New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-06
CHANGES ABOUT CITY HALL.
REPLACING GREENswAPD ARor-yD TT
HOW 1CoNoCLAsTIO ALDERMEN SWEPT AWAY
HE "l'A>s AND TREES FIFTEEN YEARS
AGo-PREsENT CONDITION OF THE
CHIEF CITY BUILDING

IN the Immediate vicinity OF the CITY Hall by the
substitution OF grass plots for the broad cxpanse OF
hass'ng which formerly stretched on three sides OF
the chief city building. Tie work was begun a nun.
Der OF weeks ago, but delayed for various
the principal one being the diiicuy OF securing the
stones Tor tie coping which surrounds the sretc
OF TURF The improvement WAS projected several
years ago when the grass plot surrounding the
fountain In front Of the City Hall replaced the
Tagging but there was no money available to carry
1t out at that time.
The history OF City Hall Square is Interesting.
Tho property was once part OF the JorAlemtn farm,
through which lane. now Joralcmon-st. ran to the
river between fields OF and grain and orchards.
Fultonst., once Old Ferry Road, winding thorough
fare which followed the line Of an Indian path from
the river TO the scashore, where the indians sought
shells TO make wampum, on side Of 1t. A
little to the eastward OF the present City Hall the
early Dutch settlers of the western end OF Long
| Island built their first church and established the
nucleus OF village. which they called Breuckelyn,
from little town in Holland, whence some OF them
| came. The foOpath OF the Indians became
| bride path for the white men, then cart track,
| and next stage road. But the curves OF the old
| footpath have never been wholly oberatcd from
that day TO this, when swiftly moving trolley cars
| and elevated trains carry so many thousands daily
over the street.
SITE OF THE CITY HALL
After pursuing its winding course from the ferry TO
| City Hall Square. Fulton-st. turns almost AT right
angles, and its subsequent direction IS much less tor
tuous. Surrounded by IT, Courts and Joralemonst.,
IS three-cornered plot OF ground. embracing perhaps
half After the streets had been laid ont on
all sides OF this and the old Dutch Church had given
up its first site Fulton and IIoyt sts and had built
an cdifce. modelled upon the Parthenon at Athens,
the south side Of Joalemons near where It Joined
Fulton-st this triangular plot bought by the city In
1885, Just after incorporation had been effected and the
village had begun 10 be city. The old Apprentices
Library building at Fulton and Cranberry sts had
served meeting place for the village trustees, for
the postoice, bank, police court and such other
uses as the meagre population OF the day required.
But with a city corporation, Mayor and Board OF
Aldermen. rapidly growing population and the promise
Of future greatness Of size at least, Brooklyn seemed
ready for City Hall.
Plans were prepared upon scale far in advance OF
the needs OF the infant city. IT having been decided 80
provide for the expected growth Of many years. The
entire plot now occupied by city Hall Park was
adopted as u site for the building and plans were
prepared for huge structure 10 cover the entire
space. 1t to combine the purposes TO which The
present City Hail. Court House. Municipal Building
and Hall OF Records devoted, and would have been
ample even in the present day. The work was begun
In $50 The foundations had bccn-laid and the walls
had been raised 10 the height OF ten feet. when the
great panic Of 1897 crippled the industries Of the coun
try. The city found itself unable TO raise money 10
60 on with the work. and it was suspended The
contracts were broken, and the unfinished work was
allowed to stand until 154o
Then the plans for the present bulldog were
prepared and the foundations Of the former were
torn up the material being used In the new edliice.
II was finished ~ 1S4S and used for :he courts
as well other public business until the County Court
House, begun In 1352, was completed IN l7oo, To
accommodate the city departments, some Of which
had been housed In rented building, Tor several year,
the Municipal building CONSTRUCTED as an annex
to the City Hall. That IS now ouisFown ana sun
another building will soon he Constructed the Site
owned by the city alongside the Municipal Building.
FORMER APPEARANCE OF THE PLOT.
For May years after the City Hall was finished the
basement story partly underground a BANK
Of earth surrounded IT, which ierraced To the
street level. On IL sturdy trees STOOL sAWlhs
The building from the sun in summer. In front Of 1t
was n small park, surrOu dcd by high iron fence
within which grass. shrubs, trees ana h""crs
and large iron fountain OF design popular in
those days, In the centre Of basin OF water. b"'
one day az conoclasllc spirit seized the Aldermen
who claimed custody Of the grounds aboT the 'E
Hall. and a scheme was put through about fifteen
wears ago TO lay bare this stretch Of grcenward and
10 uproot ne trees and shrubs. ruthless contractor
took possession Of the oasis In the mli't OF inc
acres Of buildings, and IT was speedily MAJ" rs phrf
as n desert The terraces about the City Hall were
dug down to the level Of the sidewalk. The space
was covered with tagging. and 50 was the entire
fountain stood within the basin Of water. The bare
stretch OF Harstoncs in the broing Of midsummer
was the hottest place in town. 1t was almost dan
cerous TO cross 1t when the heat was Intense, ana
the reelection OF the suns rays made the Offices IN
the CITY Hail almost intoerably suhocatins
The story goes that reason why the Alderme.
ordered that the trees be down about the building
this being followed by the other changes was mat
an enterprisng reporter climbed one OF me tres ~
uicht and mars ged to overhead secret conference il
COMMITTEE room 10 make Il public. 49,,
After the devastation had been finished nj co,'
Of several thousands Of dollars mere W'r' Man I'
plants PLAIN w aDe" tor%uIa,cd and carried partial
restoration Of ne former +, front Of the dlng was
.Ton nm save for a walk lose to me steps ana Il
space close to the sGG% bv ' sg neat coping while
Ma wrre planted at regular intervals Ihe sta,Ec
, wa; set the up city IF' a and a
NH To The usiv iron fountain was removed ana soa
TO company Of capitalists; rh wh1 Iaein F Of wacr with
snrav stIll remains AT me apex Vi ur NY an,a
PARK. and is now surrounded oS ""' o"""'"S r""'
An experiment was made yr" or s crosn sSn
nt they looked Of place ana were rT%ot,
Aquatic plants are IN t., Uni Tho sIsnwoIks about The
te nnrk have failed to live. aud their PAGES nave
not been filed
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
In the improvements about the City ian "s'n
tho same general plan has been followed as was
-, g., making over the City Hall Park The
eacglpo was removed good soil was filed H. 10"
coming was set upon a concrete iouiio'uor anu ,
stretch OF grecnsward laid between 1t "n' wv "
ing for a distance OF twenty or 'hi1N ''" -
,a ,o nut flower beds I'm the uirf. but the sehson
has co far advanced that 1t has been decided 10 uci
this until another year. notaoe dfat t,c Uneven
,,r,rovemcnt has been the rt1nONhl ~ " " ,u,
lnp.oNoI, H. SidewoIis In III" vicinity OF u"r w.
granes "a rorscd persons TO stumble ana frequently
~ fall I'm the evening
GATHERED .iBOUT TOWN.