The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
THIS CITY A CENTURY AGO.


lgbs-MnnneF OF bAfo-SuEEeattvO OuIiuEn
from an ola City Directory-Trade, Com
mcrcc, ana Books One Hundred Years Age.
Now that Greater New York ia a fact some
recollections, by way OF a contrast, Of the lesser
New York of q hundred years ago will DO timely
and interesting. 1t would DO impossible for any
gazer Of to-day from the height Of windows In
Trinity Church tower to realize tho prospect
that such an elevation might have given in
1897. Noah Webster, who was then editing q
newspaper in this city and ut tho age OF 80 years
dreaming Of photography, has left on record q
description which will give some idea Of what
the view would have boon. Ho wrote thus:
The principal part of the city lies on the east
side Of an island where its length along tho East
River IL about two miles, but tho part on the
banks of the Hudson falls much short of that
distance" Thus the city, like the worlds civili.
cation. began in the orient OF the island, to
achieve its greatest triumphs westward.
water and Queen streets" he continued,
(which occupy the East River banks are con.
veniently situated for business. but are low and
too narrow, not admitting In some places of
walks on the side for foot passengers. Broad
street, however, extending from the Exchange
to City Hall at the corner OF Wall. 10 sufficiently
wide. and was originally laid out on each side Of
a creek. Broadway is wide and elevated so as
to m a delightful prospect of the Hudson
0phDt "bg Ske u u .
Church was built fronting and overlooking the
New Jersey shore. william street." con.
cludes Webster's account, us tho principal
market for tho retailing Of dry goods.
Tho houses are generally of brick and the roofs
tiled, and there are remaining q few built after
the old Dutch manner. Upon tho southwest
point OF the island there ia a line OF Notifications
designed to command the entrance into both
rivers. The Battery furnishes citizens with an
ar~AAAhI ,,.all, --4-. a. "
the ocean. There are three Dutch churches, four
Presbyterian Ono at the north size Of Wall,
near Broadway, and another on the east side Of
the public green at the junction OF Nassau and
Beekman streets. There arc also one synagogue,
one Catholic chapel and one meeting house
for Friends. Eight miles northward is q
strait, with great propriety called Hell Cato,
and impossible without a strong breeze, at high
or low water, sufficient to countcract the cur
rent; and oven then the navigation Is extremely
hazardous. A want Of good water Is a great In
convenience to the citizens, there being few
wells. Most people are supplied every day with
water conveyed to their doors in casks from q
pump which receives it from a pond almost q
mile from the CITY," This reference shows how
small In extent the city was, for the pond in
question stretched whore the Tombs now stands.
Webster then estimated the population in 1897
within the area now comprised In Greater New
York, viz: Manhattan Island, %, 614; Kings
county, 1886; Richmond county, 1852, and the
about 10000. In New York city are $50
houses; 1900 more than Baltimore. j 900 moro
The New Workers Of, 1897 struck lights with
flint and steel in a finder box; they. had only
and were victims to tallow candles and sperm
oil at nightfall; To them rapid transit Of any
stabuiary cared FOR their peace or personal tights
and property. Their houses, IL on fire. were at
tended to by men with leather water buckets.
on. There was only Que bank. Ferrybosts
were, operated, to and from Jersey City and
a%reproof safe was not formulated. Min:
natures alone preserved the features Of
what are now absolute necessaries Of New York
life were then either yct undreamed of, or in a
had only seven wards. The residential outskirts
Of the Seventh ward substantially ceased at Bow
sry and and G Rsass street street,. and of the sixth at Broad
The small city directory exhibited a map
which referred to the present Park row as
to East Fulton as Fair, to West Futon as Pard..
Golden sa' Hi, to 10 Pine 3Rs'G as K King HeU 70 Cedar ia s as hitt Is
Queen, and to Beaver AS Princess. Twenty-one
"saons q Is; shs f ie'Pes ) DC eom q; IS aa 70 naB mes + I
eleven, F SO. g, 42;:H 20. I and j %, K27. LIZ.
q IN md \ ! ~ e. g ' e = So ss x 4ds & 9h1 r s. : sn 3D. one e ::
John Jacob Astor-who was not yet nat;
;nzHderIppa ns,s as a dealer ,S,o in musical
rs mcrchants-one Peter. in Hanover SO uare and
John, in Cherry street. There were only two
Oliver. a cobbler in. democratic Water street,
and the other The aristocratic John. director OF
cutter and the other n glazier; two Mil'scs, a
shoemaks and q carpenter. both in lower Broad,
gentleman from 4s Wall street. There were
two Rhinelanders and an Andrew Hammersley,
but no Rockefellers. The modest word OF shop
kGenHf nDneATR on AlInnGt avery nm Gra nf n
chants there are 236; OF retired gentlemen less
than a score; and the good old .appellation of
apothecary honorably survives in a dozen in
stances. A citizen of the aristocratic old Knick-
e~rbocker name Of Crygier announces himself as
house; There are no saloon keepers named, hut
the old style Of tavern keeper Is used. Many
keepers. There is only a handful OF brokers.
Carmen have not yet evolved into ,truckmen.
calling. the origin Of the colors OF his pole.
She who Is known nowadays as a modiste fig
nrres as a pantua maker. after the style OF Maria
keeps a vendpc store. A Mrs, ,HansheW
A midwife halls from Broad street, and a hair
powder manufact4rer from Garden street, now
" "Sreeo hes m nssEtsH"P A hoFFs scs aa' st HSii"a to tS Ss
fs%i st ssr 1sari ns. &p % SfS NJ %i hHisH ' Giief sf is ssad In
ted MS a dancing master at, 20 John street.
N Sdch BY Low; an SnF ancestor %a,s Of the present Prssi;
.'N 50 @ScNhSN ~ ~
Water street. A progenitor Of Theodore Roose-
yelt Il a sugar retner at 1853 Queen street.
Burr would find that crafty counsellor at 10
could be consulted at his office at 81 Wall street.
Recorder .Varick could be visited at II Wall
street. The only law firm of the cit~y-Campbell
& Cutting-were TO be found at 10 Wall street.
Any citizen desiring to summon a surgeon would
find the great DIR; Samuel Bard at as Broad
street or q great physician in DR.. Romaine, at
- John street. II a man OF fashion found his
peruke out of order he would visit tho head
quarters Of the Society, OF Hair Drcssers Mt
the, shop OF Mr.. Ketohum, 22 Ann street.
II the services OF a priest were desired Father
Andrew Nugent was residing at / Hunters
Quay, on the lower East River side. II the
Sheriff was sought he was Marinus Willett, at
% Bcekman street, and Chief Justice Robert
Morris would sign court orders at the corner OF
Nassau and King Tor Pinol streets. where his
OF Dutch architecture; Family names now
Cortlandt, Van schaick, schuyler, Blocker,
lawrsnss; Pnsr; Webb, HosSck, Liyinggs,on.
merhorn. Schiefelen, Nelson. Harper. Banks,
a.. VI"