Category: History
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Hart Island
New York City’s Hart Island is the site of the city’s potter’s field. During 2020, over 2,000 COVID-19 victims were buried here. The City has a fantastic piece on the island and the history of burials there (coproduced with Columbia University’s School of Journalism). A 2021 analysis by Columbia Journalism School’s Stabile Center and THE CITY found…
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Sally’s Special Freedom Bus!
The Schomburg has a great image entitled: Sign for Sally’s Special Freedom Bus, to go to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom from August 28, 1963 The sign was located in the window of Sally’s Restaurant, in Harlem, and referenced a bus leaving 58 years ago today. Today that location is the site…
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Anchor and…?
Walking on West 129th Street I noticed a gorgeous Art Nouveaux crest, hiding under layers and layers of paint. The crest is located on what is now a church. I think there is an anchor and a compass. I can also make out the letters “B” and “W”, and the date 1891. A View of…
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Mt. Morris Bathhouse
The Mount Morris Bathhouse (also sometimes called) the Mount Morris Turkish Baths, was located at 28 East 125th Street. Built in 1889-90 by C. Abbott French & Co., the structure was designed as a blend of two popular styles at the time, neo-Grec and Queen Anne. The bathhouse was the first commercial tenant of the…
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Photos from Above
The 125th Street BID shared some great photos of Harlem from high vantage points. This one is looking south on Lenox from 125th Street: And below is a view 180 degrees different – North on Lenox: To learn more about the 125th Street BID, see: Dapper Dan The impact of Dapper Dan on Hip Hop…
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NBT Dedication
Barbara Ann Teer speaks about the inspiration of her sister in forming and developing the National Black Theater at this groundbreaking dedication clip (click on the chevron pointing right on the text, below) : And to hear more about the devistating fire that (in part) sparked the rebirth of the National Black Theater, see: Randall’s…
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A Great Day in Harlem
Uptown Grand Central writes: Greetings, neighbors! I am writing to invite you to the co-naming the block of 126th Street between Madison & Fifth as “Art Kane: Harlem 1958 Place.” This is in celebration of the historic jazz photograph that is sometimes called “A Great Day In Harlem” — but is actually called “Harlem 1958”…
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Bengalis in Harlem
In the early/mid 20th century Harlem became the destination for African Americans escaping racial terror in the south, and hoping for a better life in New York City. In addition to southern migrants, other Black, Hispanic, and Asian diasporas found homes in Harlem – frequently after being denied the ability to rent in white neighborhoods.…
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Racism has determined where people live since colonial times
Racism has always played a role in residential patterns in New York City. When New York City was a Dutch colony, it was just the southern tip of Manhattan. Wall Street got its name from the city’s protective wall. In 1661, when Black people petitioned the colony for land in the area, they were given…
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West 132 to be Named After Evelyn Thomas
On Saturday, July 17, 2021 @ 12:30pm join the American Legion Post #398 of New York in co-naming West 132 Street between Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd and Frederick Douglass Blvd. This initiative by the Neighbors United of West 132 Street Block Association (or NUW 132) recently received the go-ahead from the City to co-name…
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LGA in East Harlem
La Guardia’s Apartment, before he moved to Gracie Mansion, was located on 5th Avenue at 109. Today his view would have been something like this: A contemporary real estate site describes the location in this way: Description 1274 Fifth is a six-story building, built in 1934, along the fabulous 50-block stretch of Fifth Avenue above…
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1936
In 1936, on this day, Jesse Owens qualified for the US Olympic team, running the 100 m trial in 10.4 seconds (note the Ohio top). He also jumped 26′ 3″ in the broad jump, and set a world record for the 200 m race – 21 seconds. What few people know, is that this qualification…
