Category: Harlemscape
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East Harlem Was Harlem
In 1880, Central Harlem was just starting to be filled in with residences and people. West Harlem, and the Upper West Side, for that matter, was nothing but farmland. In the map (above) of populated blocks, note how much of Manhattan’s development was east-side based. The East River, not the Hudson, was the waterway of…
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Harlem Street Scenes
The National Archives has outtakes from METROPOLIS 1939 with scenes from central Harlem, Harlem River Houses, and the building of the Queensbridge Houses. The incredible vitality of the Harlem scene (Harlem was much more densely populated then – due to racially restrictive housing policies and practices) comes across clearly in this film. Ginjan Featured in…
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Officer Wilbert Mora Saves 5 Lives Through Organ Donation
USA Today Reports: A New York City Police officer, who died following a shoot out in Harlem, has saved five lives after donating his organs. Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, donated his heart, liver, two kidneys, and pancreas to five patients in need of life-saving organ transplants, according to a statement from LiveOnNY. Three individuals lived…
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The Last Fireplaces
On Earth Day in 2014, as part of a clean-air initiative, Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced that as of July 1, 2014 the construction of new wood-burning fireplaces would be banned in New York City. Under the new regulations, residents who already have wood-burning fireplaces or who have reconstructed their fireplaces prior to that date, would…
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The Marcelle
One of the big disappointments of American aesthetic trends is that this country never caught Art Nouveau fever in the late 19th century. Yes, we have Tiffany, but any keen observer in NYC is hard-pressed to list more than a handful of Art Nouveau treasures in the 5 boroughs. Here in Harlem, where so much…
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Candlelight Vigil
Dr. Keith Taylor, a neighbor and friend writes: Neighbors,If you are able, I ask you to attend a community candlelight vigil at the 32nd Precinct tonight at 6:30 pm to show support for our officers at a time of great loss to the NYPD and to the Harlem community. Your presence will mean a tremendous…
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Florence Mills
At our January HNBA meeting, we heard from Savona Bailey-McClain about her effort to name the plaza at St. Nicholas Ave and 135th street after Florence Mills. Savona is looking for letters of support from you. Below are the email addresses for letters of support as well as a draft letter that can be modified.…
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HNBA January Meeting Recording
If you were unable to make it to HNBA’s January meeting with State Senator Cordell Cleare (and others and would like to view it, here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/pHa5qDCRO2TANbU_yqvA-RPsczKjR-DTZuvvbY7EfG3tH2wq7GbgBNuB66e6kLdA.CVn7Pl3HIQCW71S9 Passcode: *@4qwTyR Van Der Zee A while ago I came across a great black and white image from James Van Der Zee, the celebrated photographer of the…
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Lead
Ancient Greek stone architecture with its bleached symmetry and powerful ornamentation often looks as though it’s survived for more than 2,000 years simply through force of presence. A closer look, however, at the stones that make up classic Greek architecture reveals curious channels and depressions inside the centers of the stones that were carved to…
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Your Voice
New York State and New York City politicians can’t read your mind. If you want change in the community, then here’s your chance to speak to Albany or speak to City Hall. Please reach out to: GreaterHarlem.nyc/Volunteer to learn more and connect with other neighbors who want #FairShare4Harlem Harlem Academy’s New Building Harlem Academy has…
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Single Seniors
How Calculated: Percent of people aged 65 and older living alone Source: American Community Survey A Rare Off-Grid Manhattan Street Sylvan Court, which has seven properties, rarely sees properties record for sale. A 1,600-square-foot townhouse in East Harlem returned for sale asking $1.69 million. Its address is 2 Sylvan Court — a blind alley with just seven homes that’s…
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Randall’s and Wards’ Islands
This photo of Randall’s and Wards’ Islands during the depression (just after the Triborough Bridge was completed by Robert Moses) is fascinating in the ways in which you can see how dramatically the bridge, the island/s, and Harlem have changed in the last 80 years or so. Note how recently constructed Astoria park (between the…
