In 1885, there was Randall’s Island, Ward’s Island, and Sunken Medows, all separated by channels joining the Halrem and East Rivers with Hell Gate and Long Island Sound:

The map, for sale on Ebay, shows fascinating details on buildings, orchards, groves, and marshes that are no more:

Midnight In Harlem

Another white rock group with a song positioning themselves and the audience ‘below’ Harlem and defining Harlem as “the other side of town”: