HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 389

Thomas Crouchley, boat-builder, adjacent to Barbarin’s Lumber Yard, between Old and New Ferries.

In the issue of October 23d, we notice the advertisement of Augustine Elliott, “Taylor and Lady’s Dress-Maker,” in old Ferry street; and five verses of original poetry, “after the manner of Burns,“ extolling the beauties of, and the splendid prospect to be obtained from ÒBrooklyn, or McKenzie’s One Tree Hill.” This hill was located on Pearl street, between York and Prospect streets. All around that portion of Brooklyn, north of Washington and west of Sands street, was a series of hills, some of which were covered with grass and had a few trees; others were of sandy soil, with here and there a slight covering of grass, and with some buttonwood trees, while others still were nothing but sand-hills. McKenzieÕs Hill, the most noted of these, was a fine green elevation, crowned with a single gigantic buttonwood tree, and afforded a beautiful view of the city and harbor of New York. It was marked, as was many of the surrounding hills, by the traces of intrenchments and fortifications thrown up by the British during their occupation of the Island; and was finally levelled about 1807-9, in order to fill in the wharves built out over the flats in the river, to the northwest of Main street. Another rather noted hill was located some distance farther west (bounded by Front, Adams, and Bridge streets, near the water-line of the East River), and was a barren, sandy eminence, on which every pebble or stone seemed to have been calcined by some extreme heat, while three or four feet below the surface were found regular layers of ashes, mingled with bits of charcoal, and vitrified stones and sand.(1) All of these hills have now disappearedthat known as “Fort Greene, or Washington Park,” being the only one which remains. On the lower slope of the hills, near the East River, there stood, at the time of which we write, the celebrated “Tulip Tree,” well known to the oldest Brooklynites. It was an immense Magnolia, which, when in blossom, perfumed the air for a great distance around; and was a favorite resort for pic-nic parties from New York, who, on warm afternoons, were wont to cross

1 There was at this time, also, another hill on the site of present Gothic Hall, in Adams street, between Concord and Nassau, which was used as a negro burying-ground.