The New York herald., 1876-03-03
ANTIQUE BOSTON
Gradual Disappearance Of the
Ancient Landmarkae
DANGER TO THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The Struggle Between the Conser'
natives and Progressives.
THE OLD STATE HOUSE DOOMED

BosroS, March 2, 1915
The club of,he Universe, "The Tri- mountain City,
the Modern Athens Of America, " or whatever else
you may call II, seems inevitably doomed. Through
the angry elements OF nature and the march OF com
mercal progress all the evidences ancient existence
promise to be swept away during this glorious centen
NAL year Only old "Faneun Hall the boasted 'Cradle
of Liberty" and the solid over on Bunker
Hill are likely TO be spared, and perhaps before
another century comes round tho demolition Of
these will be recorded in the HERALDs Boston
rospondence In the eyes OF the buc-bloodod
descendants OF the Beacon Hill stock this wholesale
sweeping away of ancient landmarks little less
than criminal vandalism. First it was
OLD FORT
that had to be brought down to level with tho rost
OF the The project was fought long and hard by
the octogenarian portion Of the community, who
mcmbcred in the days of thoir youth it was tho
regular bon ton locality OF Boston The demands
Of business however, as we'll tho perseyer-
ance Of Young America wcro unrecnting, and with
the expenditure of a few millions of money the proud
old hill was dumped into the to form what
that nourshng commercial thoroughiare known as
Atlantic avenue The now level space once occupied
by the mountain quickly covered with some OF the
finest business in the CITY, but only to DO
swept away by the great fire, circumstance which
of the blue boods denominated as Judgment
from heaven. The calamity OF the conhagraton, how
ever failed extngush the provcrbia enterprise and
perseverance the modern Yankee for space
is to-day again covered by marble fronts even more
grand and imposing than those destroyed and the
boot shoe and leather trade transacted there
nually toots up among the millions OF dollars.
STEALING AWAY COMMON.
Tho next conflict between the blue bloods and tho
modern and progressive classes came from proposi-
tion to slice of portion OF the Common Tor the
widening fremont
bitter one, and as may be anticipated, Beacon street
was vanqushed and a slice OF the Common was appro
priated TO accommodate widening OF what has
proven to be OF the principal business highways OF
the city But these events OF the past only aliude to
for the purpose OF conveying idea of the muddes OF
this kind which always existing in Boston between
the rival classes referred to.
SOUTH CHURCH.
The great hubbub Is what disposition shall
be made of the Old South church. tho corner OF Mix
and Washington streets The great bre came near
sweeping out OF existence, and If It had there would
have been great deal of bad temper saved and
the Massachusetts, courts would have been
spared perplexing question during the
past few years 1t may be said in fact, that about tho
only good that came out OF its salvation from tho
flames was that IL furnished acceptable accommoda
tions post Office until the new structuS was com.
peied. The society owning the property have now
built house OF worship over the Back Bay
tion, and the long pending litigation concerning the
disposition OF the old historical edce has just been de-
cidcd in The Supreme Court favor OF those who
TO sell It. This may add, Is another triumph Of
Young America the elderly element IL IS not
certain however even in view or the Courts decree
that the ancient tabernacle will come down, for there
a movement brewing TO purchase and MAINTAIN u
intact for few hundred years longer There IS some
thing, perhaps emnently proper in this idea II II
be realized for the Old South is probably the oldest So
cety and
in country The society constituted in Charles
town, May IL 1862 seventeen years earlier than
the society worshpping in the Brattle street
church, OF cannon ball tame, which has been torn
down within year In obedience TO business de-
nands Tnc first church OF the Old south society was
ncc stands, this latter one having beon completed
Rnd occupied for the first time on the 10Th OF April,
1880 nearly 146 years The old structure is sun
in good condition, and In the absence OF fire, earth
quakes and gales can very easily be transmitted to
score of future generations There many historic
associations connected with IT, for mere delivered
in defiance of the threats OF authority and IN presence
of marshaled soldiery Warrens fearless grafton
anniversary the 9TH of March, 177O; and here
repeatedly held tho meetings OF freemen which called
forth those pcals of patriotic eloquence which moved
the whole country and shook the British throne.
Later during the OF the rebellion, the old edhce
rcsoundcd with patriotism and hundreds of tho Union
within the ancient walls OF this venerable church.
BB SPARED?
Whether the old edihce will bo torn down pro.
served is mOmentous question here IN Boston now.
The project proposed contomplates having the building
conveyed to the Massachusetts Historical Society "a
be used In its present shape as depository or lnu'
scum OF articles illustrative OF our early
national history. This proposition comes from
some of the gentlemen who have long
tended that tho society ought to be allowed
to sell the property. They propose to have II APP
praised by three competent persons and offer them
selves TO contribute SIS, 600 toward the purchase
money II The people of Massachusetts, will contribute
the balance They reckon the property worth about
$500 600 and suggest that a contribution OF twenty.
tive cents from each ono OF the Inhabitants OF Massa
chuses will the old church from going under the
hammer THIS latter idea Is, OF course, juvensh and
unless something solid is proposed tho Old South
will soon be among the things oil the past
STATE HorsE
The old State House, the timc-honored obstruction
on state and Washington Streets To be obteratcd
during the centennial year. and OF course, there will
be the customary lamentations from Beacon Hill Two
buildings on the same spot have been destroyed by
FIRE and for years many have hoped that this un-
slightly heap would 20 the way. IL hat
done good service In It's time though, and much i'm.
portani business both colonial and State has been
transacted within its walls During the last seventy.
eight years Il has been chiefly occupied for Offices,
although bret period 1t used city hall
and post Office IL is owned by the city, and tho
authorities have decided to demolsh IL during the COM
ing summer
HANDS.
The retirement OF George Young from the proprietor.
ship and management OF Youngs Hotel amounts
almost to the wiping OF an ancient landmark. Fol
many years he been familiar to thousands and he
and his hotel had become much OF an institution
the big organ Music Hall. IL has been famous foI
club dinners and the upper dining halls have than
once resoundcd with tho eloquence OF such statesmen
as Choate Webster, Mann, Sumner, Wilson, Banks,
and others OF less rcnown.