New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
OLD NEW HAERLEM.
Suggestion That Memorial of It's
Establishment Be Erected.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Is ii not well for of greater New York
to remember that this. in historical sense is a
banner year for the upper part of our CITY, for
on March t. 165s-tust two and a half centuries
ago-Governor Peter Stuyvesant issued decree for
the establishment OF the town OF New Haerlem, a
new village and settlement which to take
the place of the many unprotected and scattered
bouweries, farms? AS many of the settlers had
already fallen beneath the fire, the tomahawk and
the arrow of the Wick-quas-keek Indians. this was
q most important event. not only 10 the security
OF the Colonial settlers, but that of the town Of
New Amsterdam. for which the settlement
formed sort OF protecting advance post.
This historical! fact should be of great interest to
all the citizens of the metropolis, for then was
established form OF local government which ex-
listed unaltered for rs years and brought a
conclusion only by the exigences of the War OF
the Revolution which scattered the village COM
mUnity and destroyed the continuity of its insttu
tons Note how thu event was recorded.
The Director General and Counsel of New Meth
eriand hereby give notice-so the order-that
for the better promotion of agriculture, for the
security of the island the cattle pastured there
on, well for the further relief and expansion
OF this city-Amsterdam in New Netherland-they
have resolved to form new village settlement
at the end OF the island" So came into existence
the town OF New Haerem with its system Of self
government and forest freehold lands, the latter
entering from line drawn from 74th street the
East River TO 130th street North River
northward over our present Harlem, Manhattan
vile and Washington Heights to the Spuyten
Duyvil Creek
OF this ancient and interesting institution only
the area and the name remain The latter was
chosen by Stuyvesant himself in fitting reIpen-
brance OF that beautiful elder city OF the same
name in the old country girt by the waters of the
placid Sparen and shaded by the noble elms of
Holland, which in its memorable defences exhibited
a lofty patriotism and in its fall the scene Of
a sacrifice by brave people almost unparalleled
in history.
Here every trace OF the little township has long
since vsnished, and the sacred site of
burial of its vigorous citizens has been swept
away Only 4 little "reminiscences of It's past pict-
ureSqueness is preserved in the Mount Morris Park
and as for the Snake Hill Calf Pasture so well
known to those early settlers, not a vestige re-
mains All is merged in the area of the great city
few Of whose Inhabitants have any idea OF the
historic interest attaching the past their home
locality.
But history tells the story truly, and in this
Harlems anniversary year. il now ar the
time Of our great Hudson and Fulton celebration
In 1903, city Will aid the Holland
Society and other patriotic associations ttingy to
commemorate by monument otherwise this
fateful event OF the past and again recall the
courageous action OF those freedom loving self
governing DUtChmen and Huguenots of 1853
JOSIAH c. PUMPELLY.