Lot: B10 (Taxlots)

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B10
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Property Was Used in 1660 For:
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This was the Latin School.

Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
"The Heere dwars straet is next to the Latin School, o [zero] house." — De Sille List of 1660. This simple statement is not only accurate but important; it proves the fact of the erection of a building for the first Latin school, and establishes its location on the west side of Broad Street, about twenty-five feet north of Exchange Place. The building of the Commercial Cable Company now covers the site.

In May, 1658, the directors wrote to Stuyvesant:

Domine Drisius has repeatedly expressed to us his opinion, that he thought it advisable to establish there a Latin school . . . we have no objection to this project . . . but you must not fail to inform us, how such an institution can be managed to the best advantage of the community and kept up with the least expense to the Company. — N. Y. Col. Docs., XIV: 419.

Encouraged by the cordiality and liberality of this letter, the burgomasters and schepens, after setting forth the growing need of such a seat of learning, "humbly request that your Hon°''^ would be pleased to send us a suitable person for Master of a Latin School . . .," adding "On your Hon''^ sending us a Schoolmaster, we shall endeavour to have constructed a suitable place or school." — Rec. N. Am., Ill: 15-6.

Acting upon this request, the Amsterdam Chamber passed a resolution, April 10, 1659, appointing Alexander Carolus Curtius Latin schoolmaster in New Netherland, "whom we have engaged as such at a yearly salary of 500 fl. board money included; we give him also a present of 100 fl. . . . — N. Y. Col. Docs., XIV: 435-7. Curtius left Holland April 25, 1659, in the"Bever," which sailed in company with the "Moesman." The books required could not be provided in time to go in the same ship, but were to be sent on the next opportunity. — Idem. He had begun to teach before July 4th of that year, when the burgomasters informed him that the city would allow him 200 florins yearly, and presented him with 50 florins over and above, "which he thankfully accepts; but requests as he has but few scholars as yet, that his salary may be somewhat increased." — Rec. N. Am.,Wll: 223, 224. Curtius, however, proved unacceptable to the city authorities and to the parents of the children, and, early in 1662, he was succeeded by Domine ^gidius Luyck, who left Holland on February 20th. — A^. Y. Col. Docs., XII: 362.

The burgomasters had already petitioned, on February 2, 1662, for a grant of a lot in the Brewers Street, opposite the lot of Johannes de Peyster, for a schoolhouse. — Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 233. The building occupied by Curtius seems to have been demolished prior to September 17, 1662, when Herrman sold all the block front on the north side of the Heere Dwars Straet. — See No. i.