The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-05-06
NEW YORK STREETS.
HOW SOME OF THE OLD ONES
GAINED THEIR NAMES.
Trinity Church Had More In Do with
Bestowing Them Than All other
Authorities Combined-The Reason
broadway killed Hudson street.


Broadway 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
bined. To be sure, the quaint burgo-
masters. before the first Trinity church
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 easterly side |
of the Here STRAIT, afterward changed
10 Great George street, in honor of
King George, by the authorities OF
Trinity. Then our patriots ignored the I,
name and called it Bloomingdale road
and then the Broad way, simplifed
into Broadway.
The present Trinity church, at the
head of Wall street, is the third edifice
of that name, the two preceding struc-
lures erected upon the same ground
having been burned, but the first was
one of the first churches erGted in this
city, and Trinity has always been the
wealthiest corporation, patronized by
the richest and most influential families
for ages. The churchwardens or this
church had their own way about nam
ing the streets from the church 10
what is now Twenty-third street west
of Broadway. along the Hudson river
front. because they owned that I'M
mense property.
In the olden time Queen Anne or
England owned what was known as
the Queens farm, which covered the
land commencing at st. Paurs church
and extending to what is now Twenty
third street, bounded by Broadway on
the east and the Hudson river on the
west
Vestry street was so styled by Trim
| ity because the church had a vestry in
that street between Hudson and Green
witch streets. Church street was so
called because it bounded the west
side Of st. Paurs churchyard. Rector
street was honored by the residence OF
the rector of Trinity. Barclay and We
sew streets were named after two cler-
gymen of the church.
Trinity'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 many other i'm
provements were offered as induce
ments 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 endeavor.
The arrogance of the church fretted
the good people, and more to spite the
churchwardens than because Broad
way was nearer the center Of the city
Broadway acquired the preference, and
the glory of Hudson street departed,
never TO return.
1t has been remarked that the streets
laid out by Trinity on the farm are all
perfectly straight, while many in the
, lower part Of the city are wonderfully
crooked The explanation of this lies
; in the fact that scarcely a 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 swamps
: Many streets were named after the
}. owners of property adjacent to or
7 through which the ways were laid.
ieri,, oil ino
; 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
= Harpending, who resided in Broadway
z and John street when first laid out
passed through his garden. Cortlandt
Dey and Beekman streets were carried
. through the property of the men after
whom they were named. Ann stree
was named after Ann Beekman. Van
}; dewater, Roosevelt Rutgers, Gouver
neur, Harrison. Lispenard, Bayard, d.
L Lancey, Rivington and Willett street
were so designated because they pass
q ed through the property of people bear
ing these names.
Is Hester street was named after one o
the Bayard family and Catharine afte
. Catharine Rutgers. Henry street wa
0. named after son of the Rutgers fam
o lily, and Jacob street bounded the ia
cob Leisler estate. Frankfort stree
>. was also a boundary of the same es
tate. Leisler was a native of Frank
- furt. James street was named after
member Of the De Lancey family, a
- was also Oliver street. Batavia Ian
VI was so called because the Roosevelt
80 estate, through which this street wa
run. was called New Batavia.
% Division street was originally the d
vision line between the De Lancey an
Rutgers farms. Leonard street wa
named after one of the Lispenardi
p and Orchard street was cut throug
I'd the orchard Of the De Lancey farm
y Sheriff street was called after Sheri
a. Willett through whose estate 1t wa
y carried. Mangln and Goerck street
M were named after the two city surve.
ors who laid out the river line.
=. The first mayor Of New York aft'
70 the Revolution, true patriot, Wa
In James Duane, who was'honored by IL