ABSTRACT
William T. Downing’s knowledge of oysters and his willingness to obtain the finest made excellent business sense in a day when the oyster was a New York staple. Like the many oyster “cellars” uptown along Canal Street and the Bowery, the entrance to Downing’s was a few steps below street level. Leading politicians of the day also made Downing’s a headquarters of sorts, “dropping in to have a chat while enjoying their half-dozen Saddle Rocks or Blue Points,” recalled one observer, who identified Downing’s primarily as a “political rendezvous,” but frequented by non-politicians as well. One anecdote from Strong’s diary suggests that Downing’s sense of humor helped him survive in business, especially in adverse times. Downing first rented space at 33 Pell Street as a place to live and to sell the oysters he harvested. By 1827, Downing had moved his residence from Pell Street to other quarters at 22 New Street.
