THE HAZZARD HOUSE

The old "Hazzard House," so called after the pro¬
prietor, George Hazzard, was located on the corner of
Third avenue and Eighty-fourth street, which was for
many years, and until the introduction of more expedi¬
tious modes of conveyance, the first stopping place, on
the route of the "Danbury Post-coaches," the only mode of
public conveyance between the upper and lower portions of
the city, until about the year 1835, when Thomas Fisher
undertook what, at the period above spoken of, was deemed
a prodigious enterprise, and established a line of omni¬
buses, consisting of four, capable of carrying ten passen¬
gers each, with an interval of one hour between their
times of departure from either end of the route, with an
extra stage or coach for the accommodation of persons
residing in Harlem and its vicinity, into which they em¬
barked upon the arrival of the regular stage at Yorkville.
The rate of fare to Yorkville was 18^4 cents, and to Har¬
lem, two miles farther up, 25 cents.

Fisher's line of omnibuses was continued, with varied
success, for several years, when it came into the possession
of John Murphy, by purchase, who continued to run the
same until the year 1839, at the above rates of fare, when
De Witt C. Kellinger became proprietor of an opposition
line of stages, and was instrumental in causing a reduc¬
tion in the rates of fare, that to Yorkville being 12^/2
cents, and to Harlem 18j4 cents.

About this time the Harlem Railroad Co. commenced
running small cars on their road, from Walker street and
the Bowery to Yorkville and Harlem, and for some time
quite a spirited strife was maintained between the rival

[243]