New-York tribune., 1886-05-23
GREEN FIELDS NO LONGER.
MEMORIES OF THE OLD NINTH WARD.

largest native American population among
tho wards Of Now-York. In total
population OF $4,000 less than 20 per
cent were Of foreign birth. For half century,
since Greenwich Village began 70 be absorbed in
the upward march of the city, the average Ninth
Warder has pointed with local pride to this dis
tinction but within five years there has come to
be moro moderation in his assertion. Flats and
tenement-houscs have been crowding ont the littlo
private houses of the Ninth Ward rapidly sine,
1880. Old Ninth Wardcrs have been dying off.
their families have Joined the nav CATION uptown.
aud strange faces with foreign lneamcnts have
filled their places.
But the old spirit is still strong in many parts OF
the ward. There are short side streets. running
curiousy from the main thoroughfares. lined with
rows of low. two-story houses with Easements.
gable-rOof and dormer wndOws-the typical old
Ninth Ward housc-and not fiat or tenemoot-
house among them. Street ear bells have not yet
inged in some OF thes, localities, and many OF tho
streets run at such unexpected angles that they
are continual source of exccration to the ragnel
and vcnders. who fall INTO thoir labyrnhs.
and wander frntlessly to and fro until q
happy chance enables them to find their way into
better known avenues. Some of the Old Ninth
Ward families still occupy theirold homes, with aa
obstinate uncOnsciousness of the changes that ara
taking place around them, and the newspapers con-
tinue to show from time to time, the presence OF
these "old families" by advertisements that .
floor is to let" or" "a boarder Is wanted in
strictly select and private family in the Ninth
Ward" A few of the more AMBITIOUS hOnses of tho
old Ninth Ward were built in rows set back from
the street with spacious verandas or each floor.
look king ont on ample gardens IN front, with lawns
and one two cherry peach trees lhe fruit
tree, disappeared long ago. and the few 9i these
old houses that remain have become 30 dim and
dlngy that their former occupants would fail 70
raj of the churches slii remain as they were bnilt
fty wears ago with their PLAIN ana rgld G cia,sc
gregations have gone and most Of the churches
have changed their denCmnation. ilnd'on-st.
the memory of Greenwich Village wasstiil fresh.
Before the docks were built the Hudson River camo
up in many places within stones throw of Hudsou
st. The street was lined with attractive cot
around them There is still tradition
that Abingdon Square, one of the triangular green
spots Of the city, at the junctnre Of Liglth-ave.
and lIudson-st was named after the Ear OF Ablng-
dOn who owned large estate in the neighb rhood
in pre-revoutionary times. and that n made thus
public square so that when he drove io,th WIN
his tandem team he might have space I" turn ths
horses gracefully at this point Before street cars
were invented line OF stages had Their ronte
through Iiulson-st., passing down by -. Luk"s
Place, over Canal-st. and by st. Johns Park. which
Is now the Hudson River FTeisht Dsplt.e ga III
across to Fulton-st. and the lower ferries of the
city. The changes began with the cstdblishnene
of the stage line, making lIulson-st. an Inportant
business
when the stages and the winter stage sleighs"
taken of To make way tor the Elghill-aye.
street ears.
booker named West held to his farmhouse on .
little hill adjoining B,e"cker-st and cultivate tho
entire block around IT as a farm, gathering rom
year to year his crop of corn, wheat potatoes ana
fruits OnI after the surrounding uelghnoihool
had been built mp. Within a year after his death
the farmhouse on the hill had disappeared and u
block of tall dwellings had sprung 10 from the
same soil that raised the potatoes four-
teenth-st. became the prlneIpal cross-town
thoroughfare during the war and was the nTth
boundary of the Ninth Ward. 1t was built up with
handsome brown-stone houses, some OF them cover
ing lots large enough for three or four moderato
flats All the great professions and paraieS that
were given in honor of tie Prince of Wales ana on
other distinguished occasions formed their line on
Fourteenth-st. marching thIOuIh II 10 Broadway
aud Union Square and down Broadway 10 tho
Battery.
The Fourteenth-st. mansions have heen conyertet
splendor Of the Ninth Ward has departed A fresl
outburst of changes has begun all over the ward
this spring. The little santing-rOpf houses have
gone down in dust all over the ward. ana MATS arc
springIng up where they were never known before.
One OF the old landmarks that ha, dlSappeirei
with the sprlng is the Old Hamilton House No. 80
and So Jane st. Ii Is said that Alexander Hamil-
ton was brought herea ami lIed in large square
room of the second iiOOr on the west slle OF no
house after his duel with Aaron Burr over IN Wee
hawken. The property belonged 10 Hamilton. 1t
double frame house OF three stories, with tho
dormer windows and an entrance IN The centre. lt
was surrounded 10y fine grounds, ant lawn
stretched from 1t to tie banks Of the Hudson. As
buildings sprang up. the river view was cut o ana
finally Jane-st. was opened III the rear "
the house aud the owners, adapting themselves
to circumstances, cut door IN the rear OF the
building. and made that It's front IN Jine-st,
though the old front porch continued to stare at
the brick walls, shnttlng out II, Wow as II L. e%-
pected in time to catch another 6 lmp'e u ne hud
son. The building was said to be IN IRE fban 100
years Old and the property was bought by J9hn
lotten recently for $1,000. lie is 5dildlng fiat
rhc old Village House. faciag Abingdon Square
from the northwest corner OF Bank and Hudson
sts is aso belu demolished for Improvements 10
was not so old the Hamilton house, but was
much more prcentous being the foTeru1ner oi to
large residences that were soon after punt an
Fourteenth-st. mansions. Captain Faulkner, au
old sea captain. biilt the village i9u'e and 'he
houses adJoinlng IL IN iSoE 80 reeoea.!t ira SSel'
Masons were brought from Baltimore Ia do the
work and the hOd carriers were negro slave, wno
wore white clps ana aprons ana cate "P Rrc 1p
building was then a novelty III upper Now-lorA,
and great attention was called TO the eXtraVaSahce
of CAPTAIN Faulkner VINO was spending al MS
money IT was sad, IN trying 10 9ullr Dei'sf ,nH
his nelglbOTs ana was likely 10 DinhfuPt nihi7ci.
The work was done III the most suDsth'i1lal man
ner and the buildings were topped with the newt
able gable roof and the dOrmcr windows. All ths
doors 1t was said. and the magnificent stair
way i'll the corner house Whlca wa, Ing Ing
the mantes of white marble. The property WAS
left by Captain Faulkner, with certain PROVISIONS.
his wife. when he stdltci out Ou NoNts' l'h
which he never returned. Mrs Faulkner was an
invalid aud did not seem likely to i've many years.
Her husbands restriction in the will was thai alter
her death 800 00) )fthe property should 90 t. her
heirs and the rest to the American Bile Society.
Twenty-ive thousand dollars was then good
figure for Ninth Ward property. Contrary TO ex-
pectatlon Mrs. Faulkner survived her husband half
n century. She died IN 1884. aud the property
sold subsequently to Is. NJ. Wilson for SS2.00l.
of which the Bible Society received So1,OOo
For many years the corner building has been
public headquarters for the Ninth Ward, and haS
been known as the Village House. Republican and
Democratic clubs hal their quarters there. ino
father of General Seares. who lived III Abingdon
Sauare. and all distinguished Ninth Ward residents
met in its rooms Tho building that IS TO take IFS
Mace Will be "a six-story business block OF Drck
And iron Intended 10 meet the business de-
mand of the Ninth Ward.
From the changes that are taking pace II Is an
ticnated that III the ten years the large whole
, =, ,,,,sas mi actOres Wi al vance rapluty