Streets and Old Slip. — The buildings on the west side of Wall Street, between the Exchange and Pearl Street, are yet standing, some of them much damaged in the rears. Nearly the whole block, bounded by Merchant Street, Ex- change Place, William Street, and Pearl Street, an immense pile of new and valuable ware- houses, is now on fire and many of them already reduced to ashes. The scene grows worse and worse — the Exchange, it is said, cannot be saved. If this is destroyed, all Wall Street below William Street must share the same fate, and expose to destruction the buildings east to an incalculable extent. The stores of Howland & Aspinwall, Moses Taylor, Smith & Town, Osborn & Young, and the whole on South Street, Front Street, Water Street, and Pearl Street, between Coffee House and Old Slips are rapidly consuming. Fears are now entertained that the fire will extend on Pearl Street, below Old Slip. The Gazette office and many of the merchants are clearing out. The Exchange, it is now said, cannot be saved, and we are preparing to move our publishing office from the opposite side of the street. Three o'clock. — The Exchange is in ruins — it is reported that several persons have been killed, or several wounded by the falling of one of the walls. — The fire has now extended north from the Exchange to William Street, on both sides, and threatens to continue through to Broad Street. The Garden Street Church is reported to be on fire. The east side of Wall Street is yet safe. The scene of desolation from Pearl Street to the East River is awful. A messenger has just been dispatched to the Navy Yard, for a supply of powder to blow up buildings in order to stop the progress of the flames. The wind continues high — and there is yet no favorable prospect of any cessation of the flames — they have now reached the rear of Broad Street. Pearl Street, from Wall Street to Old Slip on both sides, all destroyed. Water Street, from Wall Street to Old Slip, all destroyed. Front Street, from Wall Street to Old Slip, all destroyed. South Street, from Wall Street to Old Slip, all destroyed. [359] Enormous Pecuniary Loss Merchant Street all destroyed. Exchange Place to William Street all destroyed. William Street, from Wall Street nearly to Old Slip — destroyed. Four o'clock. — There is hope that the fire in Wall Street will be stopped by the American Insurance Co., and that that building, and those below, to Pearl Street, will be saved. The buildings above the Am. Ins. Office on the west side of Wall Street to William Street, includ- ing the Exchange, are all destroyed — and two or three above William Street. The fire is still raging towards Broad Street in the rear of Wall Street, and may extend to the buildings on the latter. The east side of Wall Street is yet safe. The flames are yet extending down William Street; the buildings on that street and fronting Hanover Square, including the Gazette office, are burnt down. This is a terrible calamity to New York. It is believed that more than two hundred valu- able stores and warehouses are destroyed, with the principal part of their contents. No estimate of the amount of damage can be made — some individual stocks of goods are estimated as high as two, three and four hundred thousand dollars. The loss cannot fall much short of TWENTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS— and many are of opinion that it will exceed THIRTY MILLIONS ! We have just heard the Mayor say that an attempt would be made to arrest the flames before reaching Broad Street by blowing up one or more of Mr. Lord's stores with powder. Nearly the whole of Lord's elegant row of stores in Exchange Place, and the Church opposite are in ruins — and the flames extending rapidly towards Broad Street. The Daily Advertiser and the American newspaper offices are destroyed, with all the machine presses of the establishments. Five o'clock. — We go to press while the fire is still raging. It is said to have extended below Old Slip on Pearl Street — and there is no calculation where its ravages will be bounded. Half past five. — The flames are progressing down Pearl Street on the south side, and have enveloped all the buildings to and including the Pearl Street House, No. 88. This infor- mation is brought to us by a person just from the immediate neighborhood. The Post Office, in which everything was saved, has been removed to the Custom House. > — No mails have been delivered as yet to-day, but we are to have a delivery this afternoon. POSTSCRIPT. One o'clock P. M. — The fire has been mastered, and we rejoice to learn, did not cross Coenties Slip, nor advance any farther south upon Pearl Street. We are gratified that we are enabled to state that the banks, with one accord, are acting in this emergency upon a scale of the most extended liberality. To-day, the officers have "taken the responsibility," in all necessary cases, of "doing as they would be done by." A meeting of bank directors is to be held to-morrow for farther consultation. Mr. Leggett, of the Telegraph, has made arrangements to have the telegraph from Holt's Hotel. It will be ready in a few days. We are requested to say that there will be a meeting of the citizens this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, at the Mayor's Office for the purpose of forming a patrol. Third Regiment N. Y. State Akttlleey — Washington Grays New York, Dec. 17, 1835, 10 o'clock P. M. In compliance with division and brigade orders of this morning, the regiment is directed to parade this day, in full uniform, in front of the City Hall, at S o'clock P. M., to aid the civil authorities in the protection of property, and the preservation of order in the present distressing calamity. By order of Col. GEO. P. MORRIS. MAXWELL, Adjutant. [360] (§lu GII?rl0ra Mlagc: Sraiantrr of (Ulrumti (£. Maare. 23ro g>lrrrt anb Niutlj Aueniif CLEMENT C. MOORE. A SON OF BISHOP MOORE. WAS A DISTIN- GUISHED MEMBER OF THE GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN OLD CHELSEA VILLAGE. ALTHOUGH HE WAS A VERY LEARNED MAN. NONE OF HIS SERIOUS WORK FOR WHICH HE WAS MUCH ESTEEMED IN HIS DAY HAS COME DOWN TO US. HE FOUND THE ROAD TO FAME. HOWEVER. IN THOSE ACCIDENTAL BUT DELIGHTFUL VERSES KNOWN TO CHILDHOOD THE WIDE WORLD OVER: 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse/' ON A RAINY AFTERNOON HE WROTE THEM IN THE HOUSE SHOWN ABOVE. TO AMUSE HIS GRANDCHILDREN. Of Incendiaby Oeigin THE FIRE IN NEW YORK IN 1776 A Revolutionary Soldier's Description of it as Seen from a Ship's Deck Mr. George H. Richardson, the well-known authority on Americana, kindly contributes the following account of the fire of 1776. It is from a book published in 1812, written by John Joseph Henry, a patriot who was captured at Quebec. He was transferred to a prison ship in New York harbor, from which he viewed the catastrophe. After narrating the escape of three of the prisoners, he con- tinues : "A short time after the foregoing occurrences a most beautiful and luminous but baleful sight occurred to us, that is, the city of New York on fire. One night, September 22, the watch on deck gave a loud notice of this disaster. Running up on deck we could perceive a light which at the distance we were from it (four miles) was apparently of the size of the flame of a candle. This light appeared to me to be the burning of an old and noted tavern called 'The Fighting Cocks' (where ere this I had lodged) to the east of the Battery and near the wharf. The wind was southwardly and blew a fresh gale ; the flame at this place because of the wind increased rapidly. In a moment we saw another light at a great distance from the first, up the North River. The other light seemed to be an original, distinct and new formed fire near a celebrated tavern in the Broadway called 'White Hall.' Our anxiety for the fate of so fine a city caused much solicitude, as we harbored suspicions that the enemy had fired it. The flames were fanned by the briskness of the breeze and drove the destructive effects of the elements on all sides. When the fire reached the spire of a large steeple, south of the tavern, which was attached to a large church, the effect upon the eye was astonishingly grand. If we could divest ourselves of the knowledge that it was the property of our fellow citizens which was consuming, the view might have been esteemed sublime, if not pleasing. The deck of our ship for many hours was lighted as at noonday. In the commencement of the conflagration we observed many boats putting off from the fleet, rowing speedily toward the city ; our boat was of the number. This circumstance repelled the idea that our enemies were the incendiaries, for indeed they professedly went in aid of the inhabitants. The boat returned about daylight, and from the relation of the officer and the crew we clearly discerned that the burning of New York was the act of some madcap Americans. The sailors told us in their blunt manner that they had seen one American hanging by his heels, dead, having a bayonet wound through his breast. They named him by his Christian and surname, which they saw imprinted on his arm ; they averred he was caught in the act of firing the houses. They told us also that they had seen one person, who was taken in the act, tossed into the fire, and that several who were stealing, and suspected as incendiaries, were bayonetted. Summary justice is at no time laudable, but in this instance it may have been correct. * * * The testimony we received from the sailors, my own view of the distinct beginnings of the fire in various spots remote from each other and the manner of its spreading impressed my mind with the belief that the burning of the city was the doings of the most low and vile of persons, for the purpose not only of thieving but of devas- tation. This seemed to be the general sense, not only of the British but that of the prisoners then aboard the transports. Lying directly south of the city and in a range with Broadway, we had a fair and full view of the whole process. The persons in the ships nearer to the town than we were uniformly held the same opinion. It was not until some years afterwards that a doubt was created, but for the honor of our country and its good name an ascription was made of the firing of the city to accidental circumstances." [363] SOME FAMOUS COLLECTIONS OF OLD NEW YORK VIEWS By J. H. Jordan It will doubtless be a matter of some surprise for the average New Yorker to know that there are in this city collections of old views, the value of which in some instances cannot be expressed in less than six figures, and the strangest part of it all is that what was regarded as trash at the time of its production is now among the most highly priced pieces in the collector's catalogue. Many of the choicest subjects were produced as advertising devices. The Stephenson views, for instance, show this feature very plainly, each building being marked by a sign containing the business and name of the occupant. These were undoubtedly produced in large quantities, and the cost of each copy was compara- tively trifling. These views were subsequently mailed to the firm's customers, and were thus widely distributed, not only in our own country, but particularly in South America and China, as merchants were much given to this way of adver- tising. Stephenson's work was remarkable for its accuracy. The buildings were exactly as they then appeared, and as a rule but one firm would occupy the prem- ises. The vehicles, crowds on the street, the occasional foreign figures to be found among them, were thoroughly characteristic of New York's cosmopolitan popula- tion. With scarcely an exception, all the buildings portrayed in Stephenson's views have long since disappeared ; consequently, what we now know of the city of that period is only available to us through these views. In the collection of Mr. Robert Goelet are several of these choice lithographs, also some remarkable and curious views of the Battery, of which the figures are represented as characters in Dickens. This was undoubtedly produced at the time Dickens visited this country, and the print is one of rare interest. There is also in this collection a complete set of Valentine's Manuals in an excellent state of pres- ervation, and a file of the Mirror, at that time the leading society journal of the town. The Goelet Collection is noted for the completeness with which it has been gathered together and for its unusually excellent condition. The examples shown in this book are only a few of the more important ones, but serve to give an idea of the extent and value of the gathering as a whole. In making his collection Mr. Percy R. Pyne, 2nd, has enjoyed two of the most essential requisites: a thorough and intimate knowledge of the subject and the resources to acquire the treasures. The famous Schenk view of New York is quite large in size, and the coloring is softened to the point where it resembles a piece of rare old tapestry. The work itself has more to do with the geography of North and South America than of New York. The view of the latter is only one of five which adorn the bottom of the map in the way of ornament, and is classed along with Panama and other similar places. This would indicate that New York was [364] Srcabmaii attii 1 UOtly g>trrrt in 1S9B THIS IS THE OLD FURNISS HOMESTEAD. WHICH UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO WAS STILL IN THE OUTSKIRTS. THE SITE HAS SINCE BEEN COVERED WITH APARTMENTS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. H. B HALL. Treasures of Different Collectors only of relative importance, and not much more widely known than Panama. The view was printed toward the close of the seventeenth century, but was probably drawn twenty or twenty-five years earlier. Mr. Pyne picked up his copy in Ger- many, and it is so far the only known copy in existence. Much of the interest in both the Pyne and Goelet collections arises from the extreme rarity of the views. Both of them possess views that are unique, and not to be seen elsewhere. Mr. Pyne's collection is a notable one in every respect, and is continually enriched by unique accessories. The late Mr. William F. Havemeyer is another New Yorker whose researches in this field have resulted in a surprisingly interesting collection. The fire scenes are of particular interest, notably the destruction of the city in 1835. This is a French view done in pastel, and shows the burning city from Brooklyn Heights. Among so many interesting items it is difficult to select one for mention above an- other. There has been, however, much care and knowledge displayed in the selec- tions, and the collection is one that enjoys great distinction. Mr. I. N. Phelps Stokes is also the possessor of a remarkable aggregation of famous subjects. Mr. Stokes has paid special attention to the scientific side of New York's formation, and his knowledge of the substrata and subterranean waters of the island is wonderfully shown in the remarkable drawings illustrating these items. Mr. Stokes's zeal and enthusiasm in the pursuit of unusual prints has been rewarded by a most interesting and delightful result. He expects soon to give us an insight into his treasures in a book on which he has been at work for several years. While it has been a labor of love, it is, at the same time, a work of considerable detail. Many famous foreign engravers have been at work on the reproductions, and when the book is finished it will be a valuable addition to the iconography of New York. A partial list of all the pictures thus owned in New York would be a very formidable undertaking, and it is equally hard to determine, in the midst of so much merit, just which collection would be considered the most valuable and inter- esting, as each one possesses its own peculiar order of merit which places it in a class by itself. It may be Tiebout's view of the City Hall; or it may be a copy of the first Directory of the city, or, possibly, Denton's first printed description of the city. Each collection has its individual claim to distinction. The wonderful collection of Mr. J. Clarence Davies embraces a wider scope, and possibly a more recent selection than is noted in the others. Some collectors do not care for anything after the Revolution; others do not care to go beyond 1800; while others specialize on the scenes that are still within the memory of men living. Mr. Davies includes both. This collection also rejoices in the possession of the first Directory of New York, which is in itself a distinction to any collection. There is some talk of a special building for the Davies Collection, as it is now stored in a building which is far from fire-proof, and, as Mr. Davies's researches have carried him to a wider and perhaps more interesting period from certain points of view, the destruction of his collection would be a city-wide calamity. The books and papers relating to old New York possessed by Mr. Davies are remarkable in [367] Growing List of Collectors their scope and extent. Rare first editions are frequent, and all the older maps and directories of the city figure in this remarkable assemblage. Mr. John N. Golding has paid more attention to the middle of the last cen- tury than any of the others. His views of Pine Street, showing the old stoop rail- ings, and other sections of the lower part of the city are remarkable. He has also picked up an amazing amount of railroad literature, consisting of time-tables, an- nouncements, tickets, etc., of the New York Central. His collection is considera- bly enriched by new purchases, and is one of the best known. Robert E. Dowling is another enthusiast whose collection embraces some very remarkable specimens. It is particularly strong in Jones and Newman's views. He has one of the most perfect copies known, showing Broadway from the Bat- tery to Worth Street. This was an advertising device, and each building on Broadway of that period (1848) is correctly drawn, and also bears the name of the houses clearly marked. These Jones and Newman views, by the way, have become among the most eagerly sought for items connected with the old city, and if either of these gentlemen were still living and heard of the enormous sums paid for their modest little pamphlets, it would be enough to cause them great perturba- tion of spirit. In all probability they were originally sold at not over two and a half cents in quantities, and 12^2 cents retail. A really good copy of this print is now held at $700. Strange to relate, the idea of collecting these old views seems to have origi- nated with the real-estate men. The late Mr. Neill, who was for many years a real-estate editor in this city, was indefatigable in his search for this material, and, being a pioneer in the field, he accumulated an extremely remarkable collection. Of late years, however, the infection has spread, till now it includes men in varied walks of life. While we have been able to enumerate only a few of the most prominent col- lectors, the list is constantly growing. The late Mr. Morgan had begun to take an interest in the subject, and the present Mr. Morgan has for some time paid more or less attention to prints pertaining to Broad and Wall Streets. Mr. N. F. Palmer, Mr. Harris D. Colt, Mr. H. L. Pratt, the New York Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, the Down Town Club, Mr. John D. Crimmins, Mr. Thomas E. Crimmins, Mr. W. Loring Andrews, Mr. Simeon Ford, Mr. Robert L. Sisson, Mr. Henry Morgenthau, Mr. Amos F. Eno, Mr. Laurence B. Elliman, Mr. Her- bert B. Ashforth, and Mr. George R. Read can also be included in the list of those entitled to honorable mention. [368] A VIEW OF PARK PLACE SHOWING FOUR OLD-FASHIONED. HIP- ROOFED HOUSES. SURVIVALS OF THE PERIOD WHEN THIS STREET WAS ONE OF THE MOST SELECT RESIDENTIAL SECTIONS OF THE CITY. LORDLY SPRUCE AND ELM TREES LINED BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. AND THE "PLACE" ENDED AT CHURCH STREET. WHERE THE CHARMING GROUNDS OF KING S COLLEGE (COLUMBIA) BEGAN. AT THE BROADWAY ENTRANCE CITY HALL PARK FACED IT WITH A BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN. HALF HIDDEN BY LUXURIANT FOLIAGE. ALTOGETHER IT WAS A DELIGHTFUL RETREAT AND THE CENTRE OF FASHION TILL LATE IN THE TWENTIES. OUR PICTURE IS ABOUT 1850. AND AN OLD-TIME NAME IN THAT SECTION IS NOTED ON ONE OF THE WAGONS — DEVLIN ft CO.. THE CLOTHIERS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF M R JOHN 0 CRIMMINS RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLIER DAYS A most interesting volume for old Xew Yorkers is Mr. Charles H. Haswell's "Reminiscences." Mr. Haswell was born in 1816 and lived almost a century. The following is only one of the many items of rare interest in this work. Furnaces, hall stoves and the air-tight stoves for bedrooms were absent from the houses of this period (1830) and in severe weather the best of these houses were much less comfortable than many stables of this day. Warming-pans for beds were all but a necessity for elderly persons, bedrooms being so cold that wash- ing in the morning often could be done only after first breaking the ice in the pitcher. The facilities for pro- curing a light for fire comprised the construction of a tinder-box, filled with tinder of well-scorched rag, a flint and a suitable piece of steel; or by the rapid operation of a steel wheel, rotated by drawing a long cord previously wound around its axis; to the face of this was applied a flint, the sparks elicited by it falling upon the tinder, to which, when ignited, a sulphur bituminous match, as it was termed, was applied and lighted. The chief fuel of the time, and for many years after, was wood, sold by the load from vessels that brought it to the city, each load measured by a City inspector. It was in full length (four feet) delivered in the street in front of buildings or residences, where it was sawed by wood sawyers (colored) in two lengths only, and occasionally split. Steam sawing and splitting mills were not introduced until very many years after, and if wood-yards existed, I do not recollect one. Coal was very little in use for domestic purposes except in parlor grates; in this vicinity it was commercially termed Liverpool or Newcastle, from the names of the ports from which it was shipped, and as it all came from abroad was generally known as "sea-coal." NEW-YORK, AUGUST, 1, 1814. THIS CERTIFIES that on paying the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, tT^y&A* J?*-^^ S0t**c^' or his assignee will be en. titled to one share in the HUDSON MIVEM STEAM"BOAT STOCK, as per articles of agreement with Robert Fulton, bearing date the thirtieth day of May, 1814, and a certain memorandum of agreement with him, bearing date the first day of August, 1814, which stock is only transferable on the books of said Company on producing this certificate. RECEIVED of the above mentioned sum Two Hundred Dollar*. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. WILLIAM BARCLAY PARSONS. [371] DAYS OF SMOOTH-SHAVEN FACES AND OTHER STRANGE CUSTOMS Mr. Haswell speaks of another fashion which has now reappeared, and adds some other interesting facts: A young gentleman of this city, son of a well-known and respectable resident, returned from brief travel in Europe with his upper lip adorned with a moustache. This was the very first display of one by an American in this city, and it was so observedly singular and exceptional that it occasioned much comment and criticism. So great was this departure from the custom of our people that it was not until 1836, and then only by progressive invasion upon the general prejudice, that such exhibitions, as they were termed, were at all assented to; even so late as 1850 mous- taches were termed "monstrous" by persons of taste, culture and sober judgment. There was a feature in social requirements of 1830, prejudices, as some would say, that was as decided as it may be incredible to many persons of the present time; viz., no man who was known to smoke a cigar in the streets or at his office in business hours could have procured a discount at any bank in the city. Hogs were permitted still to run at large in the streets (1825), although the practice was objected to by most of the citizens, and the frequent mortifying references thereto of Boston and Philadelphia editors added to the opposition ; yet the common opinion that the hogs were the best scavengers supported, for many years after, the indifference to the practice shown by the Common Council. In support of this inaction it is to be considered that at this period all garbage and refuse matter from dwellings was thrown into the street. Some years after an ordinance of the Common Council authorized the furnishing and equipment of a cart and operators to arrest swine in the streets. The advent of the cart and the endeavor to arrest the swine were attended with such forcible opposition by men and boys that the ordinance necessarily became a dead letter, until the amour propre of our citizens, despite the unpopularity of the cart, was aroused, the enor- mity of the practice was realized, and swine were removed from the street. At this time (1823) and for many years after there was such a lack of amuse- ments that young men and boys were glad to avail themselves even of an evening book auction, and, as a result, there were many of these, and well attended. On July 4, 1827, negro slavery in the State was abolished. The Advocate, a leading paper, in its columns of the 31st of September, 1826, published the fact, with expressions of its disapprobation, that a young man had been seen smoking in the streets so early as nine o'clock in the morning. Street gas lamps were first lighted in this month. [372 ] u a u /a 5 * s u £ > z < o: > >_ r, uj — tu u U s ^ m uj - z !" £ 5 o O z x B; — - K Ul h O I- X < > < I- ir -J > UJ a H 5 "J ui x u. o O z uj o u> p > O. ^ O ui o: Li. x < i- a. ^ Uj u. h— U. O 5 < « l/l CD »8 ? >- u- Z « w O _i X _l S uj o • X in uj K t- fit < o Ct — - u j3 UJ U u < °- < • QD z < uj S x < a: i- £ z «. ° ■ * o ; * o , i«! tr x i u. u I — i x x i- 3 § - : S <, is —J ! z < — o_ i > UJ s a 1 < z g< : Z uj I < 3 1 a. z , e s 1 o < 5 x i S < BEGINNING OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY The originator of this well-known and popular society was Mr. John Pintard, one-time editor of the Daily Advertiser and renowned for his many public bene- factions and interests. Among other things worthy of mention, he established the first New York Savings Bank in 1819, agitated the "free school system," and was influential in securing the construction of the Erie Canal. Through his zeal a meeting was held November 20, 1804, to consider the preliminary arrangements for the Society, whose minutes contain the following record of that first important meeting: "The following persons, vizt — Egbert Benson, DeWitt Clinton, Rev. William Linn, Rev. Saml. Miller, Rev. John N. Abeel, Rev. John M. Mason, Dr. David Hosack, Anthony Bleecker, Saml. Bayard, Peter G. Stuyvesant and John Pintard, being assembled in the Picture Room of the City Hall of the City of New York (located on Wall Street) agreed to form themselves into a Society, the principal design of which should be to collect and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civil or ecclesiastical History of the United States in general, and of this State in particular, and appointed Mr. Benson, Doctor Miller and Mr. Pintard a committee to prepare and report a draft of a Constitution." This constitution was adopted, and the first regular meeting thereafter was held January 14, 1805, the Society was formally organized and an election of officers took place. They adopted a seal, and later a vignette showing the arrival of Henry Hudson in 1609, designed by Durand, for diploma. These eleven gentle- men who formed the nucleus of the Society were all prominent, illustrious New Yorkers, whose achievements are too widely known to require recital herein. Several of them later served as Presidents of the Society and battled persistently for it through precarious times. The first home of the Society was Federal Hall. It stood on the northeast corner of Wall and Nassau Streets, having been erected in 1700 as the second City Hall, succeeding the first City Hall or "Stadt Huys" erected on Pearl Street in 1642. Here the Society held its meetings until 1809, and in 1812 the historic old building, that had witnessed President Washington's inauguration, was torn down. The foundation was laid for its present extensive library when the Society, in 1807, purchased from its Recording Secretary, Mr. John Pintard, a considerable number of books relating to the history of America. Liberal donations were sub- sequently made, and these, together with other purchases, soon formed a creditable library in the department of American History. The Society in 1809 commemorated the discovery of this part of North Amer- ica by Henry Hudson two hundred years previously. They were granted the use of the front courtroom of Federal Hall for the occasion, and the Rev. Dr. Miller discoursed of the event to the elite of New York, including "His Excellency the [375] New Home on Central Park West Governor, and the Mayor and Corporation of the City." The Society thereupon adjourned to the then popular City Hotel to partake of a repast characteristic of the times, and roundly toasted the principal historical events and functionaries of the United States. The enthusiasm aroused by this momentous occasion lent impetus to the publication by the Society of its first volume of Collections, subse- quently followed by some thirty others during the first century of its existence. Through a subscription of $100,000 by Mrs. Robert L. Stuart and further additions by the members and friends of the Society, amounting to over $150,000, the Society was enabled to purchase in 1891 a site on Eighth Avenue, Seventy- sixth and Seventy-seventh Streets, for the erection of its present magnificent home. The importance to which the Society had attained is demonstrated by a perusal of a list of the subscribers to this fund, on which are enrolled the names of many of the most representative and pre-eminent citizens of New York. The further gift from Mr. Henry Dexter (a member since 1863) of $250,000 insured the erection of the central portion of the new building. In 1903 the laying of the corner-stone for the new edifice took place, where- upon the assembly adjourned to the lecture hall of the American Museum of Natural History to celebrate its ninety-ninth anniversary. Mr. Hamilton W. Mabie furnished the address of the occasion, the subject being, appropriately, "The Genius of the Cosmopolitan City." Probably in no other enterprise of New York has that same genius pulsed more vigorously than in the New York His- torical Society from its inception with a scant handful of members to the present day, housed in its extensive new building. ****** ROBERT H. KELBY One of the few men in the city without whose aid it would be practically im- possible to write a good article on New York City is the well-known librarian of the New York Historical Society, Robert H. Kelby. Mr. Kelby is pleasantly remembered by many old New Yorkers, not only in connection with his work as librarian, but for his delightful lectures on the Revolutionary period of our city. On May 1st Mr. Kelby celebrated his forty-fifth anniversary in connection with the Society, which means that for almost three-quarters of a century he has been in the atmosphere of old New York, his native city. It is pleasant to record our acknowledgment of his kindly services in the prep- aration of this work, and of the many courtesies which the Library itself has ac- corded the writer. [ 376] COPYRIGHT. 1913. H. C. BROWN. If'vcat jEntrmtrr to tljr Srooklytt Hr&gr THIS SHOWS THE FIRST NEW YORK ENTRANCE TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AS IT APPEARED AT ITS OPENING IN 1884. FRENCH S HOTEL IS SEEN ON THE CORNER WHERE THE WORLD BUILDING NOW STANDS. THE SUN BUILDING IS ABOUT THE SAME TO-DAY. EXCEPT THAT PERRY'S DRUG STORE THEN OCCUPIED PART OF THE STREET FLOOR. BILLY HITCHCOCK'S WAS IN THE BASEMENT NEXT TO FRENCH'S. AND CROOK AND NASH HAD A RESTAURANT TWO DOORS BELOW. THE ENTRANCE TO THE BRIDGE DID NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE BUILDING LINE OF THE EAST SIDE OF PARK ROW AND THE FARE FOR FOOT PASSENGERS WAS ONE CENT. THE BRIDGE CARS RAN ONLY ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND MADE NO CONNECTION AT EITHER END. AS THEY DO TO DAY. IT COST THREE CENTS TO RIDE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR HENRY MORGENTHAU THE SOCIETY LIBRARY, THE OLDEST IN THE CITY SOME OF ITS PRICELESS TREASURES-ONLY FILE OF BRADFORD'S N. Y. GAZETTE, 1726-29, IN EXISTENCE OWNED BY IT On the 25th of March, 1728, the Rev. John Millington, D.D., bequeathed to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts all of his books, with the reqeust that they be sent to the plantations in America. The society decided to send this library, consisting of 1,642 volumes, to New York, and in 1729 the Common Council accepted the gift and agreed to care for the collection, which was known as the Corporation Library. As the library was little used, in 1754 a number of prominent citizens met and organized as the Society Library. It meant something to draw a book in those days, since travel was not only difficult but expensive, and while now they deliver all books to members residing in the city, there was a time when persons desiring books were frequently obliged to come from another State to get them. In some cases such a person could not come oftener than once a year to the city. To take out a book he had to deposit a sum greater than the cost of the book to start with, but he could keep it a year without renewal. Many of the old Knickerbocker families held stock in the library in the early days, and there are yet several families whose ancestors held stock in the original corporation, which was formed in 1754, and they treasure the original shares highly. Among these are the De Peysters, De Lanceys, Livingstons, Schuylers and Roosevelts. It was along in 1772 that the library came to the notice of King George, and in that year a charter was granted it, a copy of which is still in its collec- tion. During the War of the Revolution many of the books were scattered, as the library was sacked by the Hessian troops who were quartered in the city. Some of them were traded for rum. After the war many of them were found, and a collec- tion of some 600 of them were discovered in the tower of St. Paul's Church. It has many valuable books and papers. Particularly rare is a file of the New York Gazette, published by William Bradford from March 26, 1726, to November 17, 1729. There are no other copies of these particular files in existence. There are five special collections of books in the library, of which one of the more important is the Winthrop collection in Latin, once the property of John Winthrop of Connecticut. Then there is the John C. Green alcove of art works maintained by the sum of $50,000 left by his widow. It includes books on archi- tecture, costumes, heraldry, etc. [379] OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK In the days when New York was struggling to secure a foothold in the world of commerce, the methods of doing business were widely different from those which prevail to-day. Very few goods were manufactured, most of them coming from abroad. Instead of going through the hands of jobbers, merchandise to a great extent was consigned to auctioneers who announced the contents of a cargo and sold them at the wharf to the highest bidder. The dealers in the different lines would thereupon remove such purchases to their stores and proceed to distribute them among their customers. Announcements were made with much detail as to location. For example : "Now opening at the house of Erasmus Williams in Broad Street near the Exchange and nearly opposite to Gen. Gage's an assortment of Indian goods bought in London by a competent judge," etc. It was customary then and for a great many years afterwards for merchants to live over their stores, and even when the town began to assume some social pre- tensions the custom of living over the stores was continued. In those early days the leading business firms were auctioneers, and that of David Austin was well in the fore. He lived in Bowling Green next to Mr. Stephen Whitney's, then accounted the richest man in New York. We remember the block as "Old Steam- ship Row." It is now the Custom House. The firm was at one time Austin & Wil- merding and Austin & Spicer. Isaac Townsend, president of the Union Club, is a grandson of Austin's. This same family were the first ironmasters in the country, owning the Sterling Iron Works just back of Tuxedo Park. At this foundry was forged the chain stretched across the Hudson at Dobbs Ferry to prevent the Eng- lish fleet from ascending. Prime, Ward & King were the J. P. Morgans of their day. John Jacob Astor and John G. Coster were prominent in real estate. Peter and George Lorillard had a snuff mill in what is now Bronx Park and a shop in Chatham Street (No. 42) , and later on the grandsons had a large plant which covered the block on West Broadway, Franklin and Leonard Streets. They later removed to Jersey City, but kept a warehouse on Chambers Street. The business is still continued in Marion, N. J., which makes the rather creditable record of one hundred and fifty-three years of uninterrupted existence. Archibald Gracie & Sons were among the first to organize the insurance busi- ness in this city ; James McEvers was also interested in the same line. Grant Thor- burn founded the seed-store in 1802 which is still conducted by his direct descend- ants on Barclay Street. During one of the fever outbreaks which were prevalent in those days, a young man walked into Thorburn's store, freshly landed from an English ship. [ 380 ] Lawrence & Schieffelin He was without friends or money, and requested Mr. Thorburn to board him until he could find work. The young man was attacked by the fever and was nursed through a dangerous illness by Grant Thorburn and his wife. This act of kindness was repaid many times over, as the young man subsequently rose to great distinc- tion as inventor and builder of the printing press — Robert Hoe. Grant Thor- burn was a noted character in his day and his funeral was largely attended by representative men in all walks of life. David Kennedy, John Haggerty, Thomas Suffern, William Constable, H. A. Coster, Frederick Gebhard, Philip Livingston, Parish & Kernoch, Andrew A. Barclay, William Beekman, Nicholas K. Anthony, Peter and Abraham Brincker- hoff, Jr., Nicholas Roosevelt, Joseph Kernochan, were prominent merchants at that time engaged in different enterprises, and these family names are still borne with distinction by their descendants who are active in various commercial lines to- day. Rufus King, James Gore King, Effingham Lawrence, John B. Lawrence, are brought to memory by their descendants. Jacob Schieffelin, who formed a partnership with Effingham Lawrence in 1794 under the firm name of Lawrence & Schieffelin, is perpetuated to-day in the well-known firm of Schieffelin & Co., whose place of business is still in the neighborhood where it was founded, one hundred and nineteen years ago. Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Henry C. De Rahm, Thomas Buchanan, Isaac Roosevelt, John Pintard, Peter Goelet, Isaac Low, A. A. Low, were among other merchants doing business on the west side of the city, and the streets contiguous to it, as Washington, Greenwich, Liberty, Cortlandt, State, Stone and Mill Streets ; also, LeRoy, Bayard & McEvers, Van Horn & Clarkson, Reade & Jepson, Joseph Howland & Son, Levi Coit, Kane & Piatt, John Atkinson & Son, Andrew Ogden & Co., T. and J. Swords, Evert Duyckinck, David Longworth, Isaac Riley, Samuel F. Hopkins, Samuel Campbell, Hoffman & Seton, Alexander S. Glass, James Bleecker, Hone, Livingston & Co., Irving & Smith, Ingraham, Phoenix & Noxson, and others. The dry-goods trade was principally confined to Pearl Street, where it con- tinued until the great fire of 1835. After having been rebuilt, such high rents were demanded that the business diffused itself through the city, and you could scarcely find a dry-goods house in the whole street. Among the old houses of that day were Haggerty & Austin, E. and P.Evary, Gilbert and John Aspinwall, Law- rence, Van Sindevan & Co., Daniel Rapelye, Blackwell & McFarland, William Dodge & Sons, J. G. Pierson & Bros., Swartwout & Dumont, Peter Remsen, Au- gustus Wynkoop, John F. Suydam, James and Nicholas Heard, Joshua Wad- dington & Co., Van Winkle & Antwerp, Robert Chesebrough, Clendening & Adams. Almost all the sloops and other vessels from towns on the North River — Al- bany, Troy, Poughkeepsie, Lansingburg, Waterford, Hudson, Rhinebeck, Red- hook, Fishkill, Newburgh, Catskill, etc., docked at the Battery from Whitehall Street along South to the west side of Coenties Slip. They brought country produce, grain, provisions, etc. New Brunswick, Amboy, Newark, Elizabethtown, [ 383 ] Irish, Scotch and French Merchants Rahway and other New Jersey sloops came in at the Old Albany basin in front of 23 South Street. As this was before the days of steamboats, many of the sloops were fitted up in handsome style for the conveyance of passengers, as it was quite an undertaking to make a voyage to Albany, adverse winds, etc., often delaying them several days on the river. Counsellors and lawyers in Broad Street were Nathaniel Pendleton, Samuel Jones, Jr., David S. Jones, George Griffin, Governor Ogden, Keese & Garr; in Garden Street, Thomas L. Ogden, David A. Ogden; in Pine Street, Caleb S. Riggs, David B. Ogden, Peter A. Jay, William Johnson, John Wells, Josiah Ogden Hoffman; in Nassau Street, Thomas Addis Emmet, William Sampson, William Slosson, Cadwalader D. Colden, Martin S. Wilkins, Jacob Radcliffe, Peter W. Radcliffe. In William Street were Henry A. and John G. Coster, Joel and Jotham Post, A. and F. Ogsbury, Augustine H. Lawrence & Co. All were eminent, and their offices, as they are to-day, were contiguous to the City Hall, which was then in Wall Street. In Coenties Slip, South Street, were the houses of Simon and Peter Schermer- horn, Saltus & Son, William Codman, Palmer & Hamilton, Foster & Giraud. There were also a large number of Friends in this neighborhood, operators in flour and grain, and interested in shipping, among them John Townsend, Franklin Robinson & Co., John Franklin, Henry and Matthew Franklin, Minturn & Champlin. In Front Street were the well-known houses of Jenkins & Havens, Gabriel and Philetus Havens, Bailey & Bogert, Ebenezer Stevens, B. and J. Strong & Co., John and Jacob Drake, Tredwell & Thome and Thomas H. Smith. There were other prominent merchants in different parts of the city: J. Boonen Graves, Frederick Gebhard, Knox & Laurie, Divie Bethune, Gilbert Robertson, George Barnwall; and of Irish houses engaged in the Irish trade, which was a very impor- tant one, were James McBride, John Flack, William and Samuel Craig, McVickar & Stuart, Alexander Cranston & Co., Abraham Bell & Co., James and William Sterling, John Agnew. Other familiar names are George Clinton, Al- bert and James Chrystie, Alexander Brown, Benjamin de Forest, Henry and William Delafield, James De Lancey, Francis Depau, Frederick De Peyster, Charles De Witt, James Duane, William Duer, Nicholas Fish, Fish & Grinnell, Gilbert Haight, Thomas Hamersley, Hicks, Lawrence & Co., Robert Hoe & Co., Philip Hone, John Hone & Co., Daniel Ludlow, James Rutgers Marshall, Robert Murray, Henry and Daniel Parish, Piatt, Stout & Ingoldsby, William Rhinelander, Anthony Rutgers, Comfort Sands, Augustus Schell, John Speyer, Garrit and Stephen Storm, Samuel Townsend, Peter P. Van Buren, Gulian C. Verplanck, Marmaduke Ward, Stephen Whitney, Benjamin Wolfe, Sebring & Varick, John T. Willetts, Preserved Fish, and others. The descendants of many of these old merchants are still in active business. Others have become large landed proprietors, while law and literature have claimed many more. In banks, trust companies and corporations of various kinds can be read names of the third and fourth generation still carrying out the plans [ 384 ] < COPYRIGHT 1 9 t ?, H C BROWN. ahp (Smiurnirur iHorris ^atat in fHorrisama, 1THE THE GOUVERNEUR MORRIS WHO PRACTICALLY BUILT THIS HOUSE WAS ONE OF THE BIG FIGURES IN THE REVOLUTION . HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS AND OF THE CONTINEN- TAL CONGRESS. AND LATER DELEGATE TO FRAME THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. AND A SENATOR IN CONGRESS. AS AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF WASHINGTON HE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART ABROAD AS MINISTER TO FRANCE. AND WAS PRESENT AT THE FIRST DAY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. HE PROPOSED A PLAN OF ESCAPE FOR LOUIS XVI. WHICH WOULD HAVE PROVED SUCCESSFUL HAD NOT THE LATTER CHANGED HIS MIND AND DECIDED TO REMAIN. HE DELIVERED THE ORATION AT THE FUNERAL OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON. OF ALL THE GREAT CHARACTERS DURING THE STORMY PERIOD IN WHICH HE LIVED FEWSHONE WITH GREATER BRILLIANCY. THIS FINE OLD HISTORIC HOUSE WAS RUTHLESSLY DEMOLISHED TO MAKE ROOM FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE NEW HAVEN TRACKS. FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR J. CRAWFORD BROWN. Century-old Firms and policies of their forebears, changed and enlarged to meet the present-day con- ditions. Of the firms that have been in existence over one hundred years in New York, the list is small. Prominent among them, besides those we have already named, occur to us Cowperthwait & Co., established 1807; Colgate & Co., 1806; Bank of New York, 1794; R. C. Williams Co., 1810; The American Bank Note Co.; Bar- rett, Nephews & Co. Doubtless there are others, but there seems no accurate record available. Within the last quarter of a century vast changes have occurred in the busi- ness world. Great aggregations of capital have combined and absorbed many individual firms into one giant corporation. In this way well-known houses of the last century have disappeared in a sense, though the merchants themselves are still in business. The half a hundred well-known tobacco firms, for instance, such as William S. Kimball & Co., Allen & Gunter, W. Duke, Sons & Co., Kinney Bros., Goodwin & Co., Thomas Hall, were long ago absorbed by just such a combina- tion. The same process has applied to many other branches of mercantile life, so that the days when our employer knew all of his help has long ago passed into oblivion. The new order of things was no doubt the natural result of new conditions, and is perhaps a better and more modern method of trading. But the old days and the old methods had the advantage of the personal equation, an element wholly unknown in the impersonal corporation spirit of to-day. It is said to be better, but the Government is constantly trying to restore old conditions. Co-operation, how- ever, as against unrestrained competition, is a great attraction. A firm of great prominence in the eighties was H. K. and F. B. Thurber & Co., wholesale grocers. In their line they ranked the highest. They did a busi- ness of over $30,000,000 annually, a remarkable performance for those days. They have completely disappeared. Francis H. Leggett & Co. were then on Reade Street, with Austin Nichols & Co., Burkhalter, Masten & Co. and H. M. Anthony opposite. Early & Lane were on the corner of Reade Street and West Broad- way, and Wiley, Wickes & Wing just below. Robert Gair, who now has eight or nine immense modern factory buildings in Brooklyn, was then at No. 143. He had as a partner George West, of Ballston Spa. B. E. Hale & Co. were on Park Place. D. S. Walton was with them. He bought the Hale business and developed an im- mense establishment of his own. Fischer & Lansing were on the corner of Greenwich and Reade Streets, now B. Fischer & Co. ; Lewis De Groff & Son in Washington Street. Henry Welsh was another noted figure. His building collapsed one day, causing a sensation. C. F. Mattlage, Tarrant & Co., Hall & Ruckel, were in Warren Street. C. H. and E. S. Goldberg, who now occupy the old Thurber Building, were in Washington Street, and Kemp, Day & Co. on Murray. The hardware men were in Chambers and Murray Streets. Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co. were in a very small and old building not far from Broadway. Russell & Erwin were on Reade Street, next to the American News Co. Sargent [387] The Last Quarter of a Century & Co., P. and F. Corbin, Stanley Works, Henry B. Newhall, Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., Reading Hardware Co., W. & J. Tiebout, Patterson Bros., Wiebusch & Hil- ger, Whitman & Barnes, Alfred Field & Son, were among the best known ones. They must all be quite old houses now. Among the printers, the famous Trow Press, patriarch among printing shops in New York and publishers of the City Directory for nearly a century, were, and are, in East 12th Street. The Bartlett-Orr Press was just coming into existence. Bartlett had made a great reputation as an engraver. Louis Orr came along and developed the plant. They were the first in town to make strictly high-class work for mercantile purposes. Their catalogue work for Mott and Columbia bicycles created a sensation in their day. Francis Hart & Co., afterward the De Vinne Press, were on College Place and Murray Street, with Theodore L. De Vinne as manager. The Winthrop Press was then in Waverly Place, and was a small affair compared with the present. Douglass Taylor was prominent then; so were Nesbit & Co. The American Bank Note Co. had just moved to their new building on Trinity Place. Martin B. Brown was on Murray Street, and Major Knapp & Co. on Park Place. Warner Hatch was still prominent in lithography, and G. H. Buek & Co. had commenced to make themselves known. Mr. Buek's wonder- ful water-color reproductions marked a distinct epoch in the business. Donaldson Bros, were over in Five Points. Schumacher & Ettlinger were on Bleecker, and Julius Bien on Duane Street; Gast Litho Co., Wemple & Co., on Warren; John Hodge, dean of lithographers, was in Fulton Street; Burrow-Giles on College Place, and Lindner, Eddy & Claus in Centre Street; C. G. Burgoyne, the first "quick printer," on Centre Street. Hinds, Ketcham & Co. were the best known label house, with Sam Crump a good second. Gilbert Johnstone, now prominent in the U. S. Printing Co., was taking his first orders from Duke's Cigarette fac- tory in Rivington Street, and the Burr Printing House, established by Gray & Green, on Jacob Street, was well known. Mr. William Green, affectionately known as "Billy" to all the trade, is a son of Green of this old firm. These are just a few of the firms with whom I was brought into contact in the regular course of business, and form only a small list. These are noted, as with few exceptions they are still in business and have prospered. Joseph Pulitzer had just arrived from St. Louis, and was making a stir with the World. William Randolph Hearst had just graduated from college, and his entry into journalism was not regarded seriously. Arthur Brisbane was still the London correspondent of the New York Sun, which was then the best-known paper, under the editorship of Charles A. Dana. The Tribune was under White- law Reid, the Times under George Jones, and the Evening Post under Godkin; the Mail and Express, under Elliott F. Shepard, carried a verse of Scripture at the head of its editorial page every day. Among the advertisers, Frank Seaman had a small office under the stairs in the old Cassel & Co. Building on Fourth Avenue ; J. Walter Thompson had modest rooms in the Times Building. Frank Presbrey was running a weekly in Washington called Public Opinion, and the Mallory Bros, ran a theatre as well [ 388 ] N. 1. 55- I' - a — •» a 2 = a «=• /a if O x < < in S i- cr o o - W " fc I- o UJ Z UJ < U- X z £ ^ > O — < - uj ~ x S < u. Q S O ^ O z o 2 CE < -J * UJ (rt 1-0- I- "> UI tfl 0. Z 5 X => o - O , ,