Canterbury Hall (New York City)

Canterbury Hall
General information
Coordinates	40°43′37″N73°59′44″W / 40.72694°N 73.99556°W / 40.72694; -73.99556
Demolished	1861

Canterbury Hall was an edifice located at 663 Broadway in the 19th century. It was used for entertainment and political meetings. It was a three-story building where bawdy concerts took place. The building had a front of 40 feet and a depth of 125 feet.

History

Often called Mozart Hall, it was also a gathering place of anti-Tammany Hall political forces in New York City. Fernando Wood, New York Mayor and Congressman, founded the organization. The edifice burned entirely in the early morning of March 24, 1861. ^[1]

Proceedings at the venue were frowned upon by newspaper writers such as one from The New York Times . He commented about Canterbury Hall advertisements promoting the prettiest waiter girls in town. Along with a rival theater, the Melodeon, the establishment was "a nightly disgrace to Broadway and its adjacent streets". In November 1860 the proprietors of the business, Fox & Curran, were compelled to pay a license fee of $500 to keep the venue open. A New York Times editorialist expressed the opinion that this was a first measure in ridding the city of such nuisances, which he predicted the New York State Legislature would soon entirely eliminate. ^[2]

The property on which Canterbury Hall stood was formerly owned by a Reverend Wiley. His estate encompassed additional buildings on Broadway and was insured for $15,000. The fire which consumed the structure began among stage scenery and was discovered by watchmen. The owners of Canterbury Hall suffered an estimated loss of $10,000. A fire marshal began an investigation into the cause of the fire which was considered to be of incendiary origin. ^[1]

References

1. "Canterbury Hall Burned Down", The New York Times, March 25, 1861, pg. 8.
2. Amusements, The New York Times, November 16, 1860, pg. 5.