New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CITY HALL PARK HISTORY.

'h ffeNEL ftHNFN ftto iOhts
To the Editor OF The Tribune:
Sir; AprOpOs Of the proposal to erect a
larger county courthouse in City Hall Park
It Is Interesting 10 recall the conditions
upon which the city conveyed TO the United
states the present pOstOfiice site. They are
not TO be found in any Of the printed his
tories OF the city or books Of reference.
On December Is. n and IS. 1856. respec-
lively. the cOuncilmen. aldermen and Mayor
approved OF the sale 20 the United States
government OF tho southern end OF City
Hall Park embracing an area Of 65.259
square feet, for the purposes Of a post
Office and courthouse. The property was
conveyed by deed. dated April H. 1861
0iber 1912 page 1i2 ct seq. OF cOnveyances.
Hall Of Records). the consideration being
the sum Of 10000.
The conveyance was made upon the eX-
press condition. however. that the premises
above described and every part and parcel
thereof. and any building that may be
erected thereon. shall at all times here
after be used and occupied exclusively as
and for a pOstoffice and courthouse for the
United States OF America and for no other
purpose whatever. and upon the further
condition that II the said premises shall
at any time or times cease 20 be used for
the purposes above limited or FOR some
one Of them. or II the same shall be used
for any other purposes than those above
specified. tho said premises hereby con-
veyed and all right. title, estate and inter-
est therein shall revert 10 and be rein
vested in the said parties OF the first part,
their successors and assigns
The erection OF the pOstOfice was not be-
gun at once an6 II was proposed 20 use
another part OF the park for the purpose.
On June Il. July 10 and July %. 1858. re-
spectively. the aldermen. assistant alder
men and Mayor approved OF the following
resolution:
Resolved. That joint committee Of three
members Of each board be appointed 5y
the respective presidents thereof 20 confer
with MessTs. Horace Greeley. William Or
ton and Alexander T. Stewart commits
sioners on the part OF the United states,
259 square feet OF land In the city Han
Park heretofore decided by the city 20 the
United States for another plot OF ground
of similar area at a different location IN
said park. which proposed exchange mas
been recently authorized 20 the city by the
Legislature and requested on behalf OF the
United States by the above named commits
siOneTs
The foregoing resolution Is interesting as
Indicating the names OF the representatives
OF the United states government IN the
pOstOfice matter. but II did not result in
any change Of plan. and the present post
Office was erected in 1870. About the same
time the present county courthouse was
finished.
In forty years both the pOstOffice and the
courthouse have been OutgrOWn. and there
is every probability that the new county
courthouse proposed for City Hall Park
would he OUtgrCwn IN an equal period, and
the city eventually be compelled 70 go else
where for a larger site or encTOach still
further upon the park. II would. therefore.
seem 10 be the policy of wisdom 10 look at
least fifty years ahead and provide for
future needs by locating the new court
house not only where Il viii not encTOaeh
upon present park space but where u VIII
also have room for future expansion
Meanwhile. IN view Of the plans afOOt for
a new postOfice. II IS well TO bear IN mind
and insist that the municipal authorities
shall enforce the conditions OF the deed TO
the United States. providing that the pres
ent pOstofice site shall revert to the city
when any part Of il shall cease to be used
for a United States pOstOfice and court
house, or shall be used for any other pur-
pose. EDWARD HAGANlAN HALL
Secretary American Scenic and historic
Preservation Society.
New York March IS. 1910