Commerce Street

Some of the hidden gems in the West Village are the streets themselves, one of which is Commerce Street. Just a block and a half long, it's filled with lovely 19th buildings and plenty of history.

Turning onto Commerce Street, I immediately came upon the home of Washington Irving's sister (above) and where some believe Irving wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow while on a visit.

While apparently nothing happened next door, the home two houses down was built in 1829 on the site where Aaron Burr once lived in 1800 before his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton. The house was recently for sale and has what looks like a lovely extension at the back.

The beauty here is in the details. Across the street, window panes are comprised of circles of glass. I would love to see how the light looks hitting the room inside.

In 1924 a former box factory was converted into a theatre, which would become the Cherry Lane Theatre. Actress Kim Hunter, who originated the role of Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, lived upstairs for 50 years until her death in 2002. Hunter's children, who grew up in the building, told the story of a nearby excavation in the 1950s that uncovered not only a river but thousands of turtles.

A house on the bend in the street displays its patriotic pride on the Fourth of July. Most of the buildings bring to mind early America and seemed an appropriate area to wander around on the holiday.

At the end of the street one finds twin houses (one of them is pictured above). Built in 1831 by a milkman, they have my favourite—mansard roofs.

I don't know if Commerce Street is the cutest street in the West Village but I'm going to put it pretty high on the list.

Photos by Michele.

Here Lies the Body

In the heart of New York’s financial district stands Trinity Church whose gothic spires make a striking juxtaposition with the surrounding modern buildings. Originally built in 1698 (the church is in its third incarnation; the first was destroyed in a fire and the second was damaged from snow), Trinity received its charter from King William III in exchange for an annual rent of one peppercorn to the crown. 

While the church is beautiful, it is the surrounding Trinity churchyard that holds my interest. A quiet oasis away from the crowds, the grounds contain the remains of Revolutionary War heroes, Congressmen, and famed inventors. 

Alexander Hamilton's grave.

Probably the most famous resident of the churchyard is Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and a founding father who lost his life in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. I wonder what Hamilton thinks about being across from a men's clothing outlet store? More interesting than his monument, in my opinion, is the simple grave of his wife, Eliza, who lies next to him. She outlived her husband by 50 years, always defending his image and refusing to the end to acknowledge his philandering or his responsibility in the duel. She died at the incredibly old age of 97.

Many of the tombstones, because of age and wear, are difficult to read. But you can still make out the names on some and the designs that help date them. Skulls or death’s heads, a common symbol in the 1700s, were stark reminders of death and suffering. Later in the century cherubs, who were kinder in appearance (sometimes downright funny), replaced the skulls, offering up reminders of the rewards to be found in heaven.

Although there are many famous graves at Trinity, the smaller stones tell the stories of other New Yorkers who, while maybe not remembered today, are still important to New York history. 

Dear readers, as promised, I will try to write something other than cemetery reviews next time round.
Photos by Michele.