Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-11
AN HISTORIC INN.

pOl GU al lSd. DUuICGs ]
AN HISTORIC INN.
Destruction of the Old Bowling Green
House in New York City.
The old Bowling Green House, On the
east side of Broadway, adjoining the
Wellcs building, is n of the Oldest
structures in this city, and now that it
is being demolished historic memories
of personal---very. times are recalled.
In tearing the structure down some OF
the mortar was analysed by the master
mason and found to CONSIST of about the
same ingredients as that used at the
present day, but mixed in different pro-
portions. Notwithstanding this, it was
much tirmer set than any similar COM
position manufactured for the same pur-
pose to-day, and the whole building was
built in a fashion that indicated great
strength and durability. A. each corner
the framework was dovetaled in an in
genious manner and firmly attached to
the adamantine wall of brick and &C.
mcnt. No modern house could boastbf
such a solid structure. This way of
building houses was a characteristic Of
the old Knickerbockers, and wherever
they have left traces of thcirmechanical
skill throughout the city, like them
selves, short, stout and lasting buildings
are discovered.
In early revolutionary days the Bowl
ing Green House was used as a hotel
and coffee house. The Sons of Liberty
Ga society formed for the purpose of
tanning into activity the already en-
kindlcd flames of independence and
liberty made this house their head
quarters, after having moved from their
original place of resort, called by them
the Kings Arms Tavern and subse.
quently known as Burns Coffee House.
This latter building stood at No. 2
Broadway, and was once occupied by
General Washington and General Howe
respectively. When it passed into the
hands Of Cyrus w. Field, a few years
ago, it was demolished and q more
modern structure erected on it's site.
The Bowling Green House derived its
name from the park which it faces, and
associated intimately with the history of
this park is an interesting incident,
which occurred in the demolished build
luS NlilllS ullC lCtoiillOI.
When Bowling Green was laid out in
1923 no record Of any other pleasure
ground was known in this country, and
for several years it had no rival. It
was in the shape of a triangle, and
twice a year agricultural fairs were held
on its grounds. In 1868 the first mar
Ket was opened to the public there and
in 1890 the iron railing which now sur
rounds the green was put up at cost
of several hundred pounds. It was
manufactured in England and sent over
to this country at the expense of the
colonies. In 1910 the posts, which
stand about ten feet apart, we're dec
GRATED with the likeness of George Ill,
which caused an additional expense Of
several pounds. The inhabitants of
New York grumbled at the time, for
they were not favorably impressed with
a brotherlv feeling for the third George,
but they were allowed to be put on
without opposition. The Sons of Lib
erty, however, soon became the hot
bed of rebellion, and, a. they had taken
up their headquarters in the old Bowl
ing Green House. it became a constant
annoyance to them to see the likeness
of their most hated enemy ever staring
them in the face whenever they chose to
look out of the window of their
house. At last their evaporation got
the better of discretion, and on July 10,
l776, they entered the park III a
the King and threw them into the river.
On the same day the statue of the King
was pulled down from its pedestal in
Bowling Green and carried triumphant
ly through the streets. At night it was
taken by the Sons of Liberty to their
headquarters and set up in their ban
quet hall, where they drunk to its
health and otherwise showed their deep
respect for tie representation of their
beloved King. A business meeting was
then held and a decision reached that it
would be well to send the statue out of
the city. This decision was acted upon,
and the next morning it was forwarded
to Governor Oliver Wolcott, at Litch-
field, Conn. The Governors wife and
daughters had the leaden statue run into
bullets. making no less than forty-twd
thousand, which did effective service in
the American army.
The room in which the statue was
kept over night was on the second story
of the Bowling Green House, and at the
further end of the room was scratched
IN most legible letters these words
"King George III. dimes with us to.
night" The workmen in tearing the
, building down discovered this lettering
} which seemed to be the work of a knit,
| or some other sharp instrument, ant
Tor some time they were disposed tc
: leave that wall standing. But, with til,
, rest Of the structure, it has now beer
} demolished, and in a short time anothe
building will take its place, and the oil,
: Bowling Green House, with all of it
historical memories, will be q thing o
! the past.-M. Y. Telegram.