Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-24
NEW HAVEN's ELHs AND GREEN
Descriptions, Hist -rical Items a9d An. ecdOtes of Persons and Things Con-
 rected Herewith.
BY HENRY HOWE.

IN ABOUT THIRTY CHAPTERs-CRAPTER XVIII. | Our Green-Anecdota of the British In-
 vas1on-Layfnx Out the NEne Original
 Squares-John BrOe< stt, the Love-
 BeRuiresi iSurveJor-Dfnsnsion of the
 Green-Its Original Ccndftfon-Fen-
 ctrE of the GreeH-Its Appearance Eff
 ty Years Ago-The First Wave of Irish
 Emi9r atEon-Ane erd9te.
 The Green is the heart of New Haven, the central spot of it's loves The very name is sweet it is so simple, and, to those who know it, so peculiarly expressive. No other city has such g gem on its bosom. The sun of rising and of setting day with slauting beams lights it's emerald surface in t1nts of transcendent beauty, while it's leafy frame work upholds the skies. Beautiful as the spot now is, it is bat the beginning Of what it might be. It's possibilities are great un- der the power and invention of genius guided by love, for in the line of landscape art the world is in it's childhood and it's Claude Lorraires yet to arise.
 Oar fathers did good thing when, gov erned by the position of the east and west creeks, they laid ont the original nine squares of the city-bounded by State, George, York end Grove streets-placing ths central square or Green just where 1t is. At that time tide water, starting just east of Long wharf, flowed up the East creek as far as Grand street bridge. Starting just west of the Derby depot, the tide water flowed up West creek, just beyond Broad street, to say soma thirty rods westerly from the be- ginning of that street on George street. Now tine lower or east Green, as that part of our Green easserly from Temple street was for merly called, is 8 perfectly level plateau while the upper Green has that gentle up- ward slope which. rendering each the com plement Of the other, enhances the charm of the whole. Had the lines of the original squares been run north, south, east and vest this unity would have been lost Each would have been partially on uneven, sloping ground, and, besides making the north and south streets shedeless under the blazing monday sun. Not forecast, but Providence OF luck seems to have besn in this. As it is now those of our buildings which stand open to the sun on some part of the day get the sanitary blessing of it's rays. Buildings placed square with the cardinal points are ever sunless on the north side. This is simple matter to mention, but 1t is rarely thought Of by people when building their homes.
 Oar original nine sqnsres enclose half mile square which, on the night of July ,, 1779, was 8 cordon of relocated British sent1neis guarding their brother invaders who were largely and generally drunk. New Haven from early times was great importing plaoe for Santa Croix rumand the whole army had been sampling it. On that very day some of the fred coats" came into the room of the mother of the writer. She little "tod dIer" some three years of age, with the in- stinct of politeness, as they entered dropped them one of her best courtesiss. They were not to be propitiated, for they snatched and tore from the neck of her mother string of gold heads and -pried open desk in the room and riaed it of it's valuablss. That desk with the bayonet marks upon it is still in tke family.
 None of the original nine squares are exact, each square varying few feet: John Brock ett the surveyor, appears to have done his work "askew" " nowhere turning at right angles. According to the map in the City Engineers office the measurements of the Green are as folloRs:
 On College Street s2865 feet.
 Church t 8JI A
 !" Elm 938.5 e
 "Chapel aIs.6 ss
 Average s39
 The fence encIoses 8 trifie over sixteen acres The upper OF west Green is the broadest an equalizing line from Chapel to Elm street would run through the vestibule of the three churches Estimating five sol diers to the square yard the Green would hold an army of 3S8. .e90. including it's bound ing streets over half 2 million soldiers could stand there.
 The Green originaBy was not an attractive