Fraunces Tavern

Way down at the very bottom of Manhattan, at the intersection of Broad and Pearl Streets, is the Fraunces Tavern Restaurant and Museum. It is best known for being the place where General George Washington bid his emotional farewell to his officers at the end of the Revolutionary War. From what I can gather, the three-story building was built in 1719 but was damaged when bombarded by an 18-pound cannonball fired from a British warship in 1775. A major renovation took place in the early 1900s and the result was characterized by the American Institute of Architects Guide to New York City as "a highly conjectural reconstruction—not a restoration—based on 'typical' building of 'the period,' parts of remaining walls, and a lot of guesswork."

I was in the neighborhood recently when I walked by and saw a sign outside announcing a pool table, darts and a big-screen TV. I had to go in and check it out. A few twists and turns later I found the pool room, which the museum calls the Lafayette Lounge. I only made a couple frames (top and below) but found these two color images on the Fraunces Tavern website. It's always nice to see a pool table in an unexpected place. Walking out of Fraunces Tavern (which is a stone's throw from the Staten Island Ferry terminal) I wondered how often the table sees action. But more than that, I was struck by the idea that it is very likely the southernmost pool table in all of Manhattan.