50b. South Street Seaport Historic District
Location: Roughly bounded by East River, Brooklyn Bridge, Fletcher Alley, and Pearl and South Streets
Built: from circa 1781 to circa 2000; mainly 19th century
Architect: Multiple
National Register Number: 78001884
Listed: December 12, 1978
Visited: January 14, 15, and 28, and February 2, 2008
Additional Documentation: Historic American Buildings Survey; NYCLPC Reports for individual buildings and the district
Unlike the aforementioned parking lot, 273 Water Street (the fourth building on the left) has a pedigree. Erected no later than 1781 and possibly as early as 1773, it would be the third-oldest building in Manhattan were it not for the fact that it was reconstructed from a pile of rubble not too long ago, making its claim to antiquity about as doubtful as Fraunces Tavern's. It's also called the Captain Joseph Rose house after the guy who originally owned it--before this part of Manhattan was enhanced with landfill, he used to keep his ship in the back. But the REALLY noteworthy thing about 273, the thing that makes eyes pop out all cartoon-like, is its garish history as Kit Burns' Sportsman's Hall, a place of ill repute notorious for its deathmatches between rats and terriers. Luc Sante's Low Life also tells of animals buried under bleachers and the ghastly smell they made. Awfully colorful, right? Right. It's apartments now.
279 Water Street is the wooden building on the left corner. It's operated as a bar since 1794, making it probably the oldest bar in New York City. By contrast, the oldest bar/pub/tavern in Boston goes back to 1780 and New Orleans to 1772; for London and Dublin, the most likely claimants date back to the 17th century; and Berlin's reputed oldest is from 1525. We have some catching up to do.
Built: from circa 1781 to circa 2000; mainly 19th century
Architect: Multiple
National Register Number: 78001884
Listed: December 12, 1978
Visited: January 14, 15, and 28, and February 2, 2008
Additional Documentation: Historic American Buildings Survey; NYCLPC Reports for individual buildings and the district
Unlike the aforementioned parking lot, 273 Water Street (the fourth building on the left) has a pedigree. Erected no later than 1781 and possibly as early as 1773, it would be the third-oldest building in Manhattan were it not for the fact that it was reconstructed from a pile of rubble not too long ago, making its claim to antiquity about as doubtful as Fraunces Tavern's. It's also called the Captain Joseph Rose house after the guy who originally owned it--before this part of Manhattan was enhanced with landfill, he used to keep his ship in the back. But the REALLY noteworthy thing about 273, the thing that makes eyes pop out all cartoon-like, is its garish history as Kit Burns' Sportsman's Hall, a place of ill repute notorious for its deathmatches between rats and terriers. Luc Sante's Low Life also tells of animals buried under bleachers and the ghastly smell they made. Awfully colorful, right? Right. It's apartments now.
279 Water Street is the wooden building on the left corner. It's operated as a bar since 1794, making it probably the oldest bar in New York City. By contrast, the oldest bar/pub/tavern in Boston goes back to 1780 and New Orleans to 1772; for London and Dublin, the most likely claimants date back to the 17th century; and Berlin's reputed oldest is from 1525. We have some catching up to do.
Labels: Financial District, South Street Seaport, South Street Seaport and Water Street Corridor
posted by Michael at
9:55 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home