Category: History
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Checks Stolen From Harlem Mail Boxes
The New York Times reported (in 1910) that theft, forgery, and misrepresentation was uncovered in Harlem To read the full torrid tale, click on the Download button, above. Former Sydenham Hospital (now Mannie Wilson Towers) to be renovated YIMBY NY is reporting that: Affordable housing development Mannie Wilson Towers in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood just received $18.2 million…
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Lost Dog in Haarlem
In 1666, a white dog with a blind red eye was reported lost in Rotterdam. His owner placed an announcement in the “Oprechte Haerlemse Courant” offering a reward for returning the dog. This is one of the first, published lost dog announcements ever recorded. Oh, and NYC is How Much of America? If you take…
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Harlem, Cuba or Harlem, Montana
While looking on Ebay recently I came across a token from Halrem, Montana which led me to wonder how many other places are named Harlem, or Haarlem, for that matter. The Dutch histories that link South Africa and Suriname are logical sites for Haarlem placenames. (Interestingly, under force in the 17th Century, the Dutch surrendered…
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Dutch New Haarlem
A 19th century sketch map of the Dutch colonial settlement of New Haarlem shows a number of interesting features. Notice how the streets are oriented to true north/south, not on a ‘Manhattan-esque’ angle as they are now (based on The Commissioner’s Plan). Also, New Haarlem was centered around 122 and 2nd Avenue, not west along…
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1930’s New York
A fascinating film that shows the West Side Highway and Riverside Drive, still under construction with freight trains next to cars. Also note the George Washington Bridge with only one level. Our view of pre-WW2 New York is so often a black and white view, that it’s somewhat disorienting to see the 1930s in color.…
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Spring Clean-Up, Today!
Got the itch to do some spring cleaning? Then meet up with Uptown Grand Central TODAY to spring clean on a massive scale. TODAY Saturday, April 10, marks the kick-off of Uptown’s spring cleaning season, with the first of our warm-weather community clean-ups along the East 125th Street corridor. We’re glad to be doing it in partnership with the Sanitation Foundation (who,…
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A Man Is Known By the Candy He Sends
A commercial postcard came across my radar recently. Shuylers Candy Store was located at 150 West 125th Street where the Adam Clayton Powell State Building now stands. Note the rounded glass display cases. America Day Nursery This postcard from East Harlem – 354 East 121st Street – shows a day nursery with a somewhat teetering…
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The Ferry from Harlem to Coney Island
A recent item from a larger steamboat ephemera collection caught my eye. A ticket (punched, therefore used) for travel from Harlem to Coney Island. Note that the ticket uses N.R. (North River) rather than Hudson River – North River was a more common term, used in the 19th century. The interesting name “Iron Steamboat Co”…
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An Easter Card
Ebay had an Easter card on offer from Harlem. Note the address, 2214 3rd Avenue. Today, the former J. Bruns “Harlem Candy Kitchen” location is the site of a City Fresh Market: Here is the link, and an image of the card: https://www.ebay.com/itm/164732743526?ul_noapp=true Maria Granville Featured Maria Granville was featured in a piece on the…
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28th Precinct
Deputy Inspector Brown, the commanding officer of the 28th Precinct, had come across this image of the old 28th Precinct building and wanted to share: This beautiful building on West 123rd, between FDB and ACP was replaced by the brutalist fortress between Frederick Douglass Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue: https://hnba.nyc/wp-admin/post.php?post=3982&action=edit unfortunately. Historic Church Sold for…
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CB11 Votes for a 12 Month Drug Program Moratorium
Nick Garber reports in Patch on the vote in Community Board 11 to try a 12 month moratorium on the siting of new drug programs in the districts. https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/drug-clinics-face-scrutiny-harlem-residents-push-back The moratorium also asks for more data from the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) to explain why East Harlem has been packed with…
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West 124th Street Library
Landmarks has recently moved closer to landmarking the NYPL on West 124th Street on the north side of Marcus Garvey Park. Completed in 1909 and funded by Andrew Carnegie, the branch “nurtured African-American cultural and intellectual life, especially during the Harlem Renaissance,” said Timothy Frye, the LPC’s director of special projects. The library once housed…
