OF OLD NEW YORK

Some Associations of Old Ann Street, 1720-1920

first paper
Aaron Mendoza

Ann Street is one of those strange, irregularly laid-out
thoroughfares commencing at both Broadway and Park
Row, and then running in an easterly direction, crossing
Nassau and William Streets, and terminating at Gold
Street. It is a narrow, cavernous street, only three
blocks in length, strongly remindful of the streets of old'
Boston or London, and almost retains the aspect of
sixty years ago from Nassau to Gold Streets. Theatre
Alley divides the north side between Park Row and
Nassau Street, being called "The Mews" in 1797, secur¬
ing its present name in 1807. It was used as an approach
to the old Park Theater.

About 1720, the street was laid out and formally named
"Ann Street," although frequently quoted as being orig¬
inally called "White Street," probably for Mrs. Anna
White, who, however, did not become a property owner
on the street until years later than James Lyne's survey
of 1728, which shows the name of Ann Street first men¬
tioned. It has also been stated that the Beekman family
used their influence with the authorities to have the
thoroughfare named for Ann, daughter-of Gov. Gerardus
C. Beekman, but as she was born March 15, 1739, that
theory is also disposed of. Ann Vieltje, a Dutch burgh¬
er's wife, is also given credit for being the person for
whom the street was named, and I am inclined to give
credence to this fact. Farm owners, when cutting paths
through their property, generally called them by their
wives' first names; perhaps this led to the name "Ann
Street."   Strange though it may seem, there is no credit-

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