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14006 Report.Indd ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND HISTORIC RESOURCE MAPPING NORTH END OF CENTRAL PARK ABOVE 103rd STREET BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY SUMMARY NARRATIVE Prepared for: Central Park Conservancy Prepared by: Richard W. Hunter, Ph.D., RPA Patrick Harshbarger, M.A James Lee, M.A., RPA Matthew Pihokker, M.A., RPA JULY 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Archival Research ......................................................................................................................................... 3 3. Historic Resource Mapping .......................................................................................................................... 7 4. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................... 9 References .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Table 1 - Central Park (northern end) - Selected Historic Maps ....................................................................... 13 Table 2 - Central Park (northern end) - Site Inventory ..................................................................................... 15 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION This brief report summarizes the results of a pro- Both the archival and mapping work built on the gram of archival research and historic resource map- results of an earlier historical and archaeological ping undertaken in the spring and early summer of assessment carried out and reported on by Hunter 2014 by Hunter Research, Inc. for the Central Park Research in 1990 for the portion of the park north Conservancy. These studies were confined to the of the 97th Street Transverse (Hunter Research, Inc. northern end of Central Park above 103rd Street. The 1990). overall purpose of this work is to provide accurate historical and archaeological data which can inform The detailed results of this research are provided on the management of pre-park historic resources within the two accompanying digital file sets on USB flash the broader context of future planning, improvement drives, one consisting of a compilation and analysis of and interpretation of the park. the archival materials that were examined, the other containing the GIS map layers and a geo-database. The archival research addressed the pre-park history of the study area with a particular emphasis on events and features of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The north end of Central Park, which is domi- nated by a discontinuous series of bluffs overlooking Harlem Creek from the south, was the site of sev- eral defensive earthworks, redoubts and other military facilities during both wars. During the Revolutionary War the area was also the scene of occasional British and Hessian military encampments, sometimes accommodating several thousand troops at a time. The historic resource mapping centered on the cre- ation of geographic information system (GIS) map layers and an accompanying geo-database that pin- pointed the locations of all pre-park historic resources, including, in addition to military sites, the sites of houses and taverns, outbuildings, the Kingsbridge Road and several features on Mount St. Vincent. This task involved rectifying and overlaying selected historic maps on topographic and LIDAR mapping and systematically field checking each location in an effort to assess its potential for yielding archaeologi- cal remains. 1 Chapter 2 ARCHIVAL RESEARCH Over the years much effort has been expended archival materials pertaining to McGowan’s Pass and by independent scholars and Conservancy staff on the adjoining bluffs in a few select repositories where researching the history of Central Park, both of the military records were known or strongly suspected park itself and of the landscape and events that took to be held. Documents and maps were examined, place there prior to the park’s founding. The results of inventoried, selectively photographed and transcribed, this research have been presented in numerous books and then compiled and organized into the body of and reports (e.g., Kinkead 1990; Rosenzweig and information presented in the accompanying digital Blackmar 1992; Miller 2003). The primary source files. The following repositories and archival materi- materials underpinning this work are scattered across als were consulted: numerous archival repositories not only within the city (notably, the New-York Historical Society, the New-York Historical Society – the collections New York Public Library, the New York Municipal of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library and Luce Archives, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Center at the New-York Historical Society were and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office) but reviewed with the particular goal of inventorying also further afield in the United States and overseas and comprehensively referencing maps and illus- (e.g., the National Archives, both in the United States trative materials relating to the War of 1812. The and the United Kingdom). paintings of John J. Holland and his associates and the maps and plans of fortifications produced The particular focus of the current research was the under the direction of Colonel Joseph Gardner military history of the northern end of the park dur- Swift were the principal focus of this research. ing the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. These materials date mostly from the late summer Certainly, there are many publications that address and fall of 1814, when for a brief period the City the events and historic sites of these two wars on of New York was under threat of British invasion. Manhattan Island, some of which make reference to These materials have been previously compiled the area now containing Central Park (e.g., Hall 1905, and digitally reproduced (Hunter Research, Inc. 1911; Emmet 1906; Bolton 1916; Stokes 1916-28; 1990, 2013) and are not included in the accompa- Bliven 1955; Cohn 1962; Roberts 1980); yet it was nying digital files. understood that much additional detailed informa- tion still remained to be gathered on specific military features and activities in the vicinity of McGowan’s Manhattan Borough President’s Office – Pass1, a key location on the former Kingsbridge Road with assistance from Conservancy staff, Hunter lying within the northern end of the park. The cur- Research consulted with Hector Rivera of the rent research program sought to systematically review Topography Bureau of the Manhattan Borough President’s Office to gain access to the so-called 1 The spelling “McGowan’s” is preferred here over “Randel Farm Maps” (surveyed by John Randel “McGown’s” on account of this clearly being the dominant between 1811 and 1817, and drafted between 1818 spelling of the family for whom the pass is named in the 18th and 1820) and John Bagley’s “Damage Maps – and 19th centuries. 3 HUNTER RESEARCH, INC. Central Park Extension” of 1860. These materials showing British defenses and troop deployments have been previously compiled and digitally repro- in this section of Manhattan Island. One other duced (Hunter Research, Inc. 1990, 2013) and are item of specific relevance to McGowan’s Pass, an not included in the accompanying digital files. order of battle for troops encamped at the pass in The Randel Farm Maps are available digitally 1782, was identified in the John Graves Simcoe through the Museum of the City of New York at Papers. http://www.mcny.org/content/randel-farm-maps. New York State Archives – a two-day trip to David Library of the American Revolution – a the New York State Archives in Albany centered one-day trip was made to the David Library in on the examination of records of the New York Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. This reposi- militia. The New York militia, under the direction tory holds few original manuscripts, but has an of New York Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, was extensive collection of manuscripts on microfilm largely responsible for building the New York City as well as numerous published and printed mate- fortifications in the late summer and fall of 1814. rials. The institution’s focus is weighted some- Two collections of archival materials relevant to what more heavily toward American (as opposed the War of 1812 were studied in detail: selected to British) actions and people involved in the audited accounts of state and civil military officers Revolutionary War, which worked against the cur- from the New York State Comptroller’s Office; rent research since for most of the war Manhattan and gubernatorial and personal records of New was under British control. Research concentrated York State Governor Daniel D. Tompkins. on using bibliographic and published sources to determine which other repositories held relevant At the outset of this research, several other repositories materials and on reviewing the Sir Guy Carleton were identified as potential sources of information, Papers on microfilm (accessed through published but for various reasons were not visited. The New reference guides). York Public Library has extensive map and archi- val holdings (including copies of the Revolutionary War-era Sir Guy Carleton Papers). These materials William Clements Library – a three-day trip were largely reviewed in 1990 and were determined was made to the William Clements Library at unlikely to produce substantial
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