The East Side of Broadway

The east side of Broadway was less fashionable as a shopping mart than the opposite side, and the improvement in architecture was less rapid; the buildings at first erected were many of them of two stories, although within thirty years succeeding the Revolution these had mostly given place to first-class edifices, which, with few exceptions, were occupied for commercial purposes. Barnum's Hotel, which in 1851 was named the Howard House, has up to the present time maintained a high reputation. The Tremont Temperance House formerly occupied No. 110 Broadway. The New York Athenaeum, was established in 1824 on the corner of Broadway and Pine street. In 1825, the National Hotel, 112 Broadway, corner of Cedar street, was finished.

Within comparatively recent years nearly all the cross streets leading into Broadway in this section, have been widened and improved. In 1833 Liberty street (previously to 1794 called Crown street), was widened from Broadway to Greenwich street. In 1834 Pine street (previously to 1794 called King street), was widened from Broadway to Nassau street. In 1836 John street was widened from Broadway to Pearl street. In 1834 Fulton street was widened from Broadway to Ryders' alley. In 1852 Liberty street was widened from Broadway to Greenwich street. In 1851 Dey street was widened from Broadway to Greenwich street. In 1854 Wall street was widened from Broadway to Nassau street.

1790s

1790 Sidewalks were laid between Vesey and Murray streets. In 1793 the street was paved for the same distance. Measures were about the same time taken to extend the street from its terminus at Rutgers' farm, near Duane street, to the distance of more than a mile further; and in 1794 the name of the street was changed, for its entire distance north of Vesey street, from Great George street to Broadway.

Residences of the First Class

About this time the march of private improvement began by the erection of residences of the first class on the block between Vesey street and Barclay street, which were owned and occupied by leading citizens, among whom may be named Walter Rutherford, Rufus King, Cornelius Roosevelt, Richard Harrison, and Abijah Hammond. The premises (then No. 221) next to the corner of Vesey street was owned by the State of New York, and was occupied in 1802 by Aaron Burr, as the official residence of the Vice-President of the United States. Edward Livingston, then Mayor of the city, occupied the adjoining premises (No. 223), which were owned by John Jacob Astor.

At the time of the erection of these fine residences opposite the lower portion of the Park, and for some years afterward, the part of the street lying north was occupied by buildings of an inferior class, though there was little unoccupied ground below Duane street. But advancing through the intervening years, until 1815, we find that at the latter period great improvements had been made, and many of the old buildings had given place to fine residences. Among the residents at the latter period, between Vesey and Barclay streets, were John Jacob Astor, Alexander L. Stewart, and John G. Costar; between Barclay street and Park place, John C. Vanderheuvel and Mrs. Starten; between Park place and Murray street, Samuel Hicks, Daniel Boardman, William Rhinelander, John Haggerty, and Henry Laverty. Between Murray and Chambers streets new buildings had been erected, and between Chambers and Reade streets was the fine residence of Matthias Bruen.

The Provoost House

In 1796, we find a house standing on the corner of Chambers street, owned by Jonathan Provoost, and occupied by William Little, a carpenter. The adjoining house was owned and occupied by Mrs. Provoost. Next adjoining, was the residence of the Widow Provoost. On the southeast corner of Reade street a stable was afterward erected, and remained until the erection of Washington Hall, which was commenced in 1810, and finished in 1812. This building, in an architectural point of view, was, at the time of its erection, one of the handsomest structures in the city. The architect was John McComb, and the building Committee of the Washington Benevolent Society, under whose auspices it was erected, were Robert Morris, Jr., John McComb, Richard Furman, and John B. Coles. It was erected about the same time, that Tammany Hall was built by the opposite party.

Buildings On The West Side of Broadway, From Chambers to Duane Street

The west side of Broadway, from Chambers to Duane street, was first improved by the erection of a brewery on the corner of Duane street, which is supposed to have been built before the Revolution. Before the commencement of the present century it was owned by John P. Croshong. It continued in existence until the recent improvements in Duane street, having justly acquired the name of the "Old Brewery." A Pottery establishment of Alderman Campbell, also between Reade and Duane streets, was erected before the commencement of the present century. A row of brick buildings was afterwards erected on the premises by Isaac Lawrence, which are still standing among the few relics of the past in that vicinity. The block between Reade and Chambers streets was improved by William Alexander, who erected a handsome residence on the corner of Reade street, where he resided in 1796.


In the centre of the same block was at the same time another three-story brick house. The other houses on the block were then of wood, and of an inferior class, one of these with its gable end to the street, was divided into two stores, each about twelve feet wide, and here Alexander T. Stewart first commenced the dry goods business in New York. The house belonged to Anthony Steenbach, the brewer. This last named gentleman was a somewhat adventurous operator in real estate, and purchased the lot corner of Broadway and Chambers street, on which he erected a row of small one-story buildings fronting on Chambers street. In the one on the corner of Broadway, the first dry goods store above St. Paul's church, was opened by a Mrs. Manning. Bonfanti's fancy store, at No. 279 Broadway, was a well known establishment from 1824 to 1838. He had previously (from the year 1819) been at 305 Broadway. Palmo's cafe, on the corner of Reade street, was a popular resort from 1835 to 1840, at which latter period he abandoned his former occupation and erected the opera house in Chambers street, afterwards Burton's theatre, now the United States Court.

The Rutgers Estate

The fashion of the last century led idlers and pleasure-seekers to suburban places of amusement, where music, dancing and feasting contributed their share in the amusements of the hour. The names of Ranelagh and Vauxhall, near London, are familiar even to the modern American reader, as the literature of the last century popularized those resorts of the idle and gay of London society. Their glories found imitators throughout all parts of the British dominions, and New York had both a Vauxhall, and Ranelagh; the latter of which was the former residence and garden of Col. Rutgers. This establishment was conducted under the auspices of Mr. John Jones for some years immediately previous to the revolutionary war. His advertisements describe the place as being laid out at great expense, with all conveniences for breakfasting, and every entertainment for ladies and gentlemen. A Complete band was in attendance every Monday and Thursday evening during the summer, in a large dancing hall, which had been erected in the garden. The Rutgers' estate was brought into the market for sale in 1770, and the first sale was to an association organized for the establishment of a hospital, an institution until then unknown in New York.

It was at first proposed to erect the building in the Park, but, as has been elsewhere stated, that project was abandoned, and the site fixed upon was Rutgers' orchard. The hospital was chartered in 1769. Funds were subscribed in 1771, and the city corporation added L1,000 to the contribution in lieu of the land which had been previously set apart for this edifice. Five acres were purchased in 1772, and the building was commenced September 2, 1773. The cost of the building was about $18,000. In 1775 it was partly destroyed by an accidental fire; it was, however, sufficiently repaired to serve as barracks for the British soldiers during the war. Some years after the return of peace it was reopened as a hospital. The inadequate funds arising from private subscription were from time to time aided by legislative action, and the institution still remains, with some additions to the original structure, and is distinguished as one of the most beneficent as well as the most ancient of the benevolent enterprises organized by the citizens of New York.

1818

About 1818, a fine house was erected on premises No. 306, first occupied by John McKesson, afterwards by Samuel Bradhurst, H.H. Scheiffelin, and others.