May 17th in New York City History
Posted: May 17, 2013 | 2:21 AM
by Jared Goldstein
1697: The city's first streetlight law ordered residents to hang lanterns on poles outside their homes.
1792: Happy Birthday, New York Stock Exchange.
Two-dozen brokers gathered under a buttonwood tree at 68 Wall Street to sign an agreement establishing rules for buying and selling stocks and bonds, including earning commissions. This exchange would become the NYSE, and it is incorporated as
The Buttonwood Tree Agreement.
If you don't think you have seen a Buttonwood Tree lately that's because
they are now called Sycamores.
One is planted outside the NYSE on Broad Street.
A seat on the NYSE has been held as a valuable property since the 1860s, although, it is said that during the recession of 1973 that a NYC Taxi Medallion was more valuable.
We learn about finance and capital on Wall Street walking tours, Colonial NYC private walking tours, Downtown tours, Wall Street private walking tours.
1829: Great New Yorker, John Jay, the first Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, died at 83.
We see where Jay went to college on Downtown walking tours, what became of his college on Columbia University private tours, where he signed the British surrender of New York in New York Harbor on Downtown private walking tours, and Staten Island Ferry tours, and Harbor tours.
1971: The musical "Godspell" opened off-Broadway.
1998: Yankees Pitcher David Wells became the 13th player in major league baseball history to pitch a perfect game. It was a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
