Found: Old Wall in New York, and It's Blocking the Subway

NY Times ^ | December 8, 2005 | PATRICK McGEEHAN

[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."

[Ditto]

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.

I visited there a few months ago and was impressed. It's miraculous that the building survived the WTC collapse. The church was used during the WTC recovery effort as a place for rescue workers to rest both physically and mentally.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed.

It is ironic that the fire in 1776 stopped just short of the Chapel after burning Trinity and the WTC (just down the hill) did not touch it. It's fence became a posting place for photos and cards from all over the country during the post-WTC days.

[razorback-bert]

I was (and still am) always amazed while standing in middle of the Bronx River fishing, that once Britsh warships once sailed up the river past the point where I was standing.

[Sensei Ern]

__//(o o)\\__
====U====
KILROY WAS HERE

[flaglady47]

Here's some more kind words. I love to read threads like this one on any kind of history, as it fascinates me. Plus we all need more info about our own American history, so it is wonderful when those who know interesting tidbits about specific battles, or events post about it. Thanks.

[wtc911]

Of note about St. Paul's...a few of the century-plus old trees in the graveyard facing the Trade Center were up-rooted by the force of the wind that the collapse of 1WTC caused. The next day they looked like a hurricane had come through.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for that info...I did not know that.

Also, General Richard Montgomery is buried there...he was killed at the Battle of Quebec dring the revolution.

[pageonetoo]

Among the items found around the wall are a well-preserved halfpenny coin dated 1744 and shards of smoking pipes...

I know who lost those... I didn't know they were that old...

[FreedomSurge]

"Any graffiti?"

Bush lied, colonials died.

[Pharmboy]

Thank you very much. For you:

The Flag of the Sons of Liberty

The Flag of the Grand Union (one of the first the Continentals fought under

[Pharmboy]

Well...it is indeed a fact that General Washington grew hemp at Mt Vernon (used for rope, not dope).

[flaglady47]

"The Flag of the Grand Union (one of the first the Continentals fought under"

Oooh, Flaglady loves flags. Thanks for picking that up.

[Lancey Howard]

bttt

[wildbill]

Graffitti:

No LAND for BEADS--Dutch OUT of Manhattan NOW! Code Pink!

Stuyvesant Lied, Indians Died!

New York is not worth dying for: Cindy Sheehan

It's All Bush's Fault!

[Pharmboy]

Very good ones...esp. the first (No land for beads [chuckle])

[Clemenza]

Well, at least it wasn't an "African burial ground" like the one found in the Dinkins administration. Did they finally build on that plot of land?

[Pharmboy]

Have a look...they've done a nice job, actually

[Clemenza]

Interesting. I've never actually seen it, despite having been in that area several times. I'll check it out next time I'm in the area.

[durasell]

Ugliest statue in NYC