In the midst of a $100 million renovation project around City Hall, archaeologists have found the original foundation of an almshouse that existed on the land from 1736 to 1797, nestled right up next to a modern-day retaining wall under City Hall. “There were lots and lots of bones,” said Landmarks Preservation archaeologist Amanda Sutphin, adding that the charity house “was a pretty big institution.” Contemporary records show that it served “poor needy persons, idle wandering vagabonds, sturdy beggars, and parents of bastard children.” You know, the type of people these days the city is trying to push out of Manhattan. (Except for the last category, because celebrities are good for the tax base … ) [NYP]
