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| print NYPL Collection |
By the middle of the 18th century New York City saw the development of its own aristocratic class. Country estates north of the city were built by wealthy merchants and military officers and elegant town houses provided style and luxury to their owners on a par with London.
Captain Archibald Kennedy of the British Navy built his residence at No. 1 Broadway in 1745 on the site of the famous tavern of Mrs. Kocks, built by her husband who was an officer in the Dutch Navy. By now Broadway was the most fashionable street in the city, and the site at the corner of Reade Street was extremely desirable. Long before landfill would widen Lower Manhattan, the river flowed nearby, providing refreshing breezes and idyllic views.
Kennedy, who would become the 11th Earl of Cassilis, married the beautiful Ann Watts. Their new home was built next to the Watts mansion. Mrs. Martha Lamb, in her “History of New York,” described it as being built “after the most approved English model.”
Over a century later, in 1896, The New York Times noted "It was virtually an imported building, all the materials, including bricks, tiles, carved mantels, doors, windows, and other things entering into its construction having been brought from Holland." The two-story mansion was perfectly symmetrical, its floors being delineated by two stone string courses. A Palladian window in the slightly protruding central section was mirrored by entrance below.
Over a century later, in 1896, The New York Times noted "It was virtually an imported building, all the materials, including bricks, tiles, carved mantels, doors, windows, and other things entering into its construction having been brought from Holland." The two-story mansion was perfectly symmetrical, its floors being delineated by two stone string courses. A Palladian window in the slightly protruding central section was mirrored by entrance below.
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| The Watts House, at No. 2 Broadway (right), abuts the Kennedy mansion -- print NYPL Collection |
According to Mrs. Lamb “There was a carved doorway to the Kennedy mansion, and it had wide halls and spacious rooms. The state drawing-room was fifty feet long, and opened upon a porch in which a quadrille could be danced. The dining-room, as becomes the noble English race, was vast and rich.” The Kennedys entertained with dances and dinners, blissfully unaware that New York would not forever be British. A century later, on November 12, 1865, The New York Times would remember that “Within its walls congregated the beauty and fashion of the Colony.” On such evenings young belles, said Mrs. Lamb, “looked upon the river which washed the foot of the garden.”
Here the Kennedy’s first son was born, who would eventually become the 12th Earl of Cassilis and Marquis of Ailsa.
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| The elite block included the homes (left to right) of the Kennedy, Watts, Livingston and Stevens families --sketch NYPL Collection |
As the clouds of revolution formed over Manhattan, Kennedy sent his family to New Jersey and later abandoned his fine home as well. In 1775 General George Washington sent General Charles Lee, with an army of 1200 Connecticut volunteers, to march on New York. Upon arriving, Lee encamped his troops in what would become City Hall Park and made his headquarters in the Kennedy mansion.
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| Gentlemen in tricorn hats stroll before the Kennedy house before the war -- sketch NYPL Collection |
Lee’s choice of the house was, apparently, infectious. Every succeeding commander throughout the war took over No. 1 Broadway. Putnam, Washington, Sir Henry Clinton, Robertson, Carleton and other British officers established themselves here. It was from here that Andre wrote his letter to Benedict Arnold, who was occupying No. 3 Broadway, the home of Robert Livingston.
Following the Declaration of Independence, Colonel Patterson, Lord Howe’s Adjutant-General, called upon George Washington at No. 1 Broadway in an effort to reach “an understanding” between the Crown and the colonies. Washington received the Colonel in full military attire. Patterson produced a letter from Howe addressed to “George Washington, Esquire, etc., etc., etc.” The Colonel remarked that the three et ceteras “might mean everything.” Washington agreed; however he added that in his official capacity he could receive “only letters officially addressed.” The letter was neither delivered nor read.
Patterson requested Washington to relinquish his commands for Lord and General Howe. With the courtesy expected of a gentleman, Washington replied, “My particular compliments to both of them.” Later General Howe would remark that the meeting was “more polite than interesting;” however it had induced him to rethink how he addressed his letters. From that moment on he addressed Washington by his proper title.
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| The handsome cupola had either been removed by the time this print was made; or the artist simply ignored it -- NYPL Collection |
Although Sir Henry Clinton used the house next, Washington returned here after the British evacuation. It was from the Kennedy house that Washington left to make his farewell address to his officers at Fraunces Tavern.
After the war the house became home to banker Nathaniel Prime; although it would remain in the ownership of the De Peyster family, relatives of Ann Watts, until the 1850s. Although the War of 1812 and a subsequent financial depression slowed development in Manhattan, the city continued to grow. As development pushed northward, the once elegant residential neighborhood of Lower Broadway became commercial. Captain Kennedy’s beautiful mansion was converted to the Washington Hotel.
Two floors were added in remarkable sympathetic deference to the original architecture. A handsome balustrade lined the roof and splayed lintels mirrored the originals of the second floor. The hotel quickly became a popular site for entertainments. On January 21, 1842, for instance, a ball was held to pay tribute to the teacher J. L. Garrets. A.Butman, chairman of the event, invited “the friends and pupils of Mr. J. L. Garrets being desirous of testifying their regard for his attentive and gentlemanly behavior towards them,” through a notice in the New York Tribune.
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| The architect deftly melded the addition to the existing structure. The once-quiet Broadway now bustles with activity -- NYPL Collection |
The hotel was especially popular with the growing temperance movement. The same year notice was given that Mr. Covert’s Temperance Concert would take place on Friday evening, October 28 “which could not be given on Monday evening, the Church being without notice closed against him.” A year later, on May 11, The Franklin Temperance Society held its “Great Washington Meeting” here, during which “several distinguished strangers” addressed the meeting. On January 17, 1844 the Lady Franklin Temperance Society gave a Grand Festival in the hotel.
Other than the hotel’s name—a nod to Washington’s occupancy—the historic importance of the building was overlooked. Perhaps because their history was so young, 19th century Americans most often placed no importance on historic structures or places.
Mrs. Lamb noticed, however. In her book she complained “There was no plate let into the wall, no marble slab, no sign whatever, such as marks in older countries the houses of famous men and of interesting associations…The elevators, the telephones, the bath-rooms, the cuisine, the cleanly comfort and luxury, of our great hotels, compensate the traveler for the absence of such associations. But they can not supply the romance."
By 1881 the land on which the old building stood was far more valuable than the hotel. On December 16 The New York Times reported on the sales of the furniture and fixtures at public auction.
“The announcement of the sale brought together under the same roof which is alleged to have once sheltered Washington, a swarm of Dutch, Irish, and fourth-rate boarding-house keepers of mixed nationalities, who knew nothing of the historical traditions said to hover around the premises, but were interested only in getting bargains on the much-worn articles under the hammer.”
The article listed a few of the items sold. “A number of pieces of mahogany furniture, a quaint piano-forte, and a picture or two of Washington’s family and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, all of which presented an appearance of antiquity, were scattered through the rooms.”
The Times also noted that “A fight between two rival boarding-house keepers occurred in the kitchen in the early part of the sale, and furnished considerable entertainment to the motley audience. The gentlemen were lugged off by friends before they had seriously damaged one another.”
Despite The New York Tribune noting that “More memories associated with events which are fastened immutably in history are attached to this ancient spot than to any other on Manhattan Island,” the fascinating Washington Hotel was razed. In its place rose the 10-story Washington Building.
The New York Times explained the demolition with crystal clarity. "But commerce is a vandal, as well as a civilizer, recognizing no sentiment in its trade marches; so the old house had to go to make way for the structure which in its turn will, perchance, have to give place to one of yet larger and more modern build before many years."
The New York Times explained the demolition with crystal clarity. "But commerce is a vandal, as well as a civilizer, recognizing no sentiment in its trade marches; so the old house had to go to make way for the structure which in its turn will, perchance, have to give place to one of yet larger and more modern build before many years."
Mrs. Lamb, writing as the old hotel was still being demolished, said “The denizens of no other such building can recount, as they look from their sunny windows, so many and such various romantic traditions of their site as those who shall occupy hereafter the offices of the building which, we hope, will retain in this final change the old name of the famous mansion, the Kennedy house.”