Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-09
BROADWAY.

originally called by the Dutch settlers Heere
STRAIT lhe name of Broadway was FIRST an
piled to the street in 1777; and the more aristo.
cratic name OF Heere Straat-the name of mauy
streets in Holland. as, for instance, the maepi.
hcent Heeregracht, in Amsterdam-meaning
the street OF the gentry, washearl no more In
lfsl, Chamoers street was known as Great
George street," in 1902 it was called the .Mid.
die Road, and only in 1904 has the name of
Broadway been applied to its full extent
American history exhibits remarkable devel-
opment OF cities like Buffalo, Cincinnati Chi
eago and st. Louis; but of all the wonders
achieved oy industry, energy aud Imagination,
the growth of Broadway is the greatest In
$50, lady, eighty-six years Old, remembered
the time distinctly when the site of the present
st Paul's church was q wheat field; an old
man, vi nearly the same age, remem bered when
boats could pass freely over the space of the
Battery now covered with large trees At that
urre there were few streets paved Broadway
and all the other streets had their cutters in
the middle. The Oswego market was in Broad
way, opposite Liberty street
In 1877, Rutgers orchard was on the site of
the present Hospital, and this was the extent Of
Broadway. In 1867, the inhabitants kept their
cows IN the town, and the cow pastures were
upon line with the present Grand st. In 1871
the houses clustered thiokly around the Bat
terry, which was then what the Fifth ayenue is
IN our dsys-the place of residence of the
4
house stood opposite the Bowling Green, the
name oil the pleasure ground where the sturdy
Dutch played at bowls and skittles and where
on pleasant evenings their buxom wives and
rustic bellies joined the merry revel; while the
old Goyernor, smoking his long Dutch clay
pipe, watched from his window, with a species
OF phlegmatic diplomacy, the movements of
the people, taking care that nothing seditious
should be going up. Those were happy days
Tor the Dutch; the Irish still remained in Ire
land, and Yankees had not yet made their
appearance in Broadway. Jan had it all his
own way In l19l, and quaint Old-fashioned
way it was. As Jan looktd from the Bowling
6reen toward the East river he could almost
fancy himself on the BOOmpjes of Rotte rdam
or the Prince Graeat or Amstel of Amsterdam
or even IN the snug, damp, cosy little hooks of
the quay OF Delft; sitting down in the evening
win Myyrous, or MyjouVrou, or Myjongsjou-
vrou on the steps Of the house in the Battery.
with plenty Of pipes and huge cups and mon
strous bowls OF tea and coffee, he might really
have fancled there was no such foolish thing as
the Atlantic ocean. no such perplexing puzzle
as civil and religious liberty, and that he was
again :ltunS upon the steps of his own good
house In dear old Amsterdam. But after 1871
these dreams were gradually broken up
At that time the buildings beyond Trinity
Church, as far as st. Paul's Chapel, were not
yet thickly placed, and it required but little
time to get from thence 10 the broad free cOun-
- j. h-c A1Adi oSpcCI Va tue street Deilg diver
slned by gardens, fields, orchards, and swamps
with here and there a public house. But
hardly nifty years pass by, and Jan has become
oosolste His progeny, the knicker bockers
as thSy are called, appear a speck in the ocean
10 the mass Of Irish, Yankee, German, Eng
nsn, and miscellaneous natiOnalitieS which
like so many avalanches, have burst upon
Broadway, built houses, and stores, and hotels,
and theatres, and saloons, and museums upon
the helds orchards, and swamps Of 1891 until,
IN lS4S, the old Here STRAIT looks already
very much like a combination Of the London
oTaEd and the Paris Boulevard BOnne Nou-
velle.
From lo4o to this day, Broadway has again
been completely transformed. Hardly one of
the landmarks Of fifteen years ago remain
with the exception Of the AstOr House. the
Hospital with Its green, st. Paul's, the City
Hall, Stuyyesant Institute, and one or two
more antiquities, there is q change of houses
perceptible in every block. The increase of
business was such that trade encroached every
where, until al this day, excepting a number of
private dwelling houses beyond Prince street,
the whole Broadway has become a vast gallery
OF stores, theatres, saloons, and hotels while
churches, with the exception of Trinity and ST.
Paul's, and private residences, have all been
removed to the upper part of the town. Those
which have not yet been removed are In a fair
way to be so. Trinity and ST. Paul's churches
are we'll nigh deserted, and the Tabernacle the
81 cuutdleQ 10 reIOTmerS, Is
The aspect Of Broadway in 1853 presents
many striking features, with elements so mixed
In character, that no comparison with the great
thoroughfsres Of European capitals could con-
yey q Correct idea OF it Early in the morning
the street begins to fill with carts and vehicles
bringing supplies from the country to the mar
ket- From all the by-streets which connect
broadway with the rivers crowds of men and
women, and wagons and horses emerge from the
Brooklyn, Hoboken, Williamsburg, Staten Is
land, and New Jersey ferries. 1t is still very
early In the morning, the shops are still closed;
only here and there an omnibus makes its re-
luctant appearance, its horses and driver not
having yet shaken of the slOth Of the night
There are also some carriages stopping before
the AstOr House, ST. Nicholas Metropolitan
and other hotels, with a load of travellers lust
coming in from East, North and West or from
European and California steamers. At this
early hour broadway looks thoroughly respec-
table, like big ballroom, which. after the
reyel OF the evening, Is used by the lady Of the
house in the morning for thrifty purposes But
as the morning advances traffic increases The
ferries disgorge their human cargoes The side
Walk peglns To swarm with women and men en-
Pioyed Ia business. NewsbOys appear upon The
scene Of action, Omnibuses begin TO rattle. The
rush of emiSrants sets in. Spruce clerks appear
at the corners Of Prince Canal and White
streets, however limited their means here they
are, hailing the omnibuses, fresh, rosy, and well
dressed: IradeSpeOpie Oi all nationalities crowd
the vehicle French and German dry goods job
sers, BremC n merchants, Jew inanciers South.
srn, Eastern and Western spectators and Ie,u-
lators, auctiOneers, men Of straw and men of
substance; New York, New Orleans, Hamburg,
Liverpool, San Francisco Boston and Iincin-
natl are huddled together in a six cent omni-
bus Peie-mele with 81. Louis, Lyons, Charles
ton, Manchester aud Savannah all rushing to
w all street, Broad street, Pearl street, Front
street, South street. This gives character 10
Broadway. Beside this crowd of passengers
there are the lOeUst-swarms of city-buunc Pc
destrians. Marketing has disappeared-busi-
ness has begun the smell of meat, fruit and
vegetables gives place to fragrance of cotton
silk goods and groceries. The stir inside the
stores begins In the street the excitement
Increases. Small knots of travellers, boarders.
lOungers and smokers, begin to congregate be-
fore the principal hotels. 1t is about . an.
Business men who dine out and rise late, jour
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