New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
PARK ROW IN 1871.
Model of Street DiscOUered in Wash
Mountaineering Structures.

There was found in washington few days ago
a complete miniature model of part of Park Row.
opposite City Hall Park, this city, as 1t stood
nearly the middle of the last century. The names
of almost forgotten hotels and bU'ipess men ap-
pear on the diminutive structures, and every de-
tall of each building is faithfully carried out, with
not even a door knocker street number omitted.
This quaint little model of old Park Row, be-
tween Ann and Beekman SITS, stands in space
just thirty-six inches long. yet each tiny house
has its windows and shutters. coping ard exterior
ornaments TO the details of cutters and water
spouts and business announcements, SO perfectly
that could business man of sixty years ago
pass down the street he would recognize the Ia
nous block Of his youth.
In Revolutionary days, in a fit Of patriotism,
Park was named Chatham-st. for Winlam
Pitt Earl Of Chatham, in recognition OF ms eroits
in behalf Of the American Colonies and his 1nhu-
ence IN the repeal of the Stamp act. Early in the
nineteenth century the city authorities named the
part of the street Park Row where 1t passed CITY
Hall Park from Ann-st. to Spruce-st., and in 1885
that name was given the thoroughfare for its en-
tire length
The model was evidently made from long and
continuous study of the block but who the artist
was or what his purpose in thus perpetuating
single block in the heart of a great city, does not
appear and only the most thorough search, the
cle taken from the billboard of the Park Theatre,
leads to the exact date when the model was made.
This board. scarcely more than half inch square,
stands before the once famous playhouse, bearing
a 80
York for the first time February "a, 1SA, with
an announcement for Norma" which was also
produced in the theatre for the first time on Feb
ruary % Of the same year.
For his work the artist used thin pieces of board
scarcely thicker than paper paint and other mate
rals that lent themselves to the great delicacy of
the work. The model Of this street Is built IN
heavy wooden with glass front to shut it
in from dust and damp. There is well painted
blue sky for a background against which the
buildings are grouped, their numbered entrances
street numbering went into effect in New-York in
1793-facing out over City Hall Park The block is
identical with such fragments Of it as appear IN
old prints to the street lamps, scarcely more
than an inch in height, yet with every globe per-
feet
The park opposite this block was fenced in with
a wonderfully wrought picket fence. the gates
opening into Park Row, fanked on each side by oil
Iamps and formerly kept closed to prevent the
COWS that browsed there from running on the side
walks and nosing into business shops. Some OF the
basement ways under the diminutive houses in the
model are scarcely more than half an inch in diam
eter and yet show perfectly the decorations used
in that period. Quaint dorner windows hang out
over the street like an old womans bonnet and
hitching posts, pumps and primitive awnings line
the walk.
the nineteenth century in New-York occupies the
centre of the block. The original theatre built
in 1881 and burned May 25 1920. 1t was planned
! by Marc Isambard Brunei, the engineer Of the
IndIneS lunneI "I4O ouIIA6 llIe SlOIHl us'yS VI
the Revolution exile in America. The
doors opened the first performance 'An in a
/ Bustle" or The New House. Monday, Janu-
ary 49, 1898. at o'clock, and the curtain was drawn
at els. Boxes cost Ss; the Pit, 6s and the Cal
| lery, As
The model shows the theatre built the
J site of the old one. which opened September
l. 1921. It large building, toISring far above
the others in the block, and its plain front
was impressive 1t cost nearly 100000 to build the
J md was he
/ in the world. It located two hundred feet
from Ann-st. nearly opposite the old fountain, and
built upon lots numbered Z % and 25 1t occu-
pied SO feet front and extended back distance