New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-20

ard OF o." Majestic Theatre.
the present Park Row and spruce-st. Leisler and
his sOn-in-law, 8Iilborne, after their execution.
were first buried, the gallows being nearly op-
posite the place Of burial After the restoTa-
ton 20 the heirs Of Leislers estate. by act Of
Parliament. It was divided into lots and sold.
two Of Them In 1749. on the northeast corner of
what is now Nassau and Frankfort SITS. bring
ing 1900. and four. extending through from Mas
sau to William St. 30 by 100 feet bringing f4OO
in 1862
In 1761 the streets in this vicinity were first
regulated. The grade of Frankfort-st- was fixed
and the inhabitants were ordered to pave It In
1911 a great fire destroyed all the buildings
IN this neighborhood. II broke out on
the northwest corner OF Chatham and Duane
sts and swept the buildings on both sides Of
Chatham-st. to the number Of ono hundred.
Immediately after this fire Tarnnhny Hall
erected a building (still standing. at Frankfort
and Nassau sts) as the headquarters OF the
Democratic party which had formerly been on
the corner Of Nassau and Spruce SITS.
In early times the park along Chatham-st.''
was known as the place OF execution. the COM
mon gaIlows being the only structure within its
limits. Most Of the history OF the park has been
told IN another part Of the chronology. so that
we VIII not worry the reader with repetition
OF g.
The third section. the vicinity Of Chatham-st.
south Of Pearl. was once called Catimuts Hill.
then Windmill Hill. then Fresh Water Hill. The
first name was Of Indian derivation; the second
explains itself. the mill having been erected IN
1862 by Jan de Witt. who sold II two years later.
The deed of SALE which still exists says that the
mill under mortgage 10 the West India
Company under condition. when required to do
so. TO grind weekly FOR them. when there was
wind. twenty-five schepels Of grain" II was IN
existence for nearly century, and may be
found on the city map OF 1929. On the summit
Of the hill public house with a pleasure
garden. known up TO the period OF the Revolu-
ton as Catimuts Garden.
The road on the present line OF Park Row was
IN existence from the earliest times but was so
steep as 10 render n circuitous route around
the eastward boundaries necessary to laden
vehicles In 1884 IN attempt made to cut
the Hill down. but fl was abandoned until 174O
when several gentlemen, at their own expense
undertook to finish the street already begun
through the Hill by the windmill" They sue
ceeded only I'm making a road OF easy grade
around the base Of the hill In 1856 the gal
lows was removed to the foot Of the hill. at
what IS now City Hall Place midway between
Pearl and Duane SITS. Here some Of the negroes
supposed to have been in the plot Of 1741 were
burned.
The west side Of Chatham-st.. from William
to Pearl and extending eastwardly to Rose-st,
was originally a part Of the city common lands.
and lay waste. used only by lime and char
coal burners until 1902 when It was surveyed
and the lots leased for twenty-one years. Soon
after. small houses were put up in the vicinity
About the beginning of the last century that
portion Of the street between Tryon Row and
Dusne-st. was fully built up. one Of the leading
business houses being that Of Peter and George
Lorillard tobacconists. Between Duane and
Pearl SITS. were also several business places
dwelling houses and large pottery belonging TO
one George Crolius. On the opposite. or east side
Of the street the whole extent to Pearl-st
occupied by brick and frame houses, in which
were stores and mechanics shops. On the
corner Of Pearl-st. stood the Boston Stage
house and Livery Stables. place Of public in
terest owned by Benjamin Powell. and after
ward by James Tyler. and one block west OF
Park Row were several large tanneries.
At Pearl and Roosevelt SITS. was a stream
called the Fresh Water KiIletje, or little creek,
which crossed the highway. and itself
crossed by a bridge on the line OF the road. It
formed for many years the limits separating the
line OF city and country in the municipal regu-
lations of early times. II was originally the
only outlet OF the large pond which lay west Of
Chatham-st., and appears to have been con-
siderable stream. In ancient deeds this stream
is referred to the "ould kill" The bridge
erected in 1899 as the stream at times was not
fordable. and was known In Colonial times as
the kissing Bridge. This appellauon may be
found in public records extant, and springs
from an ancient custom. The tea water spring
was on the west side Of the road near the Kiss
ing Bridge.
1t is said there probably was no spot having
mare Ereeable associations in connection with
early habits and customs in this city than the
locality in question. 1t was Economically stu
ated in the city suburbs, surrounded by woods
and hills and near the borders of a beautiful
lake whose refreshing water and agreea BILE
vicinage were sought by the people OF the city.
In course Of time. however, these beauties
passed away before the march Of Improvement;
the hills were graded. the fresh water stream
dried up. and the famous bridge gave place to
pavements. The tea water we'll. however which
had been sunk later. was a necessity, and called
for the making o. several city ordinances regu-
lating the passage and standing OF the carts en-
gagged in carrying IL 20 the people. In the last
half OF 1900 the old we'll broke bounds and IL Is
said its water used for a time by the occu-
pant Of liquor store in the neghborhood .
A map Of 1857 shows that streets around this
neighborhoOd were laid out and regulated before
similar Improvements were begun near what