ON THE COMMON OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

NEAR WHERE THIS BUILDING NOW STANDS, THERE

STOOD FROM 1766 TO 1776 A LIBERTY POLE

ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE REPEAL OF THE

STAMP ACT. IT WAS REPEATEDLY DESTROYED BY

THE VIOLENCE OF THE TORIES AND AS REPEATEDLY

REPLACED BY THE SONS OF LIBERTY, WHO ORGANIZED

A CONSTANT WATCH AND GUARD. IN ITS

DEFENCE THE FIRST MARTYR BLOOD OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION WAS SHED ON JAN. 18, 1770.