A market-place for the accommodation of the butchers and the country-people was anciently under the trees in front of the fort, near the corner of Water and Whitehall streets. As the city enlarged, the market-places were removed to the east and north, first at the foot of Broad street, then to Coenties Slip, and subsequently to Old Slip, and to the Vlie, (a Dutch word, indicating a valley – a rural spot, formed by a river which formerly run up Maiden Lane,) or Fly Market, foot of Maiden Lane, and to Fulton and Catherine streets.
The market-houses of this city are now judiciously distributed in various quarters of the town, to suit the wants and convenience of the citizens; the two principal ones being situated close to the water, one on the Hudson and one on the East river, at the extremity of Fulton street on each side, and adjacent to the two most important ferries, which render them very accessible to the country-people and fishermen.
Excerpted from The Stranger’s Hand-Book for the City of New York; or, What to See, and How to See It. Published by C.S. Francis and Co., New York, 1854.