That was during the mayoralty of James Harper.

From 1853 until the end of the Civil War it was the social centre of the city.
"Among those who lived in this vicinity," says "Fifth Avenue," "were Leonard W.Jerome, and his elder brother, Addison G.Jerome, who, with William R.Travers, were social leaders and prominent Wall Street brokers; James Stokes, who, in 1851, built at No.

37 Madison Square, East, the first residence on Madison Square, and whose wife was a daughter of Anson G.Phelps; John David Wolfe, whose daughter, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe, gave her magnificent art collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Frank Work, William and John O'Brien, Henry M.
Schieffelin, James L.Schieffelin, Samuel B.Schieffelin, Benjamin H.
Field, Peter Ronalds, and William Lane." Elsewhere is told of the glories of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, of the part it played as one of the Hosts of the Avenue, of its share in the great days, of its Amen Corner, and of the distinguished men like General W.T.
Sherman, former Senator Platt, and the actor, William J.Florence, who for years made it their home.

A quarter of a century ago the entrance to the hotel was the starting point, every Thanksgiving Day noon, for many gaily decorated coaches bound for the old Manhattan Field.

In earlier days the destination had been Berkeley Oval at Williamsbridge, or the old Polo Grounds at One Hundred and Tenth Street and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.