At this time in history, Court Street ran directly through the park. Note in the background that the towers are still on the 1855 Court House and the First Methodist Church on the left. The towers on both the church and the Court House were removed in the 1880's. The next picture shows the towers removed. The photograph on the right was probably taken in the mid 1880's.
Central Park is in the foreground.
The two buildings on the left are where the 1893 Court House would be built. The building on the left was originally the First Methodist Church. When this picture was taken it was being used as a National Guard Armory. The building in the middle was the old 1855 Court House. Court Street runs between the Court House and St. Mary's Catholic Church on the right.