Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 219, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1912 — TO CUT NOTED TREES [ARTICLE]

TO CUT NOTED TREES

Sycamores Planted by Hamilton Must Be Removed. At This Place the Great Federalist’s Seconds Met to Make Plans for His Fatal Duel With Aaron Burr. New York. -The announcement that the three tall sycamore trees which stand in a vacant lot at West One Hundred and Fortieth street and Hamilton place, Manhattan, were about to be cut down to make room for a public school, which is to be erected on the lot, has aroused much Interest among New Yorkers, especially those who are familllar with the historic associations which these trees of the forest recall. It is stated on godd authority that it was under these trees that the seconds for Alexander Hamilton met before the fatal duel which resulted in the death of Hamilton on July 12, 1804. Whether they are the actual trees under which the seconds met before the fatal encounter occurred, they have a historic value from the fact that they are on territory which was Intimately associated with the great statesman, lawyer and soldier. An interesting fact connected with the house when it stood on the other side of the street is that Hamilton planted 13 trees around this house, which were intended to represent the 13 original states of the American Union. These trees were of the sweet gum variety and were brought by Hamilton, when they were nothing than whips, from Mount Vernon, the estate of President Washington. These trees lived until long after the house was moved, and some of them were' alive when, in November, 1911, the lots where they stood were taken as the site for a row of apartment houses. The ground along Convent avenue had been restricted for 25 years. When these restrictions expired the trees planted by Hamilton himself quickly disappeared. The removal of these trees rendered those at One Hundred and Fortieth street and Hamilton place all the more precious in the eyes of antiquarians and patriotic citizens, who treasure every reminder of Hamilton. The ground slopes sharply from the point where the old trees are standing to the shores of the Hudson. The rear porch of Hamilton’s house must have commanded a beautiful view of the Weehawken shore, much wilder in appearance than now. ,It was early in July that the challenge from Burr was received, and it was the morning of the 12th of that month that the arrangements were completed and Hamilton and his seconds took a barge and were rowed across the Hudson to the fatal battleground.