New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-24
LITTLE OLD NEW YORK
Some odd Phases of Her March
to Greatness.
XII

XII
More than half OF the eighteenth century had
raised when Mr.. Marschalk surveyed the pres
ent Broadway from Vesey-st. to Duane-st, and
slow indeed the growth OF this section
after the street had been opened The Fields,
as has been said. the rallying point OF
the citizens on occasions mOmentous and other
wise and to this may be attributed the es-
adjustment opposite them. IN the days preced-
ing the Revolution. of several public gardens
which were the principal features Of the neigh
borhood. Near the northcrly corner Of Murray
St was Montagnies Garden. and the block
above Cox's Garden. The former was for a time
the headquarters Of the Liberty Boys. and d.
rectly opposite It they raised their successive
poles which were as often demolished by the
soldiers and the Tory faction In ITO q party
Of soldiers who had failed to demolish a liberty
pole drove the onlookers into the Montagnis
house at the point Of the bayonet and destroyed
It's doors and windows. The owner incensed the
patriots q short time afterward. however, by
renting his rooms TO members Of the opposite
faction and the patriots removed their head
quarters to a building which they purchased
at the lower end OF the Fields. Hampden Hall.
before written Of Montagnis continued 20 oc-
ctIpy the premises bur changed the name to the
United States Garden. until 1902 when John H.
Contolt. n confectoner. became the owner. He
conducted It until 1905. sfterward removing
10 near Park Place and establishing the New
York Garden which he transferred in 1909 to
No. $50 Broadway. the Park Place site giving
way to private residences. The old COntoit Gar
den passed into the hands OF Augustus Pariss
In 1905. and some years after was succeeded by
a building called the Parthenon. which in 1928
was occupied museum under the auspices
Of Reuben Peale. The museum occupied the
second. third and fourth stories, says an adyer-
tisement OF the date mentioned. and has a ter
raced roof commanding capital view OF the
park and all the neighboring streets. together
with the city and harbOr"
These gardens and few scattered small
buildings were the only improvements existing
opposite the Fields until the period when the
rams OF the street was changed to Broadway
for its entire distoncc north OF Vesey-st.. and
when Il was extended 70 the Rutgers farm.
near Duane-st-, IN 1874 After this year the
march Of private Improvement began the
block between Vesey and Barclay SITS. and fine
residences built and occupied by leading citi-
zens gave an increased value to the surround
ing section. The Rutherfords, the Kings. the
RooseveIts. the Harrisons and the Hammonds
resided here. No Dbl. next to the corner Of
Vesey-st. was the property Of the State. and IN
1902 the official residence OF Aaron Burr,
Vice President Of the United States No. 223.
owned by John Jacob Astor, the home OF
Edward Livingston. Mayor Of the city from
1901 to 1903. The portion OF the street lying
north OF Barclay-st. not so progressive,
however. and it WAS some years before the In
ferior class OF buildings occupying 1t gave way
to residences OF q substantial character. After
1915 the block between Barclay-st. and Park
Place began to assume an air OF responsibility.
which afterward peryaded the block between
the latter thoroughfare and AIurray-st. Among
the residents here were William Rhinelander,
Daniel Boardman. John Haggerty and Samuel
Hicks. Between Murray and Chambers SITS new
buildings were being erected, and with their
completion the Fields became a thing OF
the past, TO be referred TO at present
By 1927 two hotels had been established
on the section OF Broadway written OF. the
American, on the corner Of Barclay-st.. "oc-
cupylng the most eligible situation IN the city.
and being in the vicinity OF the City Hall and
theatres" and the Park Place House. opposite
the park and il the street that leads to Column
bia College" The Irving House. fashionable
hosiery which stood on the northwest corner
of Chambers-st and Broadway. erected
later and a point OF popular interest for
q time. In it John c. Colt had his Office. and
there he murdered a printer named Adams. who
was getting out work on bookkeeping for him
By a curious chain Of circumstances the vessel
on which the body OF the printer had been
shipped to South America by Colt was driven
ashore by adverse winds. and the authorities IN
some way discovered that a murder had been
committed. 1t was traced to Colt who was tried
and sentenced to be executed. On the morning
OF the day set for the execution the murderer
committed suicide, though rumor had 1t that the
body of a pauper convict had been substituted, |
and that Colt had escaped to France.
report of the Common Council in June. 1885,
Is OF interest as showing the origin OF Cham |
bers-st and the establishment OF the boundaries
OF the park
The committee on the memorial OF Henry Kip |
ard others, adjusting boundary lines be- |
tween the negroes burial ground. report and rec
ommend:
list That the measure mentioned in the |
patent to Cornelius Van Borsum for said land |
dated Oct. 16 1873. be. far as this corporation
is concerned. deemed English statute measure.
40. That street sixty-hve feet wide. to re-
main public street. be laid out opposite Cham |
bers street. and TO extend from Broadway to the |
side O George street. and thence 10 Auulis-