Stadt Huys Site facts for kids

The Stadt Huys was the very first city hall in New York City. It was built in the 1600s when the city was a Dutch settlement called New Amsterdam. The name "Stadt Huys" is old Dutch for "city hall." It stopped being used in 1679 because it was no longer safe. Today, you can find its location at 71 Pearl Street.

In 1979-1980, a big archaeological dig called the Stadt Huys Block project happened in New York City. It was one of the most expensive and successful urban archaeology projects ever done in an American city. Many new ways to do large-scale digs in cities were created during this project. These methods are now used as a guide for other big excavations.

History of the Stadt Huys

Where it Was

The Stadt Huys site covered land on three city blocks. These blocks were bordered by Pearl, Broad, and South William Streets. It also stretched east across an old Dutch street called Counties Ally. This area was the heart of Dutch New Amsterdam.

The First City Hall

In 1642, the Dutch West India Company built a typical Dutch-style building. It was first used as a city tavern and was called the Stadt Herbergh. Then, in 1653, it was changed into the very first City Hall.

The Stadt Huys was one of the biggest public buildings in the city during the 1600s. It became the main place for government and political life in the colony. It even kept working after the British took over New Amsterdam in 1664. However, by 1679, the Stadt Huys was too unsafe to use. It stood in bad condition for another 20 years before it was finally torn down in 1699.

The King's House

The King's House was built in 1670 by Francis Lovelace. He was New York's second English Governor. This building was right next to the Stadt Huys. It was also known as the Lovelace Tavern.

After the Stadt Huys closed, the King's House became the temporary city hall. It served this purpose until a new city hall was built in 1703. That new building was located at the corner of Wall and Nassau Streets.

Digging Up the Past

Why They Dug There

The Stadt Huys Block was one of the few places left in New York City where old Dutch remains might still exist. These remains could help solve mysteries about life in the New Amsterdam colony. This area was also the city's center back then. It is one of the oldest continuously lived-in sites in the city. Many important early New Yorkers once called this block home.

Why the Dig Was Important

The Stadt Huys Block archaeology project was very important for history. It was the first archaeology project in New York City done with the help of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. This group helps protect historic places. The dig showed that New Yorkers were very interested in learning about their city's past. It also opened the door for many future archaeology projects in the city.

The things found during the dig were incredibly valuable. This included both old objects and parts of buildings. All these findings showed how important the Stadt Huys Block excavations were.

Dig Timeline

• 1979: The project began. A new building was planned for 85 Broad Street. Its foundation would destroy any history buried there. After looking at old maps, experts believed the site held 300 years of secrets.
• August 1979: The team received permission to start the dig. The first step was to study old documents and do some early underground checks.
• October 1979: The second phase began. On October 1st, workers removed the parking lot surface. They also cleared away trash from torn-down buildings. On October 9th, the full crew started working. They continued until December 31st, 1979. Fieldwork and lab work began right away.
• January 1980: The team got more time and money to dig. This allowed them to explore Counties Alley and Stone Street. This phase lasted until mid-July 1980.
• July - August 1980: Construction started on Counties Alley and Stone Street. The fieldwork for the archaeology project ended on August 29th.
• March 1981: All the lab work was finished.
• December 1987: The final report about the project was given to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Who Paid for It

The Dollar Savings Bank owned the property and gave $155,000 to start the project. Later, Con Edison and the Durst Foundation also helped with funding.

Who Was Involved

The main directors of the dig were Nan Rothschild and Diana Rockman. Nan Rothschild was a professor of anthropology at Hunter College and New York University. Eugene Boesch was also a doctoral candidate who helped. Many other people contributed to the project as well.

What They Found

Archaeologists found more than four tons of old objects at the site! These included bricks, stones, and glass. They also found turkey bones, watermelon seeds, and coffee beans. There were oyster shells, buttons, and old coins.

They uncovered many types of pottery. This included a bright yellow cooking pot and beautiful blue and white delftware plates. They also found tiles and apothecary jars.

In the tavern built by Francis Lovelace, they found many broken 17th-century clay tobacco pipes. There were also pieces of wine bottles. In the cellar, they discovered a storage barrel full of empty wine and rum bottles. They even found one perfect, unbroken clay pipe.

What's There Now

The new building at 85 Broad Street, where the Stadt Huys once stood, was finished after the dig. However, the builders left some clues about the site's history. They displayed parts of the King's Tavern and an 18th-century well.

Around the building, there is a public plaza. It has information about the Stadt Huys, the Tavern, and the archaeology project. On the sidewalk of the plaza, a brass circular plaque shows a map of New Amsterdam's original streets. It has colored outlines for the Stadt Huys and the King's House. This helps people remember where these important buildings once stood.

Images for kids

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  An 18th century cistern below Pearl Street in Manhattan