R Is for Rector Street

Alexander Hamilton's grave in Trinity churchyard.

 

Our hint in the last post was the Federalist Papers, so it may come as no surprise that we're stopping to pay respect to one of the authors of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, who is among many figures of Colonial and Federal New York buried in the churchyard. This site is just one block from the northern entrance to the Rector Street station on the Broadway local line, the #1.

 

The same view, but at twilight. In the not-so-far distance One World Trade Center.

 

I spent time searching for a historical fact about the name for Rector Street. My belief is that at one time the rectory for Trinity Church was here and hence the street was name. But, alas, I found no actual information to support this assumption. We'll just have to call it a theory. Trinity Church had its beginnings in 1696 when a group of Anglicans asked for a charter granting legal status to their worship. New Amsterdam became New York in 1664. The first church in New Amsterdam was a Reformed church founded in 1628.  

 

The original building for Trinity Church was built shortly after 1696 at the head of Wall Street, looking to the Hudson River. In 1705 Queen Anne made the land grant that the church had received permanent with a gift of 215 acres, where the church still stands. There have been a number of different buildings and there is a cemetery further uptown, but the site bestowed in 1705 by Queen Anne is still the home of Trinity Church.  

 

The northern entrance to the Rector Street station

 

When I worked in lower Manhattan this was my subway entrance. I didn't always appreciate the five block walk when it was cold and windy, the wind coming off the Hudson River. But I always appreciated the view of the church and the churchyard and knowing I was viewing history every day. 

The same view as above, but with a different perspective to include One World Trade Center. Walking north on from the station we come to the still on-going construction for the World Trade Center site.

It's April 30 and I am supposed to have completed my A to Z Blogging Challenge. Obviously, that hasn't happened. There are eight more letters to feature. I've enjoyed A-R and learned a lot about the history of New York. I've also discovered artists that are new to me. I hope to do S, U and V this week and finish the remainder of the alphabet later in May. There are a few books I'd like to share and photographs of a quick trip next week. Thank you all for coming with me as we've traveled the subways and streets of New York.

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy May! 

It's (the Waning Minutes of) Bunker Hill Day

Boston, well after the Battle of Bunker Hill.

 

 

Earlier today, and for some reason that's slipped from memory, I googled the lyrics to "Yankee Doodle." Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit, I couldn't remember all of the words to Yankee Doodle, a song I probably sang a thousand times when I was growing up. Be that as it may, I went from Yankee Doodle to another link to another link and I noticed that today was the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775. It was early in the Revolutionary War and the goal for the Continental troops was to break the Siege of Boston. 

 

I've spent a good part of this evening reading about the Revolutionary War. I know I studied it in elementary school and then again in high school, but so many details have been lost in the swirl of decades. I've always enjoyed the study of history -- it was my minor in college -- and have continued reading about history in the years since college. But I've forgotten how much I enjoyed learning about past events, especially early American history. I think it's time to start reading again, and learning more about events that took place in New York. I grew up in Connecticut and we learned the history of Connecticut and New England, but I never formally studied New York history.

 

One of my summer projects is to find the remnants of the Revolutionary War in New York City. The Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island is at the top of my list to learn about. In the next two months -- before the anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, August 27 -- we'll be going to history summer school. But it's going to be a fun summer school -- out of doors and with an iced coffee in hand.

 

That's one of my summer projects. What are your special plans for the summer?

 

As ever thanks for visiting and have a sweet Saturday!