New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
LITTLE OLD NEW YORK.
Some Odd Phases of Her March
to Greatness.
XII.


east side Of Broadway between Duane and
Pearl SITS. was begun. but before its dawn the
whole front had been built upon. Most Of the
structures were Of wood. with the exception OF
two which had been erected by a Mr.. Nichols.
These were OF brick and considered OF
cellent class. Among their occupants in after
years were William Cutting, forebear Of the
present. New York family; John c. Stevens,
John Tonnele, jr.. and Mr.. Rapelje. whose pres
ent descendants are prominent IN New-York
business and social life About 1919 John Nc
Kesson and afterward II. H. Schieffelin.
sided in No. 3O6, a house which at that period
surpassed any OF its neighbors. Several Of the
frame buildings stood until near the middle OF
1900. while others were demolished in 1926 to
supply the site for old Masonic Hall. an edlfce
Of the pure Gothic style. its front built OF east
ern gray granite with the sides and interior
walls Of brick. and it's upper windows command
ing a view OF the city. harbor and adjacent
country. An apartment in this building which
became a favorite resort OF assemblies Of citi-
gems was considered the finest In point OF beauty
OF any other for a similar purpose IN the United
States. The cost OF constructing Masonic Hall
was $4,000. quite a sum OF money at that time.
which was raised by the fraternity IN the city.
The prosperity OF Masonic Hall began to wane
soon after the building completed, the
following short history OF the masonic ex-
element which started In 1926 viii show. One
William Morgan. a recreant Mason of Batavia,
n. Y threatened to expose the secrets Of the fra
ternity because Of some fancied wrong done him.
He suddenly disappeared, and 1t was charged
that he had been abducted and afterward muir
dered by the fraternity. Political strife in the
city was strong at the time and the charge was
soon converted into a political weapon A COM
bination was formed against the Masons which
at this time were large and hourishing body
extravagant rumors Of diabOllcal practices in
their conclaves were circulated and at the cleo
lions OF 1927 the people threw aside previous
party aIegiances and ranged themselves as
Masons or anti-NIasons at the polls. A number
OF prominent papers opened crusade against
the society. public meetings were held at which
members who had withdrawn from il denounced
It as a bed OF wickedness and intriguing and
it was prosecuted in a way almost fanati-
cal So great was the prejudice throughout the
community against it that it's existence was
threatened Its success, though, was paralyzed
for many years. and the society became almost
a dead letter. The fate OF Morgan was never
positively known, though a body found IN Lake
Ontario was declared to be his by the anti
Masonic party. The expression "a good enough
Morgan till after election" based on this Incl
don't originated with the friends OF the Masons
and was used during the election excitement.
II was at this period the name Gothic
Hall was given the building. and as late
as 1874 a city paper recorded the fact that it
had changed hands. it's stockholders having re-
ceived neither principal nor interest on their in
vestment It was torn down about 1855, and
on its site, Nos. S14 and $40 Broadway i'm
proved and what were considered at the time
elegant structures were built.
Between Pearl and Worth SITS stood brew
cry, built shortly after the Revolution by
man whose widow married the brewer steen-
bach who carried on the business afterward.
Their residence was on the southeast corner
OF Broadway and the present Worth-st.. and on
the northeast was that OF Steamboats, partner.
The entrance to the brewery and malthouse was
on Worth-st. Fronting Broadway and attached
to each of the dwelling houses were large
kitchen gardens. which were afterward built
upon by Stephen conover. executor Of Brewer
steenbach The Broadway Theatre was the
principal building on this block in after years.
but short time after 1850 1t gave place to
marble stores erected by James r Whiting.
The block north Of the one written OF had but
one house on 1t two or three years prior to 1900
The land was the property Of the brewery own
ers. Within a few years afterward. however
residences OF a good class were erected on 1t
and were occupied at different periods by such
well known leading NewYCrk citizens as John
Griscom. Gilbert Robertson, Edward Laight and
]. r. Beekman. About 1886 the Sixth Free
Presbyterian Church. with the largest accom-
mediation Of any then in the city, was erected
here between Worth-st. and Catharine Lane.
It stood upon lots In the rear Of those on Broad
way with its entrance on this thoroughfare at
No. $40 Some time about 1S40 it's name was
changed to the Tabernacle It's history is iden-
tilted with many gatherings of the people on
important occasions. In it Wendell Phillips,
Gerrit Smith and Lucretia Mott Numbered forth
their opinions on slavery
An interesting business history surrounds the
block between Catharine Lane and Leonard-st'
Before the grade of the street was lowered two
small frame buildings stood on it. In one OF
them, after the grade was made. stephen Con-
over established his hardware store. the first
in that section Of the city. 1t stood on the cor
ner of Leonard-st, and afterward gave place
to the building of the New-York Society Ii
brary Association. which had previously been
located In Nassau-st. opposite the old postOfnos.