is named in honor of a butcher and revolutionary patriot who owned much property in the Washington Heights area, especially between 170 and 176 streets.
--------------------------- SICKLES STREET
is named for the Sickles family that owned property between Broadway & the Hudson River. Originally from Vienna, Zachariah Sickels (note spelling) travelled to Curacao were he met the Dutch visitor, Peter Stuyvesant in 1655. Together they journeyed to New Amsterdam (later NY), but Zachariah continued to Fort Albany (near Albany). There Zachariah was the town crier, the night watchman and the keeper of he city gates. He moved to New York in 1693 to be with his sons who had settled here.
---------------------- BROADWAY
is so called because the right of way was so broad or wide.
----------------------- THAYER STREET
is named in honor of Francis Thayer, an attorney. It was so named in 1911. Before that it was called Union Place.
------------------------- DYCKMAN STREET
is named in honor of the Dyckman family, originally from Wastphalia in what is today Germany. At the time of the Civil War the Dyckman family was the largest farm owner on Manhattan Island. Jan Dyckman had arrived from Westphalia in the mid-17th century. He was a bookkeeper and woodcutter. He joined together with Jan Nagel to but the land in the Inwood community. After th death of Jan Nagel, Jan Dyckman married hs widow. During the REvolutionary War the family was staunchly pro-revolution. The Dyckman House (W204th Street & Broadway) is the only Revolutionar farm house still remaining on Manhattan island.
----------------------- NAGLE AVENUE
is named in honor of Jan Nagel (note spelling) who had teamed with Jan Dyckman to but land in the area and married Jan Nagel's widow.
------------------------ FAIRVIEW AVENUE
is named because there is a "fair view" from the top of he hill.
-------------------------- ELLWOOD STREET
was laid out in 1891 was named so in 1911. But no one knows the reason for the name.
-------------------------- VERMILYEA AVENUE
was named for Issac Vermilyea who settled in upper Manhattan in 1663 with his wife and four children. Issac was a Walloon even though he was born in London. He was both a constable and a magistrate.
------------------------- POST AVENUE
was named in honor of the Post family, early settler in the area. Originally their name was Postmael. In 1737 Hendrick Post married Rebbecca Nagel. Therefore the Post, Nagel and Dyckman families were related at one time by marriage
------------------------ ACADEMY STREET
so named for The Academy Home For Boys on Academy Street & Broadway where IS52 (JHS52) stands today.
--------------------------- HILLSIDE AVENUE
is so called because it's on a side of a hill.
---------------------------- BOGARDUS PLACE
was named or Everardus Bogardus the second clergy man to arrive in New York. He arrived in 1633 and th street was named in 1912.
---------------------------- SHERMAN AVENUE
is named in honor of the Sherman family a working class family who lived for a century on the banks of the Sherman Creek. the creek was also called Half-kill to distinguish it from the Harlem River and Great Kill.
----------------------------- DONGAN PLACE
is named in honor of Thomas Dongan the first Catholic governor of New York. He was born in 1683 and died in 1788 at 105. The section of Staten Island to which he retired is called Dongan Hills. He sponsored the first genuine constitution in New York State. The Charter of Liberties and Privileges on Dongan's Charter. He succeeded to the title, Earl Of Limerick.
-------------------------- COOPER STREET
is named in honor of the American writer, James Fenimore Cooper the author of "The Last Of The Mohicans" and other books.
----------------------------- PAYSON STREET
is named in honor of Rev. George Payson He was the pastor of the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church for 40 years. He retired in 1920.
----------------------------- FORT TRYON
is named in honor of the British governor of New York, from 1771-1778.
-------------------------------- HENSHAW STREET
is named in honor of a young solider from the area who fought in World War I. no one remembers his first name.
--------------------------------- SEAMAN AVENUE
ia named for the Seaman family one of whose members brought the smallpox vaccine to America.
The Seaman Arch Broadway at 215th Street The gateway to the Seaman estate 1902
