The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
LAST OF THE n1BEHrr Es.
The storm or June rs Blow Down q Well
Known Patriotic Emblem.

The storm or June rs Blew Down q WELL
Known Patriotic Emblem.
The sudden storm of June 25 blew down the
old Liberty pole which stood in front of a
saloon at 81 Carmino street. 1t was the last OF
its kind in tho city. 1t was erected in civil war
times by Alderman Ignatius Flynn, according
to the people around Carminc street, and had
stood there ever since. A few years after its
erection it was struck by lightning, and the lib.
erty cap which surmounted it came to the
ground. The cap was replaced. and the pole re.
manned until June 25 as a reminder of old times.
In Revolutionary times liberty poles were al.
most as important as gathering places for in.
dignant patriots as famous buildings. In those
times the terms liberty pole" and Liberty
tree" were almost synonymous. The first lib.
berty tree was in Boston. and it was the gather.
ing place of indignant colonists in the troublous
times of the Stamp act. Efigics were hung on
the tree at one time, and u copper plate was
placed on il. bearing these words:
Tree of liberty. Aug: Il, 1853"
in City Hall Park by tho Sons of Liberty on
June 4, 1895, the birthday OF King George III.
at a public dinner at the Kings Arms. near the
fool of broadway, the Sons of Liberty had q din
ner at their headquarters at Montagne's. on
BROAD way, near Murray street. and nfterward.
with the Governors permission, erected Il lib
erty pole in the City Hall Park. On the pole
was inscribed the following:
TO his most gracious Majesty George Ill.
Mr.. Pitt and liberty
Hardly had the pole been erected than there
came trouble between the Sons of Liberty and
the British soldiers quartered in the city, and
there were frequent encounters around the pole.
The pole was finally cut down. and the Sons of
Liberty bought II plot OF land, presumably near
the southern end of the present Post Office
building, and there the pole remained until the
British forces took possession of New York
during the war. 1t was cut down then, of
course. \ tablet to mark the site of the pole
WAS placed in the southern end of the Post
Office only Il short time ago.
After that II number of liberty poles with the
Phrygian cap Of liberty were erected in differ
cnt places in the city. Not very many years ago
the Eoard o! Aldermen prohibited the erection
OF any such poles and compelled the taking
down of all those standing. The pole at 81 Car
mine street, however, was left standing for
some reason.
The highest pole of the kind in this city seems
to have been one commonly known AS "ltiley's
pole" This stood at West Broadway and
Franklin street. 1t was erected on tho ami
great pOmp AMI parade. as n beacon for the
mAnder j. Riley of the New York Cadets. who
marched in the parade. tho pole was known az
"Itlley's pole" and was n landmark in the city
for many years. II WAS said to be 1877 feet high.
1t was struck and broken down by lightning in
1888. and WIS replaced by the Democrats. 1t
was finally taken down in 1888.
Many times this pole was the scene OF eXCit-
ing contests by the fire companies in tho city,
and the shouts Of Play away, ali = rang
around II on many an occasion. rs probably
many an old resident can remember,