New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27

events
July o 1776-The Declaration OF Indepsn-
dence published 20 the troops paraded on the
Commons at s o'clock IN the evening. A hol-
low square was formed at the lower end OF
the Commons in which was General Washing
ton on horseback. The Declaration was read BY
one Of his aids. At its conclusion three hearty
cheers were given.
'1TT6-Cunningham. the British Provost Mar
shall. had the liberty pole cut down"
After the Revolution when the city had re-
covered itself. the locality Of the Fields began
to show progress. Broadway was assuming the
character Of a fashionable place OF residence.
and it was meet that the rowing spirit OF the
cattle Of the citizens should be curbed. espe-
ciaIly when it took them in the neighborhOod OF
the Fields. Many protests were raised against
what was considered spoliatiOn Of the green
when improvements which included the fenc-
ing CT it were spoken Of The cattls should
be allowed to rove at large upon It. the people
thought The improvements were made, how
ever. and a post and rail fence was put around
the sacred ground IN 1TS5. Transforming It into
a park, which. it IS hoped. It win always con-
tlnue to be, and leaving its ancient titles in the
minds Of the lovers OF the history Of the city
as synonymes for patriotism and liberty. 1t
was not long. however, before the post and rail-
fence gave place TO wooden palings. which re-
manned for a score Of years. and finally in 1916
these were succeeded by an iron railing. which
was set with due ceremony and public COM
memOratiOn Of the event
The first public buildings erected within the
limits OF the Park were q poorhouse. in 1875.
on the site Of the present City Hail. and in Colo
NAL times jail and a bridewell. with grave
yards for the inmates inclosed near by. These
three were the prominent buildings IN the Park
TBarro Trrff I'm Trh
structures stood in the vicinity Of Chambers
and Chatham SITS, erected at different times
as soldiers barracks They were rude affairs.
one story high, and built OF logs. A few, built
IN the time Of the "oId French war" remained
In a ruinous condition for many years after
the close Of that war, and. It Is said were
now and then tenanted by families OF rowing
Indians, who lowered around the abodes OF
civilization living by the sale OF baskets and
beadyvorl1 T~le poorhouse Of 1916 was found
70 be Inadequate a half century later, and
new one was erected extending along the north
side Of the park and fronting on Chambers-st
Il soon became manifest TO citizens that
this nInshouse was not appropriately located.
and IN 1910 n site Of seven acres at Bellevue
was purchased and the erection OF new
structure begun, which was ready for &C.
cupancy IN 1872. The old building was trans
formed By the city authorities into the New
York Institution. with the design OF encour-
aging several enterprises OF a public charac-
ter which had recently been started. Some Of
these so-caIled enterprises are at the present
time the noblcst Institutions OF the city. The
New-York Historical Society was located there
so also were the Academy OF Arts and the
Isyceun OF Natural History. In 1918 the Deaf
and Dumb Institute opened its school IN the
New-York Institution with four pupils. and
at various periods On Academy OF Painting. the
First Bank for Savings. the Lyceun. Scuddcr's
American Museum. the American Institute and
other public institutions occupied parts OF the
building.
In 1902 a new City Hall Ohs present one)
was designed. to cost $4,000. and premium
was offered for the best plan. which was subse-
quentIy awarded 70 Macomb & Mangln. Much
doubt was expressed as TO the character Of
building which could be erected FOR so small a
sum. and after hesItatius for a time as 70 the
expense the sum OF $4,000 was finally voted.
and contracts were entered into" The founda-
tombstone was laid on the site OF the first poor
house on September 20 1905. by Mayor Edward
Livingston and by the Corporation. but It was
July 1. 1910. before the latter nrst met IN the
building. IN the Mayors Office. and not until 1872
was II fully completed.
At various times in the OLD days, as IN the
on City Hall Park. In the early part Of the
eighteenth century movement was set on foot
to erect a City Hospital near the old brideweH.
and land was voted by the Corporation for the
purpose. but the public voice was raised IN
prOtestatiOn and the scheme was .cal4One0-
At another time IL was proposed 20 erect a
reservoir in IL for supplying the CITY N--i wafer
20 be brought from The Bronx. but this project
also fell through. \ short time ago the latter
day politician attempted 20 confseaJe FOR al
legged public purposes this historical spot. but
the ever watcLful press sienccd. 70 Us hoped
forever any further attempts to desPOi il. The
chronology:
The twilight OF the eighteenth century saw
New-York city plunged fin mourning over the
death OF General Washington On December 70
the Chamber Of Commerce had taken steps 20
honor the dead patriot, and every other society
and association in the city had Joined with IL
The last day Of the year fixed for the cere-
monies and in the forenoon a funeral process
sion wound along the streets on its way 10 81
PauPs Church, composed OF civic and Iniltary
diguitaries with mounted troops and infantry
and artillery members Of social. political and
national associations. Representatives OF banks
and other financial institutions, Regents OF the
University, the trustees OF Columbia C04Ie6e'
members OF the bar, ministers OF religious de
nominations tho Lieutenant Governor OF the
State and the foreign COusulS In the city. In
the place OF honor was Major General Hamil-
ton with his suite. Immediately preceding the
funeral urn. which was carried upon a bier. IN
the form OF palauqUlu, supported by elsht
soldiers. were twenty-four girls IN white dresses
a horse, caparisoned in mourning, was led be-
hind the bier. The members Of the Cincinnati
followed rs chief rnourners. with the Corpora
tion Of the city behind them On arriving AT
the church Bishop Provost read the Office Tor
tho dcad and Gouverneur Morris delivered the
eulogy. It was at the services held on FeD-
rUary %, 1900 in the Dutch Church IN Mas
sau-st., that DR.. William Linn, one or the
pastors OF the Collegiate Reformed Church. said:
THAT Calumnv which has sought to tarnish the
fame OF Washington viii soon become dumb. /
and his name VIII be revered until the tashI'h
OF this world has wholly passed away"