The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-05-13
NEW YORK STREETS.
HOW SOME OF THE OLD ONES
GAINED THEIR NAMES.

0HlNED IH6lR NAMES.
Trinity Church Had More to DO With
BestOwinG Them Than All other
Authorities Comblned-The Reason
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. 10 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
to Great George street, in honor of
King George, by the authorities of
Trinity. Then our patriots ignored the
name and called it Bloomingdale road
and then the Broad way, simpIified
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 erected in this
city, and Trinity has always been the
wcalthicst corporation, patroniZed by
tho richest and most influential families
for ages. The churChwardens of this
church had their own way about NAM
ing the streets from the church to
what IS now Twcnty-third street, west
of Broadway, along the Hudson river
front, because they owned that inn
mcnse property.
In the olden time Queen Anne Of
England owned what was known as
the Queens farm, which covered the
land commencing at st. Paul's church
and extending to what is now Twenty
third street, bounded by Broadway on
the east and the Hudson river on the
west
Nestry street was so styled by Trim
ity because the church had vestry in
that street between Hudson and Green
wich streets. Church street was so
called because it bounded the west
side of st. Paul's churchyard. Rector
street was lonored by the residence Of
the rector of Trinity. Barclay and We
sey streets We're named after two cler-
Eymen of the church.
Trinitys 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
prOvemcnts 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
through which the ways were laid.
Moore street was originally the line
CT the first wharf erected in the city.
Colonel Moore was formerly q large
owner of the lots when first built upon.
John street was named after John
Harpending. who resided in Broadway,
and John street when first laid out
passed through his garden. Cortlandt,
Dey and Beeknan streets were carried
through the property of the men after
whom they were named. Ann street
was named after Ann Beekman. Van
dewatcr, Roosevelt, Rutgers, Gouver-
neur Harrison, Lispenard, Bayard, De
Lancey, RivIngton and Willett streets
were so designated because they pass
cd through the property of people bear
ing these names.
Hester street was named after one of
the Bayard family and Catharine after
Catharlne Rutgers. Henry street was
named after a son of the Rutgers fam
ily, and Jacob street bounded the ia
cob Leisier estate. Frankfort street
was also boundary of the same eS-
tate Lcisler was native Of Frank
furt. James street was named after
member of the De Lancey family, as
was also Oliver street. Batavia lane
was so called because the Roosevelt
estate, through which this street was
run, was called New Batavia.
Division street was originally the di-
vision line between the De Lancey and
Rutgers farms. Leonard street was
named after one of the LiSpenardS,
and Orchard street was cut through
the orchard of the De Lancey farm.
Sheriff street was called after Sheriff
N-ilCtt. through whose estate it was
carried, Mangin and Goerck streets
were named after the two city survey
ors who laiG out the river line.
The first mayor Of New York after
the Revolution, n true patriot, was
James Duane. who was honored by the
naming of Duane street after him.
Elm. Orange and Mulberry streets
were laid out through public property
In the vicinity of the Collect pond and
owe their names to the peculiarities
they suggest. Cherry street was origi-
nally run through 1.-The road by the
cherry trees" and named accordingly.
New York Herald.