New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13
LITTLE OLD NETWORK.
Some Odd Phases of Her March to
Greatness.
XXI.

tion Of the CITY which was old New-YOrk, not
a stock brokers' commission of them know the
origin OF the names of the streets they travel
through six days in the week. When presum-
ably knowing person is asked whence such
street derives its name, he wrinkles his brow
and answers. Dye know. it never struck me
to find out" That he may know. here are few
the writer has unearthed for him:
Ann-st.-The Christian name OF a Dutch
burgher's wife. Ann Vieltje-
BarcIay-F'rom the Rev. Henry Barclay sec
Battery Place-F'rom a place where battery
was erected in 1893.
Beaver-From the beaver; originally the fur
district The animal important factor in
the furrler business in the old days.
Beekman-From William Beekman, owner Of
a farm which extended north and south of the
present street, and from Nassau-st. to the East
River.
Bowling Green-where the burghers bowled:
leased to three Of them in 1882
Bridegroom a bridge that crossed ditch in
Broad-st.
Broad-From the Breede Graft. OF Broad Canal.
ditch.
Cedar-suggestive of the character OF tree
growth in the early days.
Cliff-From Dirck Van ClyfT. burgher. on
Coenties Slip-A corruption Of the name OF
Contract ten Eyck. owner OF land in the vicinity.
Cortlandt-From OloR Stevenson Cortlandt,
an early settler. through whose land the street
was cut.
Exchange Place-where the old Merchants
Exchange was.
Ferry-The road that led 70 the first ferry be-
tween New York and Brooklyn.
Fulton-Frcm Robert Fulton, whose history Is.
or should be, known to every one
Frankfort-Frorn the German city-Jacob Leis-
ler's birthplace. The street cut through his
estate.
Franklin Square-Origin well known
Greenwich-The Greenwich Village Road.
Hanover Square-From the house OF Hanover.
of which King George was member.
Jacob--Jacobus Roosevelt owner OF property
in the vicinity as was told in another division
OF the chronology.
Ldberty-From the name properly interpreted.
dear to every
Maiden Lane-Maagds PaatJe. Maiden's
Path. Once path beside stream where the
lover and the lass walked and told sweet moth
ings to each other.
Morris-From Gouverneur Norris.
Nassau (Pye-womans Lane)-From the Prince
of Orange and Nassau CHow did Tammany
overlook IT'D
New-The first street opened by the English
Pearl-Pearl shells found along II when 1t was
a path IN the old days.
Rector-Rector Of church property mentioned
in the chronology.
Roosevelt-From Isaac Roosevelt. OF pre-Rev-
dictionary fame
Stone-Some say the first street in the old
town to be paved with stone. See early part OF
the chronology.
Tinpot Alley-From the Dutch words Tuyn
Paat which do not mean tinpot. but garden
road or lane.
Tryon Row-From Sir William Tryon, the last
English Governor to bother the colonsts.
vesey--From the Rev. w. vesey. Trinity's
first minister.
waIl-Origin well known, or ought to be.
Waterfront the ground being submerged in
the old days.
whitehaI-From the road that led to the
White Hall. stuyvesant's residence.
william-Ths first half of William Beekman's
name.
The first sidewalks were laid in New-York
City in 1870 on the west side of Broadway
from Vesey-st. to Murray-st.. and opposite for
the same distance along the BrideweI fence"
The Bridewell stood at the west end OF the
present City Hall The pavements We're OF brick
and stone. not wide enough TO permit two per-
sons to walk abreast. Above Murray-st. Broad
way was a succession OF hills Its highest
elevation was in the vicinity OF Anthony-st
CWorth-st.). where 1t rose precipitously over a
steep hill 1t then descended abruptly to the
valley at Canal-st. To slight degree this ee-
walton and declenson may be noticed to-day
In 1877 the grade between Duane and Canal
sts was established by the corporation, though
II was some years later before the work was
completed. An idea OF the height OF this hill
NAV be had when at Ieonard-St IL was neces-
sary to cut through it to depth OF fifteen and
half feet. and at Worth-st. TO depth of nearly
twenty-three feet. At Canal-st it was neces-
sary to raise the land seven inches to meet the
proposed grade.
The city was increasing in growth In 1898. and
''the corporation. realizing the apparent need OF
street numbers. appointed COMMITTEES TO pre-
pare and report feasible system" The COM
next house in every street terminating at either
street next the river. and number all houses
below these intersectins streets, beginning with
No. 1. looking upward in all the main streets
and downward IN all the slips and so on to the
end Of the street or Slip This scheme was
adopted by the corporation
Here is an interesting history for the heirs
OF the New-York Liberty Boys The Commons
from the earliest times had been recognized as
the property OF the city. to be used for public
purposes. which history tells us all about The
Bridewell, the new Jail and the old Provost
gloomy prisons OF the victims OF Howe and
Clinton" were on the northwest portion OF It.
The Sons OF Liberty. In 17IO, five years prior
to the building OF the Bridewen. which was
erected the site OF the first Liberty Pole
purchased this piece of land which TO erect