Fly Market Explained

The Fly Market or Fly Market was an outdoor market located at the base of Maiden Lane, near the East River in Manhattan, New York City.^[1] Operating from 1699 to the early 1800s, the market sold meat, country produce and fish under its covered roofs.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

History

The land on which the market was held was originally a salt marsh with a brook. By the early 1800s, the "Fly Market" had become the city's principal market.^[7] From the late 18th century until its demise, The Fly Market was New York's oldest market.

Fly Market Slip

Fly Market Slip was an extension of the market into the East River, beginning at the end of the road now known as Maiden Lane, between Pearl and South Streets. The slip was earlier known as Maiden Slip and Countess Slip; however, when the public Fly Market was built there in 1706, the name changed as well. The original slip was filled to South Street about 1820 and was made part of Maiden Lane in 1824. After the slip was filled in, the new space between the piers retained the Fly Market Slip name.^[8]

Etymology of Fly Market name

The word "Fly" in Fly Market does not refer to insects. It comes from the Dutch vly, meaning a valley or low-lying area.^[9]

External links

• Fly Market painting - 1870s - by William P. Chappel - Met Museum collection

Notes and References

1. Book: De Voe, Thomas F. The market book, containing a historical account of the public markets in the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Brooklyn with a brief description of every article of human food sold therein, the introduction of cattle in America, and notices of many remarkable specimens. 1974. Printed for the author. New York. English. 6791995.
2. Book: Burrows. Edwin G.. Gotham : a history of New York City to 1898. Wallace. Mike. 1999. Oxford University Press. 0-19-511634-8. 1119497924.
3. Web site: History Blog Insight into History – A Weekly Instrospective Into The Past. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120321163308/http://blog.aurorahistoryboutique.com/tag/fly-market/. 21 March 2012.
4. Web site: 2006. Flea Markets in Arkansas. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080822212550/http://www.arkansas.com/arts-crafts/flea-markets/. 2008-08-22. 2008-10-11. Arkansas Arts and Crafts. Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism.
5. Book: Episcopal Church General Convention Commission. Archives of the General Convention. 1911. en.
6. Book: Melish. John. Travels through the United States of America in the years 1806 & 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811: including an account of passages betwixt America and Britain, and travels through various parts of Britain, Ireland, & Canada : with corrections, and improvements, to 1815, and a set of new coloured maps. Palmer. George. 1815. English. 1048613887.
7. Google Books: The geographical and historical dictionary of America and the West ..., Volume 3, by Antonio de Alcedo and George Alexander Thompson, p. 409, 1812
8. Web site: "F" Streets of New York. 2021-11-06. oldstreets.com.
9. Web site: 2015-04-12. Old Slips of New York City.. 2021-11-06. Revolutionary War Journal. en-US.