The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-01
Where the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence Was Really Written.
MUSTY ARCHIVES EXPLORED,
DeyOut Patriots Worshipping at the Wrong
Shrine for Fifty Years.
JEFFERsON's LODGING.

Among the many places OF historic interest OF which
the Centennial City is proud there two especially
cherished by her good and patriotic citizens. One is
old Independence Hail. whence tho Declaration of In
dependence was first proclaimed; the other Is the
room in which Thomas Jefferson lived, where tho
Committee of the Colonial Congress the Declaration
met, and where the immortal document was written
For very many years the old brick building at the
Of Seventh and Market streets has been pointed
out for the patriots generation as the place
wIgRg JEFFERSON DRAFTED THE DECLARATION.
Tho building is on the southwest corner Of Seventh
and Market Streets in tho heart Of the business
portion Of the city. II is known No. 700 Market
street. II fronts Market street about 1917 feet
and be about IS feet deep Seventh street.
1t Is built OF BRICK in tho old fashioned substantial
manner is four stories in height although 1t
originally only three), with small, quaint window
frames and massive sashcs and with high peaked
roof and dormcr windows Tho street floor the
Market street front is trunk store and tho rest OF the
building is rented to various business houses.
This Is the place shown to tho sghtsecr tho
thouse Of a Mr.. Graaf" whore, as Jefferson himself
says ~ rented the second floor consisting OF parlor
and bedroom, ready furnished in which ''paror l
habituay and in it wrote this paper he Decla-
ratonl particularly" This second floor is used
for the workshop and Offices OF firm of photographers
who kindly exhibit to the curious free Of charge
Placards on tho street front over the second floor
windows inform the passer-by that 1t was here the
Declaration Of Independence was written by Thomas
Jefferson largo sign, bearing portrait Of Benjamin
Franklin seated at a desk perusing book occupied
for long the space between tho fourth floor win
dows of tho Market front, with accompanying
inscription designating tho building 'the birthplace
of liberty"
BUSINESS VS.. SENTIMENT
The appearance of the historic rooms has undergone
many changes since tho days OF the great virgnian
The old PARTITION dividing the door into two rooms
has been removed and number OF rude frame
erected breaking up the floor into several very small
apartments and the curious visitor finds It hard to
reconcile the identity of the busting photographic
workshop OF to-day with the quiet, simple FURNISHED
lodgings of Thomas Jefferson hundred years ago.
For fifty years this place has been described and H.
Illustrated in guide books mentioned in historical an
nails and been the Mecca toward which The feet OF
patriots turned when visiting this old city.
The Historical Society OF Pennsylvania and other emil
mont antquarans have Endorsed the place, and the
cient structure has been accordingly venerated
sacred relic II has stood second only to independence
Hall itself In historic interest
icoNocLAsTIc DISCOVERY.
But startling discovery has been made. II ap-
pears that have all been worshippng the wrong
shrine A gentleman VINO has been searching into old
records has upon revelation which will agitate
Philadelphia from centre to circumference Tho result
Of his cvcntful search no has communicated to the
editor OF Poter's American Monthly historical maya
zinc published in this city, and the article printed
low Is from advance sheets Of that publication The
careful antiquarian editor the magazine has been
thoroughly satisfied that the lding in which Jefrcr
took "quiet lodgings for single gentleman" was
No Murtc nj str M nevt
bcing proved that tho present cornor building
had not been erected In 1870 This building
mo. 702) il occupied a clothing shop, and
like tho ono in the corner, is owned by Elinger &
Tuck II Is about tho szc tho other building
being about foot In frontage. The Sec
ond floor Of this building, where It appears beyond
doubt that Jefferson really did iivc is ROOM
filed with three long tables, which piles Of mons
clothing arc placed. There arc small windows front
and rear glazed with diminutve panes Of glass; which
may be tho through which Jefferson looked hun.
dred years ago. The walls, now neatly papercd and
painted show what to be faint OF part-
ton which there dividing the space into the
two rooms used by Jecrson and in tho old flooring
the unmisakabe marks Of the spot where the
for the old at the sido known TO have been
The ceiling is low, and spite Of bright paint the
almost cherries an anchorite's CELL on
the dull rainy day upon which visited IL The propri-
etors Of tho clothing store did overw hemed
with awe at the eventful discovery which had been
made, but wcro composcdy assisting . siovcniy
looking and reluctant negro 10 pick nishe goat
though thcy did not tread upon hallowcd ground
Tho settlement OF historical question OF especial
value this centennial year did seen to agitare
them much, even though It shows their shop TO be
sthe original Jacobs and the one next door bogus
concern
THE FUNNY FART II.
There Is a ludcrous side this really most impor-
tant historical 'and" Tho idea OF ninety historians
and nosing antiquarans and the sbluc- bloodcd''
Quaker City aristocrats, whose great boast their
descent from tho Revolutionary fathersthc idea or
these dgnincd gentlemen Drawing the odors OF the
eating saloon where the vulgar hash s per-
pctrated and mounting crazy old worship At
the shrine OF JEFFERSON when for nifty years they have
been in the wrong shopl Ono imagine the picture
OF Jefferson the wall winkng its venerable eye
and hr1sting its tongue into its ancient cheek
joymcnt or the joke. II is grimly comical Mark
Twain weeping the grave OF hts relative, ADAM
The article to be published In the american Monthly
is as follows:--
WHERE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
WAS WRITTEN.
From Pottcr's American Monthly for May.l
There is no question connected with the history OF
the Declaration OF Independence which has elected
more interesting discussion Than that OF where II
written. The question has beer one OF little
Importance In the estimation Of American antiquarians
and exact historic scholars but just at this jubilee
time when the heart OF every true American beats
with accelerated ardor and CLOVIS with patriotic
thusasm In tho contemplation Of each memorial OF the
events Of 100 years ago. and when the mind Of every
true American u specially the ascertaIning
ofiacts connected with his countrys earlier history,
al this time the question assumes importance the
estimation even OF those hitherto Indifferent to such
questions.
The best paper perhaps over written In connec-
lion WITH this discussion was from the accurate,
but graceful. pen OF Miss Agnes Y. McAlster,
aud appeared IN the american Monthly for March,
1875, at page 213 Tho writer clearly demons ted
that tho house wherein Thomas Jefferson "rcntcd the
second foof, consisting Of parIor and bedroom ready
furnished. was 1.-THE house or a Mr. Graai, u new
brick house three stories hieh',-so much beyond
question from written proofs In Mr. Jefferson posses.
sion and that according 10 hts recollection traaf
was a young man, son OF German ana then ewly
married;'' that che was bricklaycr and that his
house tho south side OF Market street probably
hat and txl.t