New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-24
LITTLE OLD NEW YORK.
Continued from eighth paE.-
e Burton,s Theatre. a history Of which was

came Burton's Theatre. history Of which
given another article.
1t will not be out of place to inject the follow
ing from admirer of Little Old New York:
Three doors south of Duane-st Broadway
the first sewing machine exhibited. People
watched the operation of the rather primitive
machine with surprise, coupled with much dis
trust 10 its utility for household 1t
impossible thing. and, even If perfect
ed. would be injurious TO the needlewoman who
must work in order 10 live. The matrons would
have none OF it-handwOrk was good enough for
them. But the little machine kept clicking each
day, and what it produced was exhibited, de-
spite the unbelief of the women. and the men.
too. Meetings held in quarters 10
support the handworkers. and protests were
raised against its introduction. 1t had come to
stay. and stay it did
The history Of Broadway is now verging on a
section the origin OF which the historian knows
little about 1t is "Kalckhook." lime shell
point. which began at a vale near the present
line Of Duane-st. and rose gradually 10 an ele-
walton OF forty to fifty feet above the surround
ing meadows. y pond an or more in size
lay at its summit According TO the early maps
OF the colony what known as The Kalck-
hook" embraced about forty acres and
granted to Jan Damen IN 1916 by Governor
Kieft. 1t was a useless piece of ground. APP
parently, as an extensive cretaceous deposit COW
cred nearly its whole extent and preclused the
possibility OF cultivation. What it was is
a matter of conjecture, though the Information
gathered from its location and from the fact
that the pond on its summit well supplied
with fish, we'll as the existence OF Indian
tribes the island. points 10 the spot as at
least temporary settlement OF abOrigines. 1t
is only conjecture however, as from no source
"a Of ifg af NIL he oil
In 1856 the partition Of this part OF the Damen
estate occurred. and II became the property or
four men. two OF whom were Jacobus Van Cort-
land and Anthony Rutgers. It lay IN common.
however, for many years afterward. as tho
public pound established on It.
The Van Cortland portion Of The Kalckhoob"
remained IN the family for over a century. un-
improved. while the Rutgers tract TO the west
In 1870 began to evidence its owners prodI-
gality in its reclamation On It a handsome
residence built, which he occupied until his
death in 1850. Surrounding it," says an old
chronicler. was elegant shrubbery in the geo
metrical style OF rural gardening Of those days.
with long walks, bordered with lockwood and
shaded and perfumed with towering shrubs,
extending in various directions in the parterre
fronting the house. The orchard extended along
the southerly side OF the mansion. while the
pasture lands and cultivated fields extended
residence. and even in after years, when It's
quiet and domestic characteristics had given
place 70 the festive Incidents attached TO pub
lie resort. IL considered the most rural and
pleasing retreat near the city"
Very much like the people OF the present
New-York were those OF the eighteenth century,
IN the matter OF suburban pleasure seeking, and
10 Ranelagh. the former residence and gar
den of Colonel Rutgers was called by its new
IaaF
citizens repaired TO feast. dance and listen TO
music on Monday and Thursday evenings dur
ing the summer, where everything accord
ing to an advertisement OF the year preceding
the Revolution rs conducted under the aus
pieces of Mr.. John Jones'"
In ITO the Rutgers estate was offered for
sale and was purchased in 1772 by organiza-
ton OF citizens who designed TO build hos
ptal on the ground-an institution then un-
known in New York. 1t was at first proposed
to establish II in the Park but the project
was abandoned because OF its proximity 10 the
heart of the city, and the Rutgers orchard
fixed upon. Most OF the fund had been
subscribed IN 1771 for the purpose, and in lieu
Of the land which had previously been set apart
for IL the corporation added $1,000. In IVA
the building completed at cost of nearly
$4,000. and the following year partly
destroyed by fire. During the occupation OF
the British II had been sufficiently repaired TO
serve a barracks for the soldiers. After the
return Of peace it was reopened for its original
purpose This Is the beginning of the history
OF the present New-York Hospital. its later his
tory having been given in the chronology.
Inc improvement or the section written or
was undertaken shortly after 1888 by the regu-
lation and opening OF streets. Because OF the
natural unevenness OF the surface much filling
and excavating required in various parts,
as, for instance. when sidewalks were first pro-
posed, in 1871, 10 extend from the Bridewell in
the park TO the hospital. IL reported by the
surveyor that Broadway at Warren and Cham
bers SITS would require to be lowered three feet.
while at the depressed portion through which
Duane-st. was laid out II would be necessary
to raise IT about eight feet. Nearing the hospi-
tai ten feet would have to be taken away. The
work was begun in 1892. and the sidewalks
stopped opposite the house of David NJ. Clark
son, which across the way from the hos
pital 1t designed. however, to proceed
with the digging OF the street far the
meadows at Canal-st., though 1t years
before the work completed The deepest
cutting down OF Broadway between the
present White and Walker SITS. twenty-three
feet Of the hill having to be taken away to meet
the valley the meadows.
A few OF the streets in the section have re-
tanned their original names, as White. Walker,
Canal Catharine Lane and Leonard. Duane-st.
once known as Barley-st.. after brewery
west of Broadway; Pearl-st at Broadway was
originally MagaZine-st. as IL led past the old
powder house the little island in the Collect
Pond; Worth-st. had two changes-Catherine-s
and then AntboDy-st, and Franklin-st. in
the old days Sugar-loaf-st.
MARK TWAlN'S LUCK.
Mark Twain likes to recall and tell OF the days
a.