The Jersey City news., 1892-03-15
new City HALL Site.
How the Work of Clearing
Off Old Buildings
Progresses.
MOVING AND TEARING DOWN.
tx-Judge Quaife Tells Something
About the Ancient History
Of tho Block.
MOVING AND TEARING DOWN.

The work Of removing the buildings
from the site for the new City Hall has
been gradually progressing during the
inst mouth. Some of the buildings have
been torn away from roof to foundation.
Some have been moved to other sections
of the city. Some are In a semi-de mol
ished condition, and piles of debrs scat
tered here and there about the buildings
: yet standing, give the half block the up
J earance of having been swept by a
Dakota cyclone. 90
Along Henderson street. upon which
the new edifice will face. the work of de-
molition has progressed rapidly. Witt
pens grocery still stands at the Mont
gomery street corner, and the frame
structure, part of the old Keenan,
estate. recently occupied by Mr.. Hill OF
the Old Foundry Mission at the Mercer
street corner, is still intact. as are also
two of the row of frame houses owned by
Philip Drowning and Peter Van Zandt
The other TWO Of this row, which were oc-
cupied by Justice Of the Peace Winfield
D. Weed aud Robert Sterling, have been
RACED to the ground or moved away. AL d
the entire row Of five three-story and
basement brick houses which extended
from Sterling's house to Wittpin's
q ocery. have been shorn of their two
upper stories.
ON MONTGOMERY STREET.
Around on the Montg omery street side.
sew raj buildings have also completely
disappeared. Mr.. Wittpen, who bought
iii his buildings at auction, after selling
the property to the city, has removed the
three-story frame building which al
Joined his grocery, to Gregory street, near
Henderson. The lower floor is now oc-
cupied hy Justice Weed for Office pur
poses. OF the old Higbee estate pur-
chased sometime ago by the late George
aud basement tenements have also
been razed to the ground.
Also the frame tenements in
the rear The old tenements until pur-
chased by MIR. Mckenzie and put into
haoitable condition were mere rookeries
tenanted by the lowest element of for
ei2ners and negroes, A three-story and
basement frame building which adjoined
those of the Mckenzie estate Is already
mounted upon moving al pliances, and
will disappear from it's present position
within the next few days. The last house
on the Montgomery street side of the
new site is at present occupied by j. l..
Baum, milk dealer and grocer, who Is
already packing M for removal.
MERCER STREET.
On the Mercer street side the frame
house recently occupied by Music Teacher
Dwyer and the tenement in the rear have
disappeared. These too were part of
the Keenan, estate. James Hunt has se-
cured the two frame buildings. Nos. 1871
and IA, directly opposite his present
stables. Roundsman Hopkins bought in
the house he at present occupies and is
preparing for removal.
CHAT ABOUT THE SITE.
Ex-,Iunya OnaifP il hHla and hearty old
gentleman, who has been identified with
the city's history for many years. was in
Il reminiscent mood when talked with
him yesterday about the early history of
the block upon which the hall is to be
reared. ~
Il surveyed the block in 1S46 or T." he
said. 1t was then held by what was
known as the Indiana estate. Some
man by the name Of Bright. of
Indiana came into possession of it through
sex Canal and Banking Company. Abb
jah Mann. the fatner-in-law of Ex- Mayor
link, who lived at Grove and Montgom-
cry street, in thes house now occupied
by Charlie Jordan, bought the entire plot
and sold it off by lots and plots. The
lower, or Henderson street end, was
then meadow land. and the
upper portion facing on Grove street, then
the eastern boundary of Van Worst town
ship. was solid. The five brick houses
which faced on Henderson street were
built by Hosea r. Clark in 1854. The
building occupied SO long by Julius
Wiitpen was erected by Expressman Van
Buskirk long before. Policeman John
of as recently vacated by Music Teacher
nyuor ~