New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-12
THE WASHINGTON PEW.

used to come up TO the corner Of these same
streets. what is the corner, for there was
no street there in those days.
Church-st was lane and old st. Pauls turned
It's front proudly to the river. and there was no
thought the part of the communicates OF that
venerable pile that Broadway would some day be
snubbed by the sacred edifice. Many stranger
has wondered at the apparent architectural per-
versity betrayed In the construction of ST. PauTs
Church He has wondered why it is that the
steeple points its heaven-tendng finger from
what now appears as the rear of the building
He has wondered the wide eXpanse OF church
yard. with its dotting tombs. The whole arrange
ment seems topsy-turvey with the existing order
What was once the front yard Of the church has
in the economy of advancement become the back
yard. 1t is all awry. Yet there was time when
General George Washington rode up 10 the en-
trance Of this same church from the side along
which ran Church Lane and. aghting from his
carriage walked with stately step and slow up
the sfringed walk, the lovely first lady OF the
land. Martha Washington, hanging upon his arm
and bowling and smiling with inenable grace
upon sturdy colonsts and lovely DANES Of the
Revolutionary
BUILDING OF VENERABLE AGE
There were not so many graves then as now
in that green Enclosure Nor was 1t shut In by
tall buildings it is to-day. Then one could
stand within the gracious shadow OF the ola
church porch and look out over the river to the
far-off shore Of Jersey, and he cOuld likewise see
q wider water front than now, and possibly
there was a stream Of water meandering to the
North River along what is now Nesey-st. Look
ing down from ST. Pau's Of stormy night, the
observer saw light near the shore That was
the old harbor beacon and part of the build
ad &c thera
In the shape of a quaint little two-story stone
and brick structure. Residents from across the
river. business men by the hundreds who pass
I'D and down the old market thoroughfare
women on shopping excursions. idlers Of all
kinds and characters men Of the market and
Of many nationalities. pass UP and down from
week 20 week Yet how many of the thousands
have stopped 10 give more than glance at the
structure which is older than the Declaration
Of Independence. and which was a fresh, sweet
smelling home perhaps when the hrst gun was
erod q, Lexington It's walls my have gathered
in the tale Of the Boston tea party mat IL
has escaped the general attention. though Is
not 50 strange for along the Greenwich-st. 'front.'
Il has been modernized with windows for the
dispJav OF boots and shoes. and by the addl-
ton OF a wide porch which extends 10 the curo-
stone long row Of whte-globed gaslights IL
Eliminates
roof
Along the Vesey-st. side there is an olu-
fashioned porch, sidewalk width, and an Italian
fruit-vender has possession Of the wall space
shutting out the view OF the faded wall OF rough
Stone and brick More than decade ago, too'
,bero was p fire which destroyed the old gabie
roof This WIS peaked 50 that the gaDie emu
was toward Vcsey-st. and in ii were some 81
those funny half-moOn windows. Inc oiu Ioor
w,s fret Of hardy shingles, but these were Iater
replaced with slate. Then after the nie 'ne on'
gable roof was taken OH. us chafIed anu s'a
sonel rafters which compelled the admiration
az .hn carrenters engaged in tearing them down.
were cast aside and fiat mansard as II appe'hn
today was put on. destroying az orr Wv
original quantness oi the place. D"' "u"'''o -
It's interior space. 49,
The walls of rough-hewn rock withetood the
Iavages OF the fire. but priceless treasures ~ "
historical way were destroyed Joseph i: era
ham had old books and papers iIcd therein
which he had treasured up with jealous car
but al ven upward with thr SPARK MI hosed
ham, who died on March 80, 1894. nad purchase
the property on January a. 1864. Then. as now, ~
Vas a 0ot-and-shoe store In fact' 10Y He"ti
three-quartors Of century II mas Deeh usL t,,,b
that business The present clerk In IN" "'tapi.S"-
rnent remembers how an old man came Wander
ing into the store nearly five years ago 10 ~
pair Of shoes and as he frightened MS W"So'''
over a stubborn shoe. ne SAID: :,
~ well remember this old place. for it was In
here just sixty years ago that bought my we"
dig pumps
SOME real. ESTATE RECORDS
SO tnat makes sixty-hye years, but instances
are daily occurring there in the appearance OF
old-time customers who have still In nina Inc
venerable form OF Mr. Graham as he held ior,h
from the depths Of his armchair upon the MS
tory Of bygone days. The chair still rests in It's
corner near the stove sacred In the eyes OF !
Charles t. Graham the present head OF the es-
adjustment. who is acting one Of the execn-
tors OF his fathers estate pair OF furry lnipS
OK Kittens had ambushed themselves between
Two shoe boxes the counter above the Dach
OF the chair, and making wild darts at the
tall Of the dignihed black cat which was waving
from above as that Nestor Of Greenwich-st cat
oom dozed under the benson OF the heat from
the big anthracite stove. The twin rascals ac-
know.edcel the salutatiO Of the visitor By rai9-