“Rose Hill? Isn’t that a neighborhood, not just a park?” someone asks. Indeed. Let’s delve into the story of Rose Hill Park. This Manhattan neighborhood draws its name from a place far north in the Bronx. But how did a Bronx locale lend its identity to a Manhattan neighborhood?
Rose Hill’s narrative begins with the Watts family. A vestige of a far larger estate once called “Rose Hill” by its owner Robert Watts. Watts named his Bronx estate “Rose Hill”. Watts’ brother John lived on his Manhattan properties before purchasing the Bronx property in 1787. John then transferred the property to his brother Robert.
The original “Rose Hill” was a farm acquired by John Watts in 1747. Watts represented New York City in the Colonial Assembly. The farm spanned over 130 acres along the East River. It stretched between what would become 21st and 30th streets. Its boundaries ran from Fourth Avenue to the water. Watts named the farm after his father’s house near Edinburgh.
John Watts was a Loyalist. He left for Britain in 1775 and never returned. His son John Watts inherited “Rose Hill”. The main house burned in 1779 during the British occupation. However, later deeds mention houses, buildings, orchards, and gardens on the land.
Parts of Rose Hill Farm were sold off in the 1780s. In 1786, Nicholas Cruger bought a lot. This lot now comprises most of the block bounded by 29th and 30th Streets, and Second and Third Avenues.
After the Revolutionary War, Rose Hill Farm was rebuilt. It was then put up for sale in 1790. An advertisement described it as an elegant farm on the East River. It boasted 92 acres of cultivated land with stone fences. It also had a pleasant avenue through an orchard. The property included an elegant dwelling house, a farmhouse, and a barn. There was also a hovel with a hay loft, a corn crib, and a fowl house. The farm featured a fine orchard of 260 apple trees and a thriving nursery of over 9000 young fruit trees. An elegant garden displayed flowers, flowering shrubs, and strawberry beds.
General Horatio Gates acquired part of the Watts property in 1790. He established a country seat at what is now Second Avenue and 22nd Street. Gates died at his estate in 1806. His home then became a boarding house.
By 1811, the Cruger parcel was subdivided into building lots. This occurred when the Commissioners’ Plan established Manhattan’s present street grid. Gramercy Park was laid out in 1831 just southwest of the “Rose Hill” property. It aligned with what became Lexington Avenue.
Today, Rose Hill Park serves as a reminder of this history. It links the neighborhood’s name to its rural past. The neighborhood itself boasts various structures. Baruch College, the School of Visual Arts, and the New York University College of Dentistry are all located here. Additionally, you can find the CURE.Innovation Campus.
Rose Hill maintains a unique character. It balances historical charm with modern institutions. It’s a vibrant area that has evolved. It once was farmland and now it is an urban hub. It’s a fitting testament to New York City’s ever changing landscape.