New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01

purposes. as there were extensive fortiAcatlous
on each side of it. on the Kalckhook anG on
Bayard's farm,
The Middle Road. as Broadway above Canal
St. was commonly known before its regulation
as far as Astor Place in 1909. was not wholly
UninprOved prior TO the beginning OF the lat
century. Several adventurous pioneers. despite
the protests OF the Inhabitants. erected q few
one and two story houses on IL. the oldest stand
ing at what is now the corner OF Grand-st-. and
becoming in later years the site OF the Broad
way House. The regulation OF this thoroughfare
above the stone bridge to Astor Place. which
was originally the line OF a road leading from
the hamlet called the Bowery," from it8 vi
einity to Governor stuyvesant's farm. to SapO-
kanican, or Greenwich. was a matter OF grave
concern to the citizens chiefly from the dim
cuIties arising out OF the discordant action re-
specting the plan OF regulating Canal-st., and
the conflicting interests OF the owners OF land.
who even at that day were considering how
its value could be increased by accepting GER
tain city improvements. The greater part OF
the land lying east and west between the pres
ent Astor Place and the meadows at Canal-st.
was what was known as the Bayard farms.
their dividing line being the middle OF Broad
way. The portion to the west extended from
the meadows to near Bleecker-st.. and the east
ern portion to a point between Prince and Hous-
ton SITS. North OF the west farm was the Her
ring estate. and OF the east, adjoining a small
tract OF land belonging to Alderman Dyckman,
was the Anthony L. Blocker farm through
which the street OF that name was afterward
run. The Bayard farm was bounded on the
east by the BOwery and on the west by an
irregular line extending to Macdougal-st. In
1I51 its owner. Nicholas Bayard. erected his
Mansion House on this farm. at what Is now
and Elm SITS. and established an avenus called
Bayard's Lane. which led I'D to the house. the
entrance gate being at the Bowery Road. The
present BroOme-st. is laid out on nearly the
same line. Tho property was cut up by mill
tary works during the war, defensive lines on
the outskirts OF the CITY running across IL.
After the close OF the Revolution its owner
found himself financially embarrassed, 1t IS
tanned one hundred acres, for $1,000. This was
afterward placed In the hands OF trustees, who
divided 1t into parcels Of various sizes and sold
them
At a point on Broadway near the present
Spr1ng-st was the junction OF two private lanes
through the Bayard farm, one Of which led
sOuthwesterly to the North River shore at Lis
penard's Meadows, and the other IN westerly
course. terminating near Richmond HILL At
the present Third-st- was another lane. which
led from the Bowery to Richmond Hill along
the southerIy side OF the Herring land.
The Middle Road IN 1902 ordered sur
veyed from Canal-st. to the southwest corner
OF the present Prince-st., and the Street Com
missioner was directed to report as to the
best method OF turnptking It," He recommend
ed that 1t be paved forty feet wide, with side
walks ten feet wide. and that row OF trees
be planted on each side, ten feet apart While
his plan was at first adopted, It was a1terVaro
repealed on account OF the hesitancy OF the au-
thorities regarding the improving OF Canal-sts
Some regulating OF the street was carried cut,
however a short time afterward, and in $50
the recommendations Of the Commissioners were
put in force, and the following year the I'M
provements were extended to Great JOnes-st
The next year saw them carried as far as Art
st. the present Aston Place. The laying OF
pavements and construction OF sidewalks soon
followed so that by November, 1903. the Cor
poration was IN a position to accept the ofLer or
Samuel Burning one Of the citizens, to furnish
as many poplar trees might be necessary %
line Broadway from LeOnard-st. to Artist, pro-
vided they would move and set them without
expense to him. Property owners were also
anxious to add to the beauty or the street.
which was considered the pride or the city and
offered to supply carts to move the trees, 50 cnac
in a short time Broadway became TenoWne4
both as a dwelling and business locality and
remained so until the young city tore away tns
barriers and pushed further north