From the excellent site http://www.oldstreets.com:
Collect Pond: A large freshwater pond, irregular in shape, in the area roughly
bounded by today's Duane, Centre, Walker, Canal and Mulberry Streets,
and Cardinal Hayes Place. The name derives from the Dutch Kalck,
meaning chalk or lime, and probably refers to the piles of shells left
by Indians who had harvested oysters nearby. The name is also found
spelled Kolck, Kalk, etc. The pond was an important source of drinking
water in colonial times but became progressively more polluted. It was
filled in between 1802 and 1813. See also Five Points.
Comments