The beginning 1600s
Manhattan in the 1600s was covered with grassy hills, streams, meadows, forests, and marshes. There was six Indian villages that had lived here: Warpoes, Nahtouk, Ispetenga, Sappokanican, Muscoota, and Sherakopak. At the time Dutch settlement started at the southern tip of Manhattan. Caucasian settlers and freed slaves who were granted their freedom by the Dutch West India Company in 1644 moved to the SoHo area and formed the first community of free African Americans in Manhattan.
Augustus Herrman, a Dutchman, bought extensive part of land during the 1660s, and a large part was within the present day SoHo district. When he died, his brother in law, Nicholas Bayard, inherited the property and became the largest land owner in Manhattan. After the American Revolution, Nicholas Bayard suffered financially and was forced to mortgage some of the property and dividing it up into large amounts. Development was slow and there was few manufacturing on Broadway & Canal Streets.
Augustus Herrman, a Dutchman, bought extensive part of land during the 1660s, and a large part was within the present day SoHo district. When he died, his brother in law, Nicholas Bayard, inherited the property and became the largest land owner in Manhattan. After the American Revolution, Nicholas Bayard suffered financially and was forced to mortgage some of the property and dividing it up into large amounts. Development was slow and there was few manufacturing on Broadway & Canal Streets.
The 1700s
By 1767, large farms were divided into smaller parts. A canal was built by the City Council to drain collect pond which had become an issue when it became polluted as the area was developing. It was no longer a source for fresh water but a breeding ground for mosquitos. Below is a picture of Collect Pond looking south towards New York City in 1798.