Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-12-20
THE OLD SUGAR HOUSE PRISON

THE OLD SUGAR HOUSE PRISON
When ages shall have mingled with those
who have gone before the food, the spot on
which stood this prison will be sought for
with more than antiquarian interest IL
was founded in 1863, and occupied as SUI
gar refining mandatory until l776, when
Lord Howe converted it into place of con-
fnement for the American prisoners. At
the conclusion Of the war Of independence,
the business of sugar refining was resumed
and continued until 1889 or 40, when it
was levelled to the ground TO make way for
block Of buildings wherein TO stow Yam
kee rum and New Orleans molasses. Pity
il ever was demolished. With reasonable
care il might have stood thousand years,
a monument TO all generations Of the pains,
penalties, sufferings and deaths their fathers
met in procuring the blessings they now in
herit 1t stood on the southeast and adioin-
ing the grave yard around the Middle Dutch
Church, said church being now bounded by
Liberty, Nassau and Cedar-streets. But, as
il is said, this church is soon to become a
post Office. The dwelling spirit of the day
is roofing up and destroying every land
mark and vestge Of antiquity about the city,
and it is probable that in the year 202l,
there will not be a man in New York who
can point out the spot whereon stood pris-
on whose history is so feelingly connected
with our revolutionary traditions.
On the 18th of June, l794, came to re-
side in Liberty street, between Nassau-st.
aud Broadway, where dwelt forty years -
As the events recorded in this history had
but recently TRANSFERRED, had frequent OPP
portunities of seeing and conversing with
the men who had been actors in the scenes.
Some Of the anecdotes heard from the lips
of General Alexander Hamilton, General
Morgan Lewis, Col. Richard Varick, the
venerable John Pintard, and other revolu-
tionary worthless. then in the prime of life,
but now all numbered with the dead
Till within few years past, there stood
in Liberty ST., dark stone building, grown
grey and rusty with age, with small deep
windows, exhibiting dungeon like aspect,
and Transporting the memory to scenes of
former days, when the revolution poured its
desolatng waves over the farest portion OF
our country. II was five stories high; and
each story was divided into two dreary a
partmenis, with ceiling so low, and the light
from the windows so dim, that a stranger
would readily take the place for Jail. On
the stones in the walls, and OH many of the
bricks under the office windows, are still TO
be seen initials and ancient dates, as if done
with penknife or nail /; this was the work
of many of the American prisoners, who
adopted this among other means TO while a.
way their weeks and years of long and mo-
notonous confinement There is strong
Jail like door opening on Liberty street, and
another on the Southeast, descending into
dismal cellar, scarce allowing the midday
sun to peep through IFS window gratings.
When first saw this bulding-some fif-
~ years ago--there was walk nearly broad
enough for cart to travel around il hut,
Of late years, wing has been added to the
northeast end, which shuts up this walk
where, for many long days and nights, two
British or Hessian soldiers walked their
weary guarding the American pris-
oners. For thirty years after settled in
Liberty street, this house was often visited