David:
 
As part of an archaeological project in lower Manhattan -- involving mostly
tenement backyards -- the partial remains of a small tannery deposit were
recovered --
 
A series of tanneries, slaughterhouses and butchers grew up on the east side
of southern mahattan,  in the 18th century, peaking in density and production
between the end of the revolutionary war and the first two decades of the
19th-century.  These industries centered themselves around a fresh waterpond,
about 5 acres across.  This district was also adjacent to the main
throughfare north of the city - to facilitate livestock delivery w/o driving
the animals through the built up portions of the city.  Although a number of
butchers and slaughterhouses remained in the neighborhood, the pond was
filled and built over by 1817.  The city established a street grid, expanded
north, and the district became more residential.   --   One source that was
invaluable in investigating the industry in the neighborhood was a map, (in
the collection of the NYHS) hand drawn by an African laborer in the
slaughterhouses.  It includes both the places this man worked & also where he
lived in the neighborhood
 
Later in the 19th-century, despite the availibility of less expensive meats
from Chicago/Kansas City, residents of  NYC continued to pay  more for fresh
killed meat. An expanding Jewish  population created additional demand for
fresh killed meat. And the slaughtering industry continued to operate in the
"less built up" portions of the city/metro area -- however, these areas did
not stay unpopulated for long.  conflicts often arose between residential
neighbors and the butchers.   I found a lot of information in Board of Health
Reports for NYC (complaints about livestock drives in the streets; complaints
about disposal of blood and offal; regulations for slaughtering -- times of
day; transport of meat, etc., rules for sale and display).  Also a lot of
complaints & regulations were found in the Common (or City) Council Minutes.
 
Most (if not all) of my references are NYC specific -- you are welcome to
them however and any faunal info. specific to changing butchery patterns
 
claudia milne