New-York tribune., 1874-06-03
STREETS OF OLD NEW-YORK.


LECTURE Bf MIX JAMES w. uEhhhD'
REMINIsCENCEs or DUTCH RUIE-APPEARASCE OF
THE CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS UNDER GOV.
srUYvEsANr-CIrY GATES THAT WERE LOCKED
AT NIGHT-DrTCHEs THAT BECAME STREETS
HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN LOCALITIES.
A meeting of the New-YOrk Historical So
cety was held at the Library at secondave and Eev-
epth-s last evening. paDer was presented by James
w. Gerard on "The Old Streets Of New York under the
Dutch" The following are interesting extraots
The lecture opened with survey Of tnat era OF geo
graphical discovery IN which the earlier voyages were
made 10 America ana the distinguished navigators OF
that age with their enterprises wero enumerated Inc
rise and progress United Provinces OF the Neither
lands we're briefly sketcbed and just tribute paid 10
the yaor and virtues Of the founders OF the Dtch he
public. The voyage Of Hendrck HUDSON la 1902 IN the
Half Moon OF 80 and with crew OF 20 men,
across the Atlantic and up the river which now bears
his name, was then described, and very Interesting
account was given OF his dealings with the aborgines
The early Dutch settlers called the river tho MauruS,
after Prince Maurice The territory was first recognized
under the name OF Nieuw Ncderand In 1914, and In 1871
its control was vested in the Dutch West India Com
pany OF whom the Governor Director was directly
commissioned by the states General.
In 1926 Peter Minu OF the early directors, pur'
chased the Island OF Manhattan for.he Company from
the Indians for about $ Mr. Gerard remarks that II
the interest OF that compounded 10 the present
day IL would be about siOoO0,Ooo and from this point
OF view does not utterly inadequate as purchase
money for the site OF the future city, The prco was
paid in wampum. also called 1ran or sewanf, the best
OF which was made by Indians on Long Island. then
called Sewan-hac-key Sewant was the generic name
for tho entire class OF money; wampum twas OF tho
whe suckahock OF tho black beads the latter being OF
double tho value OF the former. wampum made
from the stem or stock OF the perwinke, suckahock
from the inside shell OF the hard clam. Three beads OF
black or six OF white equied Dutch stuyver or an
English penny when this currency was at par The
beads we're neatly strung the snews OF animals, and
a fathOm OF wampum was as much Us q man cOuu
reacn between his outstretched arms. and equacd four
guders value But even at that day there were vast
fluctuations in currency values, and revdsiOns IN the
distribution OF the circulating medium and monetary
panics were by no means unknown.
At years Of age New-YOrk consisted OF less than
forty extending along the southeast shore,
with two buildings OF superior importance aud
other settlements along the shores-at HetOwacks
Long Island, MoDatons on staten Island and oanhckans
Hel.gat the East vcrJ but dense forest inhabited
by Indians still covered the upper part OF Manhattan
Island Lofty hills were on the site OF parts OF Beekman
aud Ferry brooks. ponds ana marshes abounded
range Of sandy hills rlversed the city from about tho
corner Charlton and Varck to the junction of Eighth
Greene ss North Of them lay the reyuet called ny
the Indlnns Mnetta anu by the Dltch Bestevaeps XII
the OF square and epted INTO the
Hudson at about the foot Of Chariton-st chain OF
walers extended from James-st. tho southeast TO
Canal-st. the northwest. ditch and inlet occupied
the place OF Broai.st Extensive meadow or marsh
land. known subsequently, as Stuyvesant meadow or
swamp extended from Fourteenthst down to Houston
Near the present Tombs in Center-st was large pond
lake OF fresh water subsequently called the "Kalck
hoecK," with verdant hills and sopng banks. An
tensve swamp extended north the present Laght-s
subsequently called Lispenard's swamp or meadows,
joined the Kalck-noeck TO the north OF that pond
A also lay between Excnangcplace, william and
New-ss. called the Companys Valley" whose waters
drained by the great bitches in Broad and Beaver
SITS. swamp marsh also extended over parts Of
Cherry James. and Catharine-sts; and what sub
sequently Beegman swamp covered what Is still known
rs he
savage beasts as well ,s men roamcd through the
wilderness the upper part of the island and even
late 1886 proclamation from the Governor speaks OF
the mischief done by wolves and authorizes measures
for their destruction IDcessant wars with the Indians
operated unavorabiy on the young settlement, aud at
time Nieuw Amsterdam was nearly depopulated.
Fora second picture OF the growing city, the lecturer
selected the l655) under Peru3 Stuyyesant tho
last OF the Dutch Governors. He had thus recently
returned from his successful camDalgus against Forts
Cdsimer aud Christina. ana had a"cd me Indians INTO
submission. Tue city peaceful and prosperous It
contained houses 400 inhabitants. Tue greater
part of the houses Of wood covered with reeds or
shidges, OF them with wooden chimneys; others,
OF more pretentou5 character. were bailt or httic
shiny t 1es SdE Of saan cross m Sn
work design and were rooted with red and black tiles
There were a few residences built or stone. among
them the Company's store-louse on Wnkie-st Nearly
all OF these houses were placed with their gable euds
toward the street. the end o the roofs rising 10 peak
in successive steps SurmOuntDg all was the weather
cock. The ground occupied was chiefly between Wall
st. and the North and East Rivers.
The lecturer iDstanced some OF the characteristics of
these mansions: the outside Stoep, under projecting
bory chat or rest from toll The balls eye IN the door,
and The small OF the lower windows, Sill indicated
apprchenslOns OF attacks from savage foes Within the
floor Is sandedn figures and tue rafcr5 are covered
with devices. Tie cupboard contains pewter tankard
ringer and lade Deware teapot and tiny china cups
all brought across the Tue great four post bed.
bed-clothcs and nen the dowry of the housewife and
tue product Of her industry. The ample epace, the
blue tiles illustrating some Old Testament story chars
Of Russia leather with double rows of brass-heLded
nails the loom the spinning wheel tho gay fire screen,
md fsN a.
The old city gatc-;he Land gate--closed nightly by
the city watch near the corner Of Broadway and Walt
the outlet from the Guy walls or palisadesa de-
tense against savages. which in 1858 were further
strengthened by ditch and ramDart. Broadway was
Church ard. was the West India Company's garden.
and orcd OF hsDdek Van DeS then I the Do old Da
just above Morrsst. The east side
not so desirable for resiaenoe as the west. swampy
meadow, surrounded by hills, from wall-st. and Ex
change place to Broad and Beayersts The cattle path
from the highways to tnis meadow became under
English rule Gardsn-st.. and is Exchange place;
drainage through bitches the outlines OF Beaver
residences beside the slow waters Observation-Disclosures,
Marketneid-st, led from the Broadst canal to the
marketplaee where The great annual cattle fair was
held east OF Whehast near Stone.st.. and opposite
what is now the Bowling-green. The fort the
foot of Broadway. Toward the North River Bat
teryplaee, was the great town windmill At about the
foot OF Moore-st was the Strand, where another
Market weIgh-house, and the dock. Mr. Gerard gave
entertaining sketch Of the gatherings for trade and
barter in these localities. and brought up vividy the
quaint figures OF the dealers and their customers and
The old church Ia the Fort received goodly share
the lecturers attention, aud a services and audience
were described. On part OF Whitehallst called Beurs
STRAIT or Purses stood Gov Stuyvesants house.
which the English called the Whitehall whence the
present street is named. stonest Brouwerstraa it
part OF the most direct route from the Fort
slip, where was the ferry to Long Island On Brouwer
STRAIT which received It's from several breweres
facing upon It, were the residences OF many prosperous
burghers DE Brugh-straat Bridge-st. lead the
Fort to the bridge across the canal which through
Broadst. Winckel-sf, which lay parallel TO Whitehall,
between the present Pearl aud Brldge-sts, and con-
tanned hye substantial stone storehoues OF the Dutch
West India Co.. has entirely disappeared. Pearl.st.
formed the original bank of the East River; Water,