Harry Jennings's rat pit is the last abode of strange sports fans (9 photos + 1 video)
In a general understanding, sport is a component of physical culture and a system of organizing, preparing and conducting competitions according to established rules. But markers have different tastes and colors, and at different times, sports could take very strange forms. 
Behind this modest historical facade lies the history of a very “gentlemanly” sport - rat fighting. 
Five Points street intersection, painted by George Catlin in 1827.
On the outskirts of the notorious 19th-century hive of poverty and crime known as the Five Points neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, sits a small red brick house. And here one of the most barbaric and wild entertainments of that era once took place. 
Between two typical houses on Madison Street stands No. 47-49, a building that visually appears to be earlier than its neighbors. And it boasts a creepy story as a bonus to its appearance.
Today the former house is used as a prayer hall for St James's Church. But more than 150 years ago, this not devoid of grace building was one of the so-called rat holes of Manhattan. An advertisement in the March 2, 1853 issue of The Herald summarized the events that took place in these “holes”: “Rat killing and other sports every Monday evening. Gentlemen who wish to try their dogs are constantly provided with a good supply of rats, and a pit is provided free of charge, in the J. Marriott gym, 49 Madison street.” 
Killing rats was the premier sport for gentlemen in the mid-19th century. Street boys were paid 5-10 cents for each rodent they caught. And the spectators screamed and jostled in the hall to place a winning bet on how many rats the dogs could tear apart in a certain period of time. 
Black and tan terrier Keith set a record: he killed 100 rats in 5 minutes 40 seconds
Nearby on Water Street, Keith Burns, one of the last members of the Dead Rabbits gang, ran an equally infamous rat pit. Behind closed doors, a frantic pastime flourished throughout the area as the elite of society - politicians and the wealthy - flocked to the city center for the thrill of gambling in the heart of the Five Points slums. 
A very "gentlemanly" sport
In 1850, the house on Madison was purchased by Englishman Harry Jennings, who ran a saloon and continued to popularize barbarian sports. As a result, Mr. Jennings was caught during an attempted robbery and taken to Rikers Island. 
After his release, he changed his outlook, became something of a respectable man and one of the city's foremost rat catchers. He provided exterminator services to such famous establishments as the Plaza Hotel. Despite the dark and bloody history of the crazy sport, the former saloon, by an interesting coincidence, now houses a prayer hall. Which the locals love very much. 
Even when it was threatened with closure due to the sale of real estate, people raised funds to save their old church and the small building adjacent to it with a shameful past. Perhaps thanks to sincere prayers, the corner where harmful animals were destroyed, but did not deserve such painful reprisals, will be completely cleared of the ghosts of the past. And it will remain just an interesting historical building without any subsequent terrible repurposing. 
