Discovering The Historic Hudson Square Neighborhood
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- WCBS 880 listeners are no doubt familiar with the phrase "Live from the CBS Hudson Square broadcast center," but many people don't even know where Hudson Square is.
And don't bother looking at a map, you won't find it on one. The name Hudson Square is a real estate marketing designation, but as Ellen Baer of the Hudson Square Connection explained to WCBS 880's Jane Tillman Irving, that doesn't make it any less a part of the city.
WCBS 880's Jane Tillman Irving with Ellen Baer...
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"It's a wonderful combination of majestic industrial buildings, and low-scale federal style houses, rediscovered recently by media and different creative types," she said, "It's a real piece of old New York."
WCBS has called Hudson Square home for about six months. The neighborhood is bordered by 6th Ave and the Hudson River on the East and West, and Hoston and Canal Streets to the North and South.
Hudson Square's main thoroughfare is Varick Street, which leads directly to the Holland Tunnel. But in 1804 the land was part of a bucolic estate.
"[It was] the home of Aaron Burr, who left from here to meet Alexander Hamilton for their famous duel in Weehawken," explained Baer.
Hamilton was killed in the duel, Burr's political career suffered a similar fate.
Burr wasn't the only early American political figure to call Hudson Square home.
"This building, 180 Varick, is approximately the original site of Richmond Hill, which was George Washington's headquarters. After the revolution Richmond Hill was the official residence of the Vice President," explained Baer.
WCBS 880's Jane Tillman Irving with Ellen Baer...
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Washington as well as John and Abigail Adams all called Richmond hill home.
"That was when the capital was located in New York City," said Baer.
Almost twenty years later the land was developed and sold.
"He actually cut through some of the streets and built dozens of row houses on Charlton, King, and Vandam Streets which comprise a historic district today. And it's a very early example of federal row houses in New York," said Baer.
The man who made those changes was John Jacob Astor.
What is your favorite part of Hudson Square? Share it with us in our comments section below...
