Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-03-19
A CELEBRATED EDIFICE,
A VLSE TO OLD ST. PAUL's CHURCH
IN NEW YORK.
The Pew George Washington used
When in the City-Noted Dead
in the Graveyard.

The Pew George Washington tsed
When in the City-Noted Dead
in the Graveyard.
One of the oldest landmarks OF the city
Of New York is st. Paul's church. 1t has
stood on Broa lway for 100 years, and its
massive pillars, if they could speak, would
tell stories long forgotten in our local
history. They have looked down in stern
silerce on the Fields, now called City
Hall park, and watched the ancient New
Workers celebrate the birthday of the
British King George by roasting an OK
and drinking beer, and they have watched
the aldermen and officers of the city dis
play the standard of England and shout,
''God save the king" This was in June,
1857. In August of the same year. this
old church, if it could speak, would tell
of the indignation of the citizens over
the passage of the mutiny act, who, with
the soldiers, cut down the liberty pole
round which they had made merry few
months before; how that pole was erected
again only to be razed to the ground the
following March by the soldiers on the
anniversary of the repeal Of the stamp
act. For years it watched the fights Ct
the sons of liberty for freed )m. 1t stood
all though the war of the Revolution, and
finally, after long struggle, saw the sons
of liberty victorious.
ST. Paul's church was built in 1867. 1t
is a very costly structure of reddish gray
sandstone, and no expense was spared in
its decoration and ornamentation. Its
history since it was erected has been re-
markable. When the British took pos
session of the city and New York was
| fortified, barricades were erected in all
parts of the city. Broadway at st. Paul's
church was entirely enclosed by huge ma
hogany logs. Barracks were wanted for
the soldiers and st. Paul's was used for
that purpose. Later on, when hospitals
were wanted, st. Paul's church was
changed from barracks to hospital, and
| then when the war Of the resolution was
over it again became Protestant Episco-
pal church.
A reporter for the Mail and Erpre''
visited the church recently and looked at
some of the relics of life one hundred
years ago to be seen there. Walking
down the south aisle he came to the pew
| Will lllt lllIldlS W. W NbS VIZ 'Ai'
oak panel This is the pew said to have
been occupied by George Washington
That he used to attend this church i
certain, for in one of the notebooks KEEP
by that great man is one entry stating
that on Friday, Christmas day, 1890, ht
went to St. Paul's chapel in the after
noon. Upon the wall at the back of thi
pew is an oil painting representing the
coat-of-arms of the United States. Th
painting was executed soon after th'
close of the Revolutionary war, and 1t i
said was paid for by Washington.
On the north side of the church il
another pew known as the governor
pew. Over it is a painting representing
the arms of the State of New York a
originally adopted. The interior of th'
church is made all the more interesting
to the visitor on account of the numerou
memorial tablets that are fixed to the
walls. Among the most conspicuous is
marble slab, upon which, cut in uniqu
letters, is the following inscription: