Weehawken Street facts for kids
Weehawken Street is a short street in New York City. It is located in the West Village area of Manhattan. The street is only one block away from and runs next to West Street and Washington Street. It connects Christopher Street and West 10th Street.
The land where Weehawken Street is today was once part of a prison. This prison was called Newgate State Prison and was built in 1796-1797. After the prison closed and was torn down, the city sold the land in 1829. The city kept a small strip of land to create Weehawken Street. They also opened a market there, building the Market House in 1834. This market was officially named the Greenwich Market, but many people called it the "Weehawken Market." It did not do well and closed in 1844. The land was then sold to private owners.
Over the years, the buildings in the area were used for many different things. People lived in them, and some were stables for horses or boarding houses. Many businesses related to ships and transportation were also there. There were also stores selling clothes and supplies. However, many buildings became places to buy drinks, like bars and liquor stores.
Weehawken Street: A Historic Place
On May 2, 2006, a special group called the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission made all the buildings on Weehawken Street a historic district. This means they are protected because of their important history. This area is called the Weehawken Street Historic District. It also includes some buildings on West Street and Christopher Street.
This beautiful area has fourteen buildings and a unique street layout. They show how the Greenwich Village waterfront changed over a century, from 1830 to 1938. The buildings tell the story of the area's past. It was a place where people lived, worked, and traded, often connected to the sea. This district is a rare example of how the west side waterfront of Manhattan used to look.
Many of the properties in this historic district were owned by important families for a long time. These included former Mayor Stephen Allen, Cornelius V.S. Roosevelt, and others. Also, several important businesses related to shipping were located here for 100 years, from 1884 to 1984.
The creation of this historic district happened mostly because of the hard work of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. This group works to protect old buildings and areas in Greenwich Village.
Learn More
In Spanish: Weehawken Street para niños
