New-York tribune., 1903-06-21

tonomoh, with twetny warriors. The building
now 70 be torn down was built two centuries
ago. and when John Hancock was elected Cow
ernor in 1TSO to the hOstlery given his
name by the proprietor, who was a great friend
Of Hancock
In the taproom Of the Hancock Tavern were
held the meetings that resulted in the ever to
be remembered Boston Tea Party. In the stir
ring DAYS preceding the Revolution the tavern
was the meeting place and headquarters for
MANY movements in the effort TO bring about
the Independence of the colonies. A few feet
avvav in Irnion-st near Hanover. stood until
recently the Green Dragon Inn, where the
first lodge OF Free Masons was organized in
America. in 1752 stones throw in another
direction stands MarshaIrs Tavern, the build
ing used as the treasury Of the Continentals and
beadauarters of the Revolutionary armys pay
master.
4 syndicate has secured the plot on which
stands the famous Old Corner Bookstore, and i
is TO be torn down TO make room Tor another
towering office building The present building
was erected in 1712. thirty years before the
erection of the original FaneuH Hail 1t has
contained a bookstore since ISIS Before tnat
time the most famous occupant Of the building
was Dr. Samuel Clarke, father OF the Kew
lanes Freeman Clarke. The first owner was
Mistress
called Antfnomians The Rev. John Cotton, and
even Governor Winthrop fell under ner spell for
4 time Later the Governor became her VIM
| dictive enemy. and after a trial she was ban
fsbed from the colony in 1893. The property
was sold to Richard Hutchinson, a wealthy Lon
don draper for $40, or 500 This same pIOI -
now worth over S10OOOO
| Since the beginning Of its existence as a book
| store the old brick house has been renowned
throughout tie country as the meeting place OF
the greatest men and women OF the day. 4H1Ie
was a sunny backyard. where Emerson Ha"-
thorne Holmes LongfellOw and others came To-
gether at times and the clergy met every week
Hawthorne corrected the proofs of The ScaT-et
Letter" at the old desk, still in the store
| Thackeray Dickens, Bourget, Matthew Arho'u
and many other European celebrities Ais-IVd
over the counter, while Louisa AlcOtt Lucy
Iarcom, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mary A
Livermore were often seen delving into the
hooks exposed for sale. James T. Fields. the
nroprfetor and famous publisher, was the friend
Of all the celebrities of his day, and they ire
ouentIy came to him for advice and friendly
criticism.
Park Street Church. on Birthstone Corner
overlooking the subway entrance, has success
fully resisted onsIaughts Of building trusts
specuIators and city improvements for htly
years but it is destined to so very soon and IT'S
congregation will move uptown into the quieter
Back Bay. One syndicate held an option on II
-or several weeks at 81 15O000O. but the deal fell
through Another syndicate is now forming,
however. to acquire the site and build another
eleven story office building. With the Common
stretching away into the Public Garden and
Beacon-st. boulevard on one side. the old Gran
ary burying ground another. and Beacon Hill
with the State House on a third, this makes the
most valuable site in Boston for a light, airy
office building.
The street commissioners are bending every
energy to the problem Of Strengthening the
crooked streets of Boston at a minimum cost