Of the French republic, gave a tea party here a few years ago when the Harvard and Yale held their first joint reunion at Kraunces Tavern. Any number of lesser lights have been here at the time or another. Cabinet officers, district attorneys, Senators, and other such relatively small fry are as common as burgomasters. Colonial Coventors and things like that were in the days of the culinary wizard.

History is preserved. The long and remarkable story of this upper roof is set forth with chronological and unimpeachable accuracy in a little pamphlet which you can buy from the City History Club for, a nickel, so we will not stick closely thereto, but rather embroider it, and recommend the pamphlet as a check for the conscientious.

The place was built about 1759, and at that time it was almost on the shore of the bay, which has subsequently been moved by the filling process, and it was also in the heart of the best retail district of New York, which has moved up toward the middle of Manhattan, leaving the tavern, which is on lower Broadway Street with very few pleasant or respectable associations except its own memories.

It was first used as a residence and subsequently as a store "selling all kinds of European and East Indian goods," which is more than any store in New York attempts today.

The place got its name and its real start in life in 1757, when it was  Purchased by a thrifty West Indian negro. 