"H" Streets of New York

Generic Entries

Harlem.

The village of New Harlem was established in 1658 in an area that had previously been abandoned during the Dutch wars with the Indians. To lure new settlers, Peter Stuyvesant offered them generous grants of land, tax abatements, and a degree of self-government--including the election of their own magistrates. The village center was around the present First Avenue and 125th Street.. After the British takeover, Governor Nicolls confirmed the property grants to the Harlem patentees and granted them the privileges of a town “but immediately depending on this city, as being within the liberties thereof..” This language put Harlem in the peculiar position of being a town within a city. It also set the stage for litigation over the respective rights of the city, the town, and the Harlem patentees (or their heirs) that would go on for generations.

During the colonial period Harlem’s jurisdiction covered the entire upper part of the island, north of a line running from about 74th Street on the East River to 125th Street on the Hudson River. The town’s limited autonomy withered away after American Independence. In 1820 the Legislature authorized the City to sell off the 200-acre Harlem Commons to pay for streets and other public improvements.

The New York and Harlem Rail Road reached Harlem in 1837, but it remained essentially a village until the building of the elevated railways about 1880. The new row houses and tenements that followed the “els” were occupied almost entirely by whites. The subway boom of the early 1900s created a glut of new—and rather high quality--apartments in the blocks north of Central Park. A black realtor, Philip A. Payton, persuaded some white owners to let him rent their nearly empty buildings to “colored” tenants. By the 1920s Harlem—especially from Fifth Avenue west to Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues—was the most famous black community in America. The area east of Fifth Avenue, which was then predominantly Italian, took on a separate identity as East Harlem. See also Bloomingdale and Common Lands.

Street Names

Harlem Bridge Road. (E-M19) Built shortly after 1800, it branched from the Eastern Post Road at what is now 90th Street and Fifth Avenue, running in a straight line to what is now Sylvan Place and thence, again in a straight line, to the Coles bridge at East 129th Street and Third Avenue Avenue. This road supplanted the Old Harlem Road as the main approach to Harlem from the lower part of the island.. On Randel’s Farm Map (1820) it is labeled both Harlem Bridge Road and Middle Road.

High Street (1, 2). (M-L17) The English form of the Dutch Hoogh Straet. Stokes' map of the Dutch grants (v. 2, C Pl. 87) shows this name for Bridge Street between Whitehall and Broad Streets and for Stone Street from Broad Street to Hanover Square. In Dutch towns the Hoogh Straet is typically the next street back from the road along the shore or river bank, therefore higher and less susceptible to flooding. Both of the High Streets shown by Stokes were, in the Dutch period, the next street back from the road along the shore.

NYC Streets

"H" Streets of New York A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Generic Entries Harlem. The village of New Harlem was established in 1658 in an area that had previously been abandoned during the Dutch wars with the Indians. To lure new settlers, Peter Stuyvesant offered them generous grants of land, tax abatements, and a degree of self-government--including the election of their own magistrates. The village center was around the present First Avenue and 125th Street.. After the British takeover, Governor Nicolls confirmed the property grants to the Harlem patentees and granted them the privileges of a town “but immediately depending on this city, as being within the liberties thereof..” This language put Harlem in the peculiar position of being a town within a city. It also set the stage for litigation over the respective rights of the city, the town, and the Harlem patentees (or their heirs) that would go on for generations. During the colonial period Harlem’s jurisdiction covered the entire upper part of the island, north of a line running from about 74th Street on the East River to 125th Street on the Hudson River. The town’s limited autonomy withered away after American Independence. In 1820 the Legislature authorized the City to sell off the 200-acre Harlem Commons to pay for streets and other public improvements. The New York and Harlem Rail Road reached Harlem in 1837, but it remained essentially a village until the building of the elevated railways about 1880. The new row houses and tenements that followed the “els” were occupied almost entirely by whites. The subway boom of the early 1900s created a glut of new—and rather high quality--apartments in the blocks north of Central Park. A black realtor, Philip A. Payton, persuaded some white owners to let him rent their nearly empty buildings to “colored” tenants. By the 1920s Harlem—especially from Fifth Avenue west to Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues—was the most famous black community in America. The area east of Fifth Avenue, which was then predominantly Italian, took on a separate identity as East Harlem. See also Bloomingdale and Common Lands. Street Names Hague or Hage Street. (L18-M20) A street formerly running from Pearl Street to Cliff Street north of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was demapped in 1957 for the present high school and telephone building in Block 113. Hall Lane. See City Hall Lane. Hall Place or Street. (E19-L20) Named Hall Street in 1830, it became Hall Place in 1855. It was renamed Taras Shevchenko Place in 1978. Hallett's Wharf. (L18) Between Gouverneur Lane and Wall Street. Merged [in part?] into Front Street circa 1793. Hamill Place. (M-L20) Ran from Centre Street to Worth Street along the northeast side of the New York State Court House. Closed about 1990. Now a pedestrian walkway. Hamilton Avenue. (E-M19). A street laid out about 1807 on the line of the present Lexington Avenue from 65th Street to 71st Streets. See also Hamilton Square (1). Hamilton Place (1). (M-L19) West 51st Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Hamilton Place (2). (L19) East 82nd Street between Second and Third Avenues. Hamilton Square (1) . (e-l19) A square laid out on the Common Lands in 1807. As later incorporated into the Commissioners’ Plan, it was bounded by 66th and 68th Streets and Third and Fifth Avenues. The part between Fourth and Fifth Avenues was discontinued in 1867 and the remainder was closed in 1869. Hamilton Square (2). (E19) A square in the Stuyvesant Farm Grid, projected in Bridges’ 1807 version of the Mangin-Goerck Plan. It is shown bounded by Winthrop, Dow, Eliza and Margaret Streets. Hamilton Street (1). (E19-E20) A street formerly running from Catharine to Market Streets on the Lower East Side. It was closed in the early 1930s for Knickerbocker Village. Hamilton Street (2). (E19) A street in Manhattanville, parallel to and two blocks south of Manhattan Street (the present West 125th Street) from Bloomingdale Road east to Edward Street. Hamlin Street or Avenue. (L19) A winding hillside street now mostly within St. Nicholas Park. From St. Nicholas Avenue at 135th Street it curved south to the line of 134th Street, then north to 138th Street at about the line of today’s St. Nicholas Terrace. Hammersley Place. (M-L19) Formerly the south side of Hammersley Street (now West Houston Street) between Macdougal Street and Congress Street (1). Most of this block was demolished for the extension of Sixth Avenue in the 1920s. Hammersley Street. (E-M19) Until 1858. the name of West Houston Street west of Macdougal Street. Hammond Street. (L18-M19). Now West 11th Street west of Greenwich Avenue. The name was changed in 1865. Hancock Street. (L18-E20) A street formerly running from Bleecker to West Houston Street, one block west of MacDougal Street It became part of the southward extension of Sixth Avenue in the 1920s. Part of the former east side of Hancock Street is now the east side of Sixth Avenue from Bleecker Street south to the angle at the playground. See also Cottage Place, Brook Street and Eighth Street. Hanover Square. (revived) Like other street names associated with the British crown, Hanover Square was officially changed in 1794, its north and south sides being merged into Pearl Street. The name reappeared on maps by the 1820s, although Post (1882) lists it as a former street name. Hanson Place. (L19) Second Avenue between 124th and 125th Streets. Hardenbrookes Slip. (E18) A slip on the East River, mentioned in the Minutes of the Common Council in 1728. Possibly the same as the later Peck Slip.. Harfleur's Wharf. (E19) On the East River just west of Pine Street. Harlem Avenue (1). (E19) A name used by 1807 for what is now Third Avenue. It initially applied to the part within the Common Lands, from the present 66th to 82nd Streets. See Harlem Avenue (2). Harlem Avenue (2). (E19) Projected by the Common Council in 1805, this was an extension of Orchard Street northward to meet the Eastern Post Road near the present intersection of 45th Street and Third Avenue. At that time the Eastern Post Road would have served as the connection between this and Harlem Avenue (1). See also Orchard Lane. Harlem Bridge Road. (E-M19) Built shortly after 1800, it branched from the Eastern Post Road at what is now 90th Street and Fifth Avenue, running in a straight line to what is now Sylvan Place and thence, again in a straight line, to the Coles bridge at East 129th Street and Third Avenue Avenue. This road supplanted the Old Harlem Road as the main approach to Harlem from the lower part of the island.. On Randel’s Farm Map (1820) it is labeled both Harlem Bridge Road and Middle Road. Harlem Lane. (E18-M19) Now St. Nicholas Avenue between Central Park and 123rd Street. It was built about 1708 as part of the Kingsbridge Road and became part of St. Nicholas Avenue when the latter street was created in 1866. Harlem Lane Park. (L19-M20) The triangle bounded by Macombs Place, Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, and West 153rd Street, now known as Colonel Charles Young Triangle. It was renamed for Colonel Young in 1937. Harlem Market (1). At the southwest corner of Third Avenue and East 121st Street circa 1842-1859. Harlem Market (2). (E20) In the block bounded by First Avenue, the East River, East 102nd and East 103rd Streets. Harlem River Speedway or Driveway. (L19-M20) The predecessor of Harlem River Drive. It was opened in 1898 as a recreational carriage drive and converted to use for automobiles in 1915. Harlem Road (1). (M18?-M19) Ran generally northwest from the present Sylvan Place (near 121st Street and Lexington Avenue) to the Kingsbridge Road (present St Nicholas Avenue) at West 131st Street. This road was also sometimes called the Kingsbridge Road or Road to Kingsbridge, presumably by Harlemites. Harlem Road (2). (L17-E19) One of several names for the colonial road up the east side of Manhattan Island. See Eastern Post Road. Harlem Square. (E-M19) One of the squares laid out on the 1811 Commissioners’ Plan, Harlem Square was bounded by Lenox and Seventh Avenues and 117th and 121st Streets. It was discontinued in 1836 by the same Act that established Mount Morris Square Harlem Street. (n.d.) Listed by Post. No location given. Harman Street. (L18?-E19) Renamed East Broadway in 1831. Harriott Street. (E19) In the Stuyvesant Farm Grid, the sixth street east of the Bowery. Harsen's or Harsenville Road or Lane. (E-M19) A road built about 1803 from Bloomingdale Road to the Eastern Post Road on and near the line of the present 71st Street. Harwood Place. (M-L19) East 78th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues. Haven Avenue. (part) Haven Avenue from 177th to 181st Streets was obliterated in the mid-20th Century by access ramps to the George Washington Bridge. See also Buena Vista Avenue. Hawthorne Street. (L19-E20) Until 1911, the name of West 204th Street west of Tenth Avenue. Hay Scale Slip. (E19) On the Hudson River between Duane and Jay Streets. Hazard Street . (L18-E19) Renamed King Street in 1807. Heere Dwars Straat. See Dwars Straet. Heere Gracht or Graft. (M-L17) New Amsterdam's principal canal, so called as early as 1652 In 1676 it was filled in to create what is now Broad Street from Pearl to Beaver Streets. It appears as Heere Graft on the Nicolls list and as Heerengracht on the Selyns list. See Canals. Heere Straet. (M-L17) As used on the de Sille list, this meant Broadway between Bowling Green and the city gate at what is now Wall Street, . However, the Dutch heere straet was also a generic term, comparable to the English "main street," that could refer to other important public roads or streets. See also Heere Wegh below. Heere Waage Wegh. .(M-L17?) According to Post, Broadway from Bowling Green to Vesey Street. Heere Wegh. (M-L17) Usually the main road beyond the city gate including: Broadway from Wall to Vesey Streets; the winding road from Vesey Street to Chatham Square that was the predecessor of today's Park Row; and the Bowery. Stokes' map of the Dutch grants shows this as a name for Broadway south of Wall Street. See also Herewegh (1) and (2). Hell Gate Road. (E19) Completed in 1806 to provide access to the Hell Gate Ferry (also known as Horn's Hook Ferry) at the foot of the present 86th Street. The road branched from the Eastern Post Road near 84th Street. Most of it was closed in 1833. See also Hurlgate Road. Hemlock Street. (E19) A former street in Manhattanville. It ran parallel to and two blocks south of Manhattan Street from Bloomingdale Road west to Effingham Road. Henry Street. (E19) Renamed Perry Street in 1813. See also Ogden Street. Herewegh (1). .(M-L17?) Park Row and Chatham Street to Tryon Row. See also Heere Wegh. Herewegh (2). .(M-L17?) Stone Street. See also Heere Wegh, High Street and Hoogh Straet. Herman Place. (M-L19) A rear court on the south side of East 4th Street between Avenues A and B. Herman Street. (L18) Probably an error for Harman Street, now East Broadway. Herring Street (1) . (L18?-E19) Until 1829, the name of Bleecker Street west of Sixth Avenue. See also David Street. Herring Street (2). (L18-E19) An early name of Mercer Street between Bleecker Street and Waverly Place. It was part of Mercer Street by 1803. Hester Court. (M-L19) At the rear of 101 Hester Street between Allen and Eldridge Streets. Hester Street. (parts) Prior to 1825, Hester Street included what is now Howard Street between Centre and Mercer Streets. Hester Street between Essex and Division Streets was demapped in the mid-20th century for the Seward Park Houses. See also Chestnut Street, Eagle Street, Clermont Street (2), and Delancey Farm Grid. Hetty or Hett Street. (E19) Changed to Charlton Street by 1807. See also Burr Street. Hevins Street. (L18) A former name of Broome Street between Broadway and Hudson Streets. Sometimes written as St. Hevins Street. All of the present Broome Street was so called by 1817. Hewitt Avenue. See West Washington Market (2). Hicks and Titus's Wharf (1). (E19) South of Water Street between Market and Pike Streets. Hicks and Titus's Wharf (2). (E19) At the foot of Pelham Street between Pike and Rutgers Streets. High Road to Boston. See Boston Road. High Street (1, 2). (M-L17) The English form of the Dutch Hoogh Straet. Stokes' map of the Dutch grants (v. 2, C Pl. 87) shows this name for Bridge Street between Whitehall and Broad Streets and for Stone Street from Broad Street to Hanover Square. In Dutch towns the Hoogh Straet is typically the next street back from the road along the shore or river bank, therefore higher and less susceptible to flooding. Both of the High Streets shown by Stokes were, in the Dutch period, the next street back from the road along the shore. High Street (3). (L18-E19) Now Madison Street between Montgomery and Grand Streets. High Street (4). According to Post, another name for Broadway between Bowling Green and Vesey Street. Hoboken Street. (E-M19) Now the south side of Canal Street between Washington and West Streets Until 1865 it was a distinct street, separated from Canal Street by a triangular park that has recently been restored. Hoffman Place. (L19) West 11th Street from West Street to Thirteenth Avenue. Hoffman Street. . (E19) Prior to the adoption of the Commissioners Plan, a street running from Third to Fourth Avenues, on or slightly north of the line of the present 69th Street. It was the northern boundary of the Dove lots. See Hamilton Square. Holland Square. (M19) The originally intended name of what became Stuyvesant Square. Holland Street. (L18-E19?) An early name for LaGuardia Place north of West 3rd Street. Hollow Way, The. (L18) A road running from the Bloomingdale Road to the Hudson River on the line of the present West 125th Street. Holyrood Place. (L19) East 83rd Street between Second and Third Avenues. Hoogh Straet. Written as one word on the de Sille list; spelled Hoog on the Selyns list. See High Street(1) and High Street(2). Hopper's Lane. (L18?-M19) Ran from about the present 50th Street and Sixth Avenue to a point west of Eleventh Avenue in what is now De Witt Clinton Park. Horn's Hook Ferry Road. See Hell Gate Road. Horse and Cart Street or Lane. (M-L18) An 18th Century name for William Street, so called after a popular tavern between John Street and the present Fulton Street. Sometimes the cart is put before the horse. Post equates it with South William Street, apparently an error. Houston Street (1). (E-M19) So named by 1803, but originally spelled Houstoun (see below). The present spelling was predominant by the 1840s. In 1858 it absorbed Hammersley Street and was divided into East and West Houston Streets. See also North Street and Hudson Street (1). Houston Street (2). (L18-E19?) Now Prince Street. It was named about 1790 for William Houstoun (1755-1813), a son in law of Nicholas Bayard. By 1803 it had become Prince Street and Houstoun's name had been shifted one block north. Hubert Street. (part) Hubert Street east of St. John’ Lane was changed to the present York Street in 1823. Hudson Avenue. (E19) A street projected in 1805, running from about 12th Street to 72nd Street on or near the line of Tenth Avenue. Hudson Market. See Bear Market. Hudson Place. (M-L19) A row of 28 houses on the south side of West 34th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. Hudson Square. (L18-M19) A private square laid out on Trinity Church lands prior to 1797. It originally extended from North Moore to Laight Streets between Varick and Hudson Streets. By 1807 the southern boundary had been moved a block north to Beach Street. The square was known as St. John's Park from about 1840. Hudson Street (1). (L18-E19?) The earliest name of what is now West Houston Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. It was called Houston Street by 1803. Hudson Street (2). The short link of Hudson Street north of West 14th St. was made part of Ninth Avenue in 1924. Hull Street. (L17) On the 1695 Miller Plan, the present Bridge Street between Whitehall and Broad Streets. Hunter's Key. (E-L18) Now Water Street between Old Slip and Wall Street. It was also called Rotten Row. Hunter's Wharf (1). (L18-E19?) According to Post, west of Greenwich Street between Charlton and King Streets. Hunter's Wharf (2). (E19) Became part of Broome Street between Mangin and East Streets. Hunt's Pier. (E-M18) A pier mentioned in 1734 as being west of the Copsie Rocks, i.e., in the vicinity of the present Battery Place. Hunt's Wharf. See Hunterï¿½s Wharf (1). Hurbert Street. (E19) Probably Hubert Street. Hurlgate Road. (E19) A genteel alternative to Hell Gate Road. Hyatt Street. (L19-E20) Ran from Broadway to the Harlem River. Laid out in 1892, it was changed to West 226th Street in 1905. Its site is now part of the Marble Hill Houses.		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