June 2007 / New York County Lawyer 11

14 Vesey Street: Genealogy of an Address - Part II The Meeks, Astor and Cromwell-NYCLA Years by K. Jacob Ruppert, J.D. Steuben, Kosciusko, Polaski and Rochambeau at his parents’ home. On The Meeks Years, 1836-1908 November 25, 1783, when the British The rental income from Dr. David forever sailed out of New York harbor, Hosack’s Vesey Street home did not last Meeks, at the age of 12, was at the long as it perished in the Great Fire of Battery amidst the mob toppling the 1835 along with Hosack’s three other Statue of St. George and sawing off the downtown properties. In a sense, Royalist finials atop the fencing sur- Hosack perished too as he died of a rounding it. As one of the founders of stroke five days later. The scorched and Tammany Hall, he was deeply political. snow-covered lot was sold in January of Aged 90 at the beginning of the Civil 1836 for $35,000. Recorded occupancy War, Meeks announced he would volun- of the later building picks up in 1836 teer if necessary to defeat “the descen- when laureate furniture master- dants of the Tories of the Revolution.” craftsman, Joseph Meeks (1771-1868) Meeks prospered as Vesey Street was moves in at 14-16 Vesey Street, becoming the epicenter for such house- replacing his factory at 43 Broad Street, hold staples as furniture, dry goods and which had burned. Meeks, a first-gener- groceries. As one walked west along ation American born to Welsh and Vesey Street, there were docks and the French Huguenot parents, unwittingly Washington Market, the latter of which, witnessed American history as a child. by 1900, was the largest food market in His New York Herald obituary records North America. This access to foot that his mother was the interpreter for traffic and shipping played an indispens- General George Washington and the able role in Meeks’s success. Dating Moving clockwise from the left: 12 Vesey Street in 1853, , French generals under Rochambeau. As back to its rustic beginnings in the 1770s, Astor House (on the corner of Broadway and Vesey Street), the Washington a boy, he often saw Washington, Washington Market, originally called Market in 1853 and the engraving that appeared on the furniture made by Lafayette, Wayne, Schuyler, von Bear Market, started on farmland cabinet-maker J. & J.W. Meeks.

donated by Trinity Church. The market However, his firm provides an excellent grew substantially and after the opening case study in the 19th century move from Honoring NYCLA’s past, of the Erie Canal in the 1820s, its growth master craftsman to manufacturer. expanded to encompass the area of Likely apprenticing with his father, Washington, West, Partition (now Joseph Meeks established his cabinet- Fulton) and Vesey Streets. Hundreds of making shop on Broad Street in 1797. celebrating its future independent vendors sold fruits, vegeta- Economic troubles began for his small bles, specialty foods, wild game and live- business soon after the passage of the Hon., Caroline Klein Simon, death in 1993. She served on the stock, unofficially extending the market Non-Importation Act in 1806 and the NYCLA Board in the early 1960s, in as far north as the current meatpacking Embargo Act a year later. By 1819, busi- a pioneer in fighting district, which can trace its roots to ness had picked up and he began to discrimination addition to serving on several NYCLA committees – Practical Washington Market. In 1915, annual develop markets for his work in the trade for the market was estimated at $5 South. The South found itself cut off Hon. Caroline K. Simon, a native Legal Education (1973-1979), million (over $100 million in current dol- from European imports due to protec- Professional Ethics (1974-1985), New Yorker, was born on November lars) and the trade to hotels and restau- tionist policies passed by Congress, as 12, 1900 and graduated from New Judiciary (1981-1985) and Surrogate rants alone fed an estimated one million well as the fallout of the War of 1812. York University School of Law in Court (1985) Committees. people per day. The Vesey Street Ferry, Meeting this demand for northern 1925. Unable to find a law firm that In 1958, Ms. Simon served as legal connecting Manhattan with Hoboken, goods, Meeks established connections in would hire her after she graduated, advisor to the U.S. delegation to the was an additional commercial artery Savannah and New Orleans, eventually Ms. Simon found her true calling – U.N. Human Rights Commission on (and provided access to cheaper residen- expanding his product line by selling advocating for a wide range of issues. Civil Rights. And in January 1959, tial rents for shop owners and dealers) to “sideboards and bureaus, elegant She promoted the placing of women Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller support the trade of not only armoires, ladies’ dressing tables, writing on juries, as well as reform of the ‘New appointed her Secretary of the State Washington Market, but also the busi- desks and tables…mahogany bedsteads, York City Women’s Court,’ a special- of New York. Four years later, she was nesses of Vesey Street. Washington clocks and cases…first quality Windsor ized criminal court established in 1910 appointed to the New York Court of Market closed on December 31, 1956 chairs… .” By 1833, Joseph Meeks & at the behest of vocal anti-prostitution Claims and remained on the bench and was demolished the following year. Sons had become one of the largest fur- crusaders. Plagued by decades of con- until 1971. Thereafter, Judge Simon My family mourned its end because for niture firms in with a troversy, in 1967 the New York City continued her public interest activities decades, we had purchased Westphalian specialty in rococo revival. Women’s Court closed its doors. and published articles on a variety of ham and German cheeses from Henry It is uncertain as to when Joseph Ms. Simon was also an advocate for issues, among them, discrimination, W. Rieger, a stall owner since 1896. The Meeks retired from the firm, but upon its education and birth control. Active in jury service, youthful offenders and Washington Market area was con- move to 14 Vesey Street, the name local and state government, she the problems of women in society. demned in the 1960s, ultimately paving changed to J. & J.W. Meeks, named after served in various New York state gov- Judge Simon was also associated with the way for the erection of the World two of his eight children. It is by this ernment posts during World War II. the firm of Decker, Hubbard and Trade Center. name (always in large black stenciling on In these environs, the Meeks firm the underbelly of its furniture) that col- Ahead of her time, Ms. Simon worked Welden (a predecessor of Decker, flourished. Not only was the bustling lectors, museums and auction houses Hubbard, Welden & Sweeney). to end racial, religious and sex dis- Vesey Street providing him customers, place and date a piece as being made at crimination early in her career. In the Judge Simon remained active into suppliers and transportation, but the Vesey Street factory. Joseph Meeks 1940s, she helped draft the nation’s her 90s, outliving her husband, Leopard throughout the first half of the 19th cen- died on July 21, 1868 at his estate in Islip, first state law banning bias based on King Simon, who was also an attorney. tury, New York City was the center for Long Island at the age of 97. The New religion, race or nationality in Dedicated, steadfast and determined, the manufacture of high-end furniture in York Times reported that “[h]e was the employment, and was a founding Judge Simon led the nation in imposing the U.S. The firm, run by three genera- oldest resident of New York who was member of the New York State regulations against racial ‘blockbusting’ tions of Meeks - from 1797 until 1869 - born in the City.” Meeks, his sons and Commission Against Discrimination. by real estate brokers and championed was one of the city’s principal furniture their families are all buried in Green- She was also a member of the laws against discrimination in jobs and establishments. Although Meeks pro- Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn. American Jewish Committee. housing. She was a true pioneer in duced a quality and style that was com- Ms. Simon was a longtime fighting discrimination and overcame petitive with his distinguished The Astor Years, 1908-1926 NYCLA member. She joined in 1940 the obstacles that women faced in the contemporaries (Duncan Phyfe, Honore Although the J. & J.W. Meeks firm and remained a member until her legal profession. Lannuier and Alexander Roux), he did prospered throughout its 33 years at 14 not achieve commensurate fame. See 14 VESEY STREET, Page 13 June 2007 / New York County Lawyer 13 NYCLA EXTENDS ITS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING LAW STUDENT MEMBERS ON THEIR GRADUATION Albany Law School, Union University Maris Jade Katz Myles Phillip McKenna Kelly L. Wines Kimberly Christine Petillo Helen Lok Ryan C. Micallet Fei-Lu Qian Jocelyn Debra Ram Siddhya Mishra Catholic University of America, Columbus Scott Roe Cassandra M. Porter School of Law American University - Washington College Kimberly J. Seluga Nicholas S. Ratush Andrew N. Stein of Law Angela C. Tordesillas Erica Razook Miki Kamijyo Davida Michelle Walsh Kate Rohrer College of William & Mary School of Law Robert Peter Sheridan Sandhya Ganapathy Boston College Law School Brooklyn Law School David J. Cohen Keith Billotti Cardozo School of Law, School of Law Peter D. Rahaghi Eric S. Chafetz Yeshiva University Jorge Avitia Alexander Rheaume David Herbert Faux Jason Berman Katie Beauregard Gregory Fox David Allen Bernstein Bryan A. Brooks Boston University School of Law Alexander Charles Gross Brianne Biggiani Zvi Gabbay Sean Chao Virpi H. Kanervo Jacob Birnbaum David Mark Hutchins Liv Mills-Carlisle Meera Malhotra Rachel Blumenthal Epstein Alaine M. Morgan ELECTRONIC RESEARCH CENTER Adam Joseph Friedl Neil T. Reddy Darius Adam Marzec Avani M. Shah From Page 9 Wednesday, June 20 Svetlana Mirkis Erica Carolyn Smilevski WESTLAW: INTERNATIONAL 10:00–12:30 PM Peter M. Nurnberg Whitney D. Soderholm LAW RESEARCH BANKRUPTCY COURT ELEC- Catherine Flores Silie 1 MCLE Credit: 1 Skills; TRONIC CASE FILING SYSTEM See LAW STUDENTS, Page 14 Transitional 2.5 MCLE Credits: 2.5 Skills; Member: FREE Transitional Non-Member: FREE Member: $65 Non-Member: $85 Friday, June 15 Non-Legal Staff: $35 14 Vesey Street 3:00–4:00 PM WESTLAW: CRIMINAL LAW Wednesday, June 20 From Page 11 few generations of Astors during his life- RESEARCH 6:00–7:30 PM Vesey Street, it did not last a year after the time. In 1926, 2nd put up 1 MCLE Credit: 1 Skills; INTERNET LEGAL RESOURCES: death of its patriarch in 1868. By the fol- for sale 12-14-16 Vesey Street/6-8-10 Transitional IMMIGRATION lowing year, Meeks’s sons permanently Barclay Street, which he had inherited Member: FREE 1.5 MCLE Credits: 1.5 Skills; retired from the furniture business and, by from his father in 1919. Non-Member: FREE Transitional the end of that year, they had auctioned Beginning in 1923, Cromwell looked off their inventory and concentrated on for a permanent home for the New York Member: $65 the management of their father’s estate, County Lawyers’ Association, which had Tuesday, June 19 Non-Member: $85 which held considerable commercial and been established 15 years earlier. In 10:30–11:45 PM Non-Legal Staff: $35 residential real estate. By 1878, sons John August of 1926, Cromwell closed his pur- BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL: and Joseph W. had died and their collec- chase of the 75-by-200-foot Vesey Street INTRODUCTORY CLASS Thursday, June 21 tive estates held not only the 14 Vesey properties for $1 million and offered 1.5 MCLE Credits: 1 Skills; .5 Law 10:00-11:00AM Street address but also 18, 26, 28 and 30 NYCLA an option to purchase 14 Vesey Practice WESTLAW: ADVANCED Vesey. On March 19, 1909, after ten years Street by December 31, 1926. By March Transitional 1 MCLE Credit: 1 Skills; of litigation over the estate of Joseph W. 1927, the Association’s building fund was Member: FREE Transitional Meeks, his heirs auctioned off the proper- sufficient to exercise the option and Non-Member: FREE Member: FREE ties, with all Vesey Street parcels going to NYCLA bought the parcel for number 14 Non-Member: FREE William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor Vesey Street from Cromwell at his cost. Tuesday, June 19 (1848-1919), the “English House” of Reaching as far into the future as pos- 6:00–7:30 PM Tuesday, June 26 Astor, on behalf of the estate of his father, sible in order to protect his intent to INTERNET LEGAL RESOURCES: 10:00-11:00AM John Jacob Astor III (1822-1890), for ensure the future of NYCLA, he placed a AN OVERVIEW WESTLAW: EMPLOYMENT LAW $507,500. The estate already owned the restrictive covenant on the deed, vowing 1.5 MCLE Credits: 1.5 Skills; RESEARCH Barclay Street half of the infamous Astor that the land never be used for “commer- Transitional 1 MCLE Credit: 1 Skills; House hotel located on the corner. cial, residential, restaurant or business Member: $65 Transitional William’s first cousin, John Jacob Astor IV purposes.” He contributed another Non-Member: $85 Member: FREE (1864-1912), the “American House,” $500,000 to the cost of construction and Non-Legal Staff: $35 Non-Member: FREE owned the Vesey Street half. Befitting of was instrumental in landing Cass Gilbert their notorious intra-familial rivalry, as its architect. NYCLA opened the William purchased Nos. 8 and 10 Barclay doors of its new home on May 27, 1930. CLE PROGRAMS Street, (the lots making up two thirds of NYCLA’s expansion eventually led to its NYCLA’s backyard), thus surrounding his purchase of what Cromwell had kept for From Page 7 BOUNDS OF AGGRESSIVE cousin’s holdings in the ancestral Astor himself back in 1926 – Nos. 6-8-10 6 MCLE Credits: 2 Ethics; 2 Skills; 2 LITIGATION - 2007 UPDATE family property. Barclay Street. At some point prior to his Professional Practice; Transitional and 3 MCLE Credits: 3 Ethics; Astor House was demolished in 1915, a death, Cromwell divested himself of Non-Transitional Non-Transitional year after John Jacob Astor IV perished on these Barclay Street properties with one the Titanic. In 1925, the son of William of the subsequent owners being the Early Registration (on or before 6/9) Early Registration (on or before 6/17) Waldorf Astor, John Jacob Astor, 2nd Mutual Life Insurance Company, which Member: $145 Non-Member: $185 Member: $95 Non-Member: $120 Registration Fee (6/18 - 6/19) Viscount Astor and 1st Baron Astor of sold them in 1947. In May of 1961, Registration Fee (6/10 - 6/11) NYCLA purchased these lots from Member: $120 Non-Member: $145 Hever (1886-1971), sold his father’s half to Member: $170 Non-Member: $210 the developers of the Transportation another owner for $440,000 and owned Building that exists today at 225 them until the mid 1980s. Tuesday, June 12 Wednesday, June 27 Broadway. In 1917, the son of John Jacob Next month: Part III - Ancestral ten- 6:00 - 9:00 PM 5:30 - 8:30 PM Astor IV, William Vincent Astor (1891- ants of present day 14 Vesey Street TERRORISM AND THE PATRIOT VIDEO REPLAY: 1959), completed an office building remi- ACT – NSA LETTERS, GOING ANATOMY OF A DEPOSITION niscent of the old hotel that remains to this K. Jacob Ruppert, Esq. is the Judicial POSTAL! OUR CONSTITUTIONAL 3 MCLE Credits: 3 Skills; day at 217 Broadway (with Staples as its Law Clerk to Hon. Stephen B. Beasley of RIGHTS UNDER SIEGE Non-Transitional anchor tenant) only to sell it in 1955, the 11th Judicial District Court of the 3 MCLE Credits: 3 Professional Early Registration (on or before 6/25) ending 155 years of owner- State of Louisiana and served as Senior Practice; Transitional and Member: $95 Non-Member: $120 ship of this one block on Broadway. Program Attorney for the New York Non-Transitional Registration Fee (6/26 - 6/27) County Lawyers’ Association’s CLE Early Registration (on or before 6/10) Member: $120 Non-Member: $145 The Cromwell-NYCLA Years Institute from 2001-2004. Born in New Member: $125 Non-Member: $165 William Vincent Astor was now in con- Orleans, he comes from a deeply rooted Registration Fee (6/11 - 6/12) Please Note: Transitional courses are trol of his late father’s Vesey Street hold- New York family and is an ardent histo- Member: $150 Non-Member: $190 appropriate for newly admitted attor- ings. William Nelson Cromwell rian of lower Manhattan and Yorkville. neys. Non-transitional courses are not (1854-1948) was surely no stranger to the His current writing projects include arti- Tuesday, June 19 acceptable for newly admitted attorneys. Astor family throughout his phenomenal cles on the late Justice Fred J. Cassibry of 8:30 -11:00 AM Transitional and non-transitional courses career as an attorney, entrepreneur, Louisiana and the forgotten estates of diplomat and philanthropist. Both men Point View in Rumson, NJ and Linwood BREAKFAST WITH NYCLA - are appropriate for both newly admitted attorneys and experienced attorneys. were active members of the Pilgrims in Rhinebeck, NY. Mr. Ruppert can be VIDEO REPLAY: ETHICAL Society and certainly Cromwell knew a reached at [email protected].