The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04
OUR SOLID NINTH WARD.
oID 0REENWICH YILLA0E AZ 1T
WAS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

WAS FIFTY YEARS AGO.
A uosp,taI with One Patient-Tho Pool Of
Jordan -Des,eerats Of the Old Timc-Dave
nroderick aud his Early Carcer-The
"Pride ofthe Village" Forsets his Friends.
Green wich was once known ~ Tho Viii
.y - a geographical d designation Of that part OF
our city now mapped out as the Ninth Assembly
D,str,ct II Is likewise designated as the Ninth
w.rd. A title bestowed upon II when annexation
v,s effected with tho municipality OF New York,
.n avan, which occurred Immediately after the
sellow fever epidemic OF 1872.
o,eenwich village was undoubtedly the earli-
at settlement made on this island by the Eng
Nah after the conquest OF New Amsterdam,
Tor. although the Dutch maintained permanent
trading posts at Harlaem and Corlsers Hook,
Greenwich was the only laid-out village be-
fore the city commenced creeping along
the shores OF the Collect OF along the
banks Of the canal. Titles 10 property in
The upper half OF the village, that Ia to say
,bove Christopher street, had been derived
through purchase from holders Of the Abingdon
patent, while the remainder OF the domain We,
md stil is, a portion Of Trinity'e ecclesiastical
Estate. THIS condition Of affairs accounts for
The rapidity with which the village sprang into
healthy existence. The Abingdon Representa-
lives sold At low rate large tracts OF land
portion of which the buyers were willing to sell
In town lots at insignificant figures, while 4
Trinity lease generally for twenty one years at
nominal rent i, and renewable 10y terms in perps-
tuIty, was Justly regarded equivalent to tenure
In fee simple. Consequently, while In the north
ern section any iCdustriOus mechanic or trader
found II within his power to purchase lot and
build home thereon at small expense, the Same
amount could be more auvant aceously laid out
upon the Trinity property. he streets OF the
village followed the boundaries Of the various
estates In great measure, and their nomencla-
ile de ctes their family orlein.
The ipproach to the village from the city
proper was both ifiicuit and vctdtious. For u
pedesttian " was half days Journey while
,kift the Lispenard meadows, 10 pass up. nr.t
the Albany Post road, now broadway, then to
turn toward the river along the oanks Of the
canal, At present a sewer beneath Canal street,
and thence by the country road, the original Of
Hudson street.
old State prison, portion OF whose original edi-
Village bOasted possession OF "A historical me-
mentO In Fort GansevOOrt,
THE OLD WHITE FORT,
~ It was peculiarly termed. he dilapidated
prison was, for time, converted into private
hospital, advertised as the " Medical Mansion
whion closed its doors after mmuriug out one
paying patient.who, upon receiving Information
that ne was incarcerated within the wallis Of
what had once been penal establishment,
made bis escape aud banktupted the concern
Then the ruin was converted into an umbrella
mauufactory. which. having but tied capital,
went to pieces during season of unpre &c d entrd
drought At present II Is oar, OF bravery. do
,ns lue,atise business: Inc Oh White Fort
Stained as part Of It's territory, from the fact
that the SHOWING bank Of the Hudson, whence
ran the long, narrow bridge connecting with
The fortress, constituted the iavorite evening
PIomenade with the beaux and bellies Of the
Ne II the old Tort was located n once famous
place OF resort, knapp's lea Water Garden, fire.
suented by tue VILLAGERS in search Of the fragrant
essence Of the Chinese herb, boiled in pure
water drawn from the bowels OF the earth oy a
primitive hydraulic machine worked oy super
Although knapp's enjoyed the greatest cele rity
asa water producer there were several other
springs IN the village whence flowed water at
Tor tea dlstiliation. aud their esence gave tho
loc.liiy reputation for oeiug tue very fountain
Of health.
those householders who were able TO afford II
patrouized the spring, or, as II WAS Gale 4. the
t"a water, carriers delivering the coveted oever-
age at the cellar door, not that tie Auyergndts
OF the village, like unto their prototypes Of Pals,
oondescended to carry the wa'er IN y Ills from
house to house. Each one owned pOnderous
truck. on which was PLACED lrai-coiOre tun
almost as large as that Of Heidelberg, ana frOm
1t dispensed the water pumped IRON famous
well located IN Christopher street near Love
lane, then fashionable serni-rurai promenade,
oow known BY the uofomantic name OF Greeu-
Sich avenue.
THE POOL OF JORDAN.
Near the Old White Fort was sheltered cove.
famous IN the viii ige annals "a tue bapusmal
font of the Bedford street Baptist Church,
wherein ON the nrst sunday OF each summer
month converts were plunged, amii the psalm
istry OF the orthodox and the sneefs aud jeers
OF the profane Baptism day va. high day
and holiday with the villa lads Of the village.
who, generally acquainted with the ,nsels
apon the watery oath to salvation with such
SINISTER remarks and personal ILLUSIONS that. 3
the evil increased. the Pool OF Jordan, was re-
luctaDtiy abandoned and the congregation put
TO the expense OF creating acon'ecrated water
tank on tue cburcL prem ser, wherein neophwe
could he dipped dd ltbUum, without fear that the
sugust ceremony would ne trsvestied, as oft
had been the case. by the Immersion OF DULL
dogs and briude pups.
Nearer TO the village line. almost NJ the foot
OF FOurteenth street, stood by the waters edge
tue old Preach LANYARD. relic OF Hueuennt 10
ouSttN, notable IN history as the spot where
u on was laid the body Of Alexander Hamilton,
shot by Aaron Burr al weehswken, directly be-
neatn the rocks forming the southern end OF
The Palisades.
Another historic locality was pointed out to
we esrnst vlsitnrs 10 the village. rms was a
Tom Pane died. The author OF "Comn non
Sense ANA " The Age of Reason was uot hell
~ toe highest veneration by The resident Of
Greenwich
II the VILLAGERS did not paw due homage to the
tlthOr OF Common sense they ever found u
~ their hearts To tender profound Respect to the
local celebrities, the landed prOptietOrs and the
Yollucal grandees OF their particular dominion
Tor although em oraced within our common mu-
n'cip ility, me Ninth Ward was, d continues
70 be, AZ distinctive community as II placed
70 the heart al the Jarsies, or any other foreign
country, and the present descendants Of he old
ttOck adhere with commemorate oostinacy To
the cardinal characteristlcs OF their worthy D. o.
metropolis the march of Immigration, trade, and
tathOn has carried In its wake the demolition VI
ehceut landmarks, Of me-honOred customs,
aud OF social relations. the village seemingly re-
mains IN open defiance to the eucroachment Of
'hnushces working radical changes elsewhere.
DEMOCRATS OF TUE OLDEN TINE.
The political no abilities OF the Old Ninth in
vullaulN graduated from the safnc schools. The
village was Democratic and intensely 81. as the
names bestowed upon their market ana 50 Iare
hmpN dennnstfate. Tier grand fathers wor-
Shipped Jefferson their fathers swore by jack
sDh h.t the present generation, In the bswii-
oefment Of recent connections. are wholly at
sea. Consequently, wnat Ninth Warder can
RsIuse without thrill Of delight those lines OF
rlI hfeeue lialleck, VINO makes " the Dightin-
taie Johu Fdrgee' declare, on admission OF Fan
NY father Into the mysteries OF Iammany:
Ne hld the genus ten times, ten times over.
VI heurY Meies and Peter WeudOser
vel remembering both these worthless TO have
oe"h intellectual ga-ligh's OF the village: Al
eefihah Henry Meiss-for all Arcadian patri-
Mchs we're entltled to the degree OF Alderman
thTou2h divine rght-deserved to have attained
us ulshlt"s DN reason Of his erudttiOu, ot his
uioahltY' ana OF his comparative wealto. Thor
ouk"} educ ttsd. the occupant OF a hindsOue
uAl-lnh on the rivers bank, now loot OF Four
.eehth street. Mr. Mcies m.iut nai the siyle
" an "l school gen leman, while prOsec ming
US s'udles as Philosopher. linguis D., and gen.
~ N 4 hat .aa#.