Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Posted on 12/08/2005 3:09:12 AM PST by Pharmboy
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The top of an old wall was discovered by workers digging a new subway tunnel under Battery Park.
Three weeks after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority started digging a subway tunnel under Battery Park, the project hit a wall. A really old wall. Possibly the oldest wall still standing in Manhattan.
It was a 45-foot-long section of a stone wall that archaeologists believe is a remnant of the original battery that protected the Colonial settlement at the southern tip of the island. Depending on which archaeologist you ask, it was built in the 1760's or as long ago as the late 17th century.
Either way, it would be the oldest piece of a fortification known to exist in Manhattan and the only one to survive the Revolutionary War period, said Joan H. Geismar, president of the Professional Archaeologists of New York City.
"To my knowledge, it's the only remain of its kind in Manhattan," Ms. Geismar said. "It's a surviving Colonial military structure. That's what makes it unique."
Among the items found around the wall are a well-preserved halfpenny coin dated 1744 and shards of smoking pipes and Delft pottery, said Amanda Sutphin, director of archaeology for the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission.
"It's one of the most important archaeological discoveries in several decades in New York City," said Adrian Benepe, commissioner of the city's Department of Parks and Recreation. "Everybody knows that the Bronx is up and the Battery's down. But I don't think anybody anticipated that the Battery was 10 feet down."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
thanks. that's pretty cool. i'm a nyc history buff.
....Weren't New Yorkers mostly Loyalists? ;-)
......
Aren't they still?
Remember, this is NY. More like "Stop this illegal war!"
Outstanding. Next time you're in Boston, I recommend you check out the Warren Tavern in Charlestown.
FYI
Fraunces Tavern (Broad and Pearl Streets) was the meeting place for the Sons of Liberty in the run-up to the RevWar. Sam Fraunces was a half-white, half-black tavern owner who eventually became George Washington's guy in charge of the Presidential food and drink when in NYC for the 15 months when NYC was the nation's capital. His famous Farewell to the officers took place on the second floor there in 1783.
St. Paul's (Episcopal) Chapel (Broadway at City Hall Park) was the "uptown" extension of Trinity Church. Since Trinity was burned during the war and had not been rebulit by the time of Washington's inauguration, St. Paul's was where he attended Mass and you can still see the pew he and Martha sat in. The first Presidential Seal remains over the pew. Amazing site.
Morris-Jumel Mansion (Roger Morris Park, 160th St and Jumel Place) was the General's headquarters when the Continental Army was chased from lower Manhattan. From the second floor balcony, the General watched NYC burn.
And there's so much more...
Thanks for the ping.
Will do! Thanks for the tip...(and see my post above about the RevWar buildings in NYC).
LOL! It may just happen...
Well guess that stops the subway tunneling..... or at least it would in most other parts of the country or at least if it was a private land owner, farmer, etc wanting to build something.
The green area in the foreground is Battery Park, which is landfill and was water and shoreline during colonial times.
Nice photo, I see the Bridge in the foreground that Hillary tried to sell me.
An ancestor of mine fought in the Battle of Brooklyn. I've often wondered if any sites remained, or if they had been totally swallowed up the city.
It sounds like it would still be interesting to see, so despite my dislike of being in big cities, I'm adding it to my list of Revolutionary War sites I'd someday like to visit.
No...Washington never took communion, although Martha did. He attended Sunday Mass regularly throughout his life, and played a key role in the organization of Pohick Church in VA. He attended Mass at Christ Church in Philadelphia and Christ Church in Alexandria. I am sure there are other Epicopal churches still standing that he attended, but these are the ones I've visited, in addition to St. Paul's.
The main battle sites that still can be "enjoyed" today are in Greenwood cemetary and nearby Prospect Park. You can also pay homage to "The Maryland 400" who stood their ground repeatedly under a ferocious charge by the Brits and allowed most of Washington's army to escape capture or slaughter. Two hundred and sixty seven of those fine lads still lie in a mass grave in the vicinity of 8th Ave and Fourth St in Brooklyn.
David McCullough devoted several pages in his latest, 1776 to the defenses Washington erected in Lower Manhattan. Also a very good read.
I'll have to add Shaara's book to my Christmas list.
This is so cool! Thanks for the awesome posts!
My pleasure, Joan. It's kind words like yours that continue to motivate me to post on early American History.
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