Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-14
NEW YORK STREETS.
HOW SOME OF THE OLD ONES
GAINED THEIR NAMES.
Trinity Church had More TO DO with
BestowinE Them Than All Othes
Authorities Com bin cd-The Reason
Broadway Killed Hudson street.

BrOndway Killed Hudson street.
The churchwardens Of old Trinity
church had more to do with naming
the streets in the lower part of old New
York than all other authorities com
bincd. To be sure, the quaint burgo
masters. before the first Trinity churcf
was built, after hearing the pros and
cons of landowners, found names for
many streets significant Of certain es
tablished facts, for streets and byways
below Maiden lane on the cnstcrly side
of tho Here STRAIT, afterward changed
TO Great George street. in honor Of
King George. by the authorities Of
Trinity. Then our patriots ignored the
name and called it Bloomingdalc ROAD
ana then the Broad way, simplified
into Broadway.
The present Trinity church. at the
head Of Wall street. is the third etlifice
Of that uamc, the two preceding struc
lures erected upon the same ground
having been burned. but the first was
WV VI NV iisi NllulNiiNN NlVNtNu III tA1h
city. and Trinity has always been the
wealthiest corporation. patronized by
the richest and most influential families
for ages The churchwarlcns Of this
church had their own way about nam
ing the streets from the church 4,
what is now Twcnty-thrd street. west
of Broadway. along the Hudson river
front. because they owned that i'm
mense property.
In the olden time Queen Anne OF
England owned what was known az
the Queens farm. which covered the
land commencing ut st. Paul's church
and extending to what is now Twenty.
third street. bounded by Broadway or
the east and the Hudson river on the
west.
Ncstry street was so styled by Trim.
ity because the church had a vestry in
that street between Hudson and Green
wich streets Church street was So
called because it bounded the west
side of st. Paul's churchyard. Rector
street was honored by the residence of
the rector of Trinity Barclay and We.
Soy streets were named after two cler-
gymen of the church.
Trinty's officers determined that the
main artery Of the city should run
through its land. and. grounded in their
belief in their ability to carry out their
intention. Hudson street was laid out.
st Johns park and man! other i'm
provnmentS were offered as induce.
mcnts to purchasers Of land. and ST
Johns chapel was erected and finished
in 1903, one Of the handsomeSt pieces
Of church architecture in the city.
Trinity counted without an expression
of the majority Of the people and fail.
ed in its endcavOr.
The arrogance of the church frettcd
the good people and more to spite the
churchwardonS than because Broad
way was nearer the center of the city
Broadway acquired the preference. and
the glory of Hudson street departed,
never 10 return.
1t has been remarked that the streets
laid out by Trinity on the farm are ali
perfectly straight, while many i'll the
lower part Of the city are wonderfully
crooked The explanation of this lies
in the fnct that scarcely small hill
existed on the farm. while below there
crooked lanes and byways. to say moth
ing OF COW paths, were turned into
streets which ran in devious ways
around hills, valleys and swamrs
Many streets were named after the
owners OF property adjacent to OF
through which the ways were laid.
Moore street was originally the line
of the first wharf erected in the city
Colonel Moore was formerly large
owner Of the lots when first built upon
John street was named after John
happening, who resided in Broadway
and John street when first laid out
passed through his garden Cortondt
hey and Bcekman streets We're carried
through the property of the men after
whom they We're named. Ann street
was named after Ann Beekman. Van
dewater, Roosevelt, Rutgers, Gouver
neur, Harrison. Lispenard. Bayard. De
Lancey. Rivington and Willett streets
We're SO designated because they pass
tu lHrOuSu tue pToptIt. VI peopit ptut
ing these names.
Hester street was named after one Of
the Bayard family and Cathariue after
Catharine Rutgers. Henry street was
named after son Of the Rutgers fam
lily. and jacob street bounded the ia
cob I.eisler estate. Frankfort stree
was also boundary Of the same es
tate. Ieisler was Il native of Frank
furt James street was named after s
member Of the De Lancey family. as
was also Oliver street. Batavia lane
was so called because the Roosevelt
estate. through which this street was
run, Was called New Batavia.
Division street was originally the d.
vision line between the De Lancey an,
Rutgers farms. Leonard street was
named after one of the Lispenards
and Orchard street was cut through
the orchard of the De Lancey farm
| Sheriff street was called after Sheriff
Willett, through whose estate it wa
carried. Mangin and GOerck streets
were named after the two city survey
Nrs who laid ont the river line.
The first mayor Of New York afte'
the Revolution. true patriot. was
james Duane who was honored by thu
tanning of Duane street after him.
Elm, Orange and Mulberry street,
were laid out through public property