The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-17

ing Of thar troops. AftsF the war thess
were used for residences. until in iToo
their destruction was ordered
Tho Brldswell was built bstwoon the
almshousS and Broadway in l5fs-7e.
partly from tho proceeds Of lottery in
which tho treasurer 81 tho city took
1000 tck0ts -on and for tho riaqus Of
tho Corporation. Ths Bridswsll was
used At one time to imprison American
soldiers. II was torn down IN 1883 and
some OF the gray stone Of its walls went
into the Tombs prison on Centre street.
In 1912 tho alsnhous0 was given up
- homo for thu poor and lie buildings
were used for various public and ssmi-
public purposes The New York His
torcal Society. the Academy Of Arts
the Academy Of Printing. tho American
Institute and tho City Library had their
homes in tho building, among Othsrs
and the Chambers Street Savings Bank
thu pioneer institution Of its kind. found
its first shelter here. In 1857 the build
ing was torn down. tho work being
undertaken in part 10 give employment
tn labor in tina, time Of financial dis
tress
The first foundation stone OF the pres
ent City Hall. the third building OF the
kind on the island. vas laid on Septem-
Der ~. isOS, by Mayor LIVINGSTONE and
nine years were needed to complete il .
In 1917 city dispenSIry and soup house
was erected at Centre and Chamber
streets. Later a hook and ladder COM
pany shared in the building and the site
was used for fire department purposes
until 1905. the last fire house being torn
down in 1914. In 1915 the Ro,unda or
Round House a round building erected
by popular subscription for exhibition
purposes. was put mp between this
building and the present City Court
House. After the fire OF 1875 this served
a. the poet Office II was used for public
| Offices for yearS. and az its demolition
in 1870 by The Park Boa I'd. AZ the time
the iron fence was remOV ed from about
the park. u had been the home Of the
Croton Aqueduct Board FOR twenty
years. In 1851 the City Court House was
authorized, and in 1904 an additional
story was built on IT, The County Court
House vas begun in i>sI. and ito history
need not be recalled. l, has never been
completed. for the dome u was 20 have
borne was never built
In 1887 the CITY fOOlishly parted with
the southern point Of the park to the
United States Government. the land 20
be used for post Office and court pur-
poses The present Federal building
was first grouped IN 1873 The town
has never ceased to regret this unhappy
investment the Government paid 500
~ for the land and sIs'h a mistake will
never he repeated
In liza the Americans protected the
Common by a series of fOrtifcations
which covered the approaches TO II by
the post road. Frankfort. Spruce. Beck
man. Ne-ev. Barclay. Murray aud Cen
tire streets. and Park place In the evil
war a temporary barracks was built
On the western margin oG the park This
was used "a a hospital for SICK aud
wOunded soldier
The history Of City Hall Park IL set
forth in a pamphlet issued by tho Amer
lean Scenic and Historic Pre-srVaI
society in its effort To prevent the srsc-
ton therein of ths proposed county
COurt house. Not only docs this pam
phbs, give ths details 81 tho development,
and Uses Of the Common Of which we
have given the outline. but il sl~O re-
coun:S some If the important public
meetings which gathered there. meet
ing- az which the politicA! temper 81 he
inhabitants was shown or their merry
making carried on The Common was
called bv Henry Dawson The Fan
euil Of New York That MANY New
Workers are ignorant II iI- history ~
deeply To he regretted. and an organiza-
ton that mak'-S information on u and
other subjects easily available tor all
deserves he thanks Of the 'ommun'V