Around 1910, Fegan's saloon stood on the east side of Maple Avenue, one of dozens of bars lining the way to the waterfront, and the stone house to its right still stands. On the west side of the street was the home of Henry Collins Brown, an author and publisher who popularized New York history. Brown claimed his house had once belonged to Washington Irving's brother, but in fact the Irvings owned most of the land that became downtown Hastings from 1814 to 1817 as part of a money-losing real estate venture.