The New York herald., 1921-10-16
Hill Where New York History Began
Memories Of the Battery in the Days When 1t Was
a Fashionable Residential District.

OF the many thousands who daily pass
and cross the Battery few there are that
ever give thought to the days Of long
ago. which were momentous in the
making Of this old but very interesting
section.
Here in 1909 was little knoll or hill
near which no doubt Hudson landed.
Minuit selected the little hill bordering
the North River and facing the bay. as
the site OF the stockade which later be-
came Fort Amsterdam. The place where
this hill stood has become the site of
the magnificent United States Custom
House.
In tho early days the Inhabitants lived
within the stockade. but by the time 1t
had become a real fort the people were
living outside but in its immediate
vicinity Bridge. Pearl and Dock streets
were prominent, and Broad street with
its canal was the great white way. The
roadway on the south. leading to the
docks, was later called Whitehall street.
Beaver street and other lanes were soon
built up with the wide. low and solid
houses Of the time, and the city of New
York burst into its incipiency. A wind
mill stood at the north end Of the fort,
and pumps were soon introduced In some
streets. though the water from them was
generally tainted.
In later years the fort was demol-
ished but the hill remained and on it
was built the White House, substan-
tial Colonial mansion intended as res
idence for President Washington, who
never lived there. The surroundings In
1889 were not very pleasing. the house
being too large for the hill, nor were
they much improved during the occu-
pancy Of Governors Clinton and Jay.
when the place was called Government
House for a few years. Next 1t was
used for the United States Custom
House up to about 1915. when 1t was
razed.
A year or so later the hill was lev
elled to the plane Of its surroundings,
and about 1925 during the real estate
boom of the Erie Canal opening, when
there was not going to be left single
vacant lot on New York Island" six
brick houses appeared with white marble
trimmings. dormer windows and ex-
tended courtyards in front. This rev
with several mansions on Broadway and
a few houses on Whitehall street formed
part Of community Of wealth If not Of
fashion for many years. Here were the
homes Of the bankers, lawyers and ship
ping merchants Of that day. who lived
there in quiet responsibility marked by
cordial hospitality and who were mostly
a churchgoing people. Trinity, Grace
Church and st. Paul's were not far
away: there was the Middle Dutch at
Liberty street and the North Dutch at
Fulton street. with a church In Wall
street and one in Exchange place. and
the quiet OF Sunday morning was broken
only by the chimes Of church bells.
In the centre Of this garden spot was
the Bowling Green, surrounded by the
railing which came from England in
1771. and then the liberty pole further
down where David Van Arsdale, Sr and,
in after years. his son, let the Stars and
Stripes unfurl to the winds on the
morning of every Evacuation Day.
which, allow me to mention, was Novem-
ber rs.
At 1 Broadway was the old Kennedy
house. large, roomy mansion with It's
fine entrance about five steps up from
the sidewalk. with wide hall in the
middle. Colonial arch half way down
and broad stairway in the rear leading
up to three windowed easement where
there was a seat. and there turning to
the second floor. The lower rooms were
large front and smaller back parlor
with rolling doors between, and on the
other side of the main hall one large
room. The dining room was on the
lower floor In the back with kitchen and
large store room In the front
The Livingston house was four story