It’s interesting that the oldest manhole cover in New York is located here, in Harlem. This remnant, with the date – 1866 – proudly cast, is from the original Croton Aqueduct system that brought much-needed fresh water to New York City in the 19th Century.
The water, of course, began upstate and was brought down via a piping system that entered NYC in the Bronx, and crossed into Manhattan on the High Bridge.
The gorgeous water tower in Washington Heights was also a part of this system. The tower has recently been renovated and is now available to tour with NYC Park Rangers.
The water, of course, flowed downhill from Washington Heights to Harlem and then eventually Lower Manhattan. The system of access points for dealing with this flow of water was covered by manhole covers like the one photographed, above. This particular example is located in Jefferson Park.
Black Columbians
Columbia, eager to be a good, if imposing neighbor, has highlighted 10 important Columbians:
Last month Chase Bank attended our HNBA meeting and Kevin Cruikshank went over a whole range of housing options and what a bank will look at if you apply for a mortgage on any one of these properties.
Classic Mistakes People Make When Purchasing a New Home
Harlem World has a good, quick article on 8 checkboxes anyone on the market for a home should consider
“Remember there are always other fish in the sea, or should we say homes in the neighborhood. The perfect place will come along eventually, it’s just going to take some time! Don’t give up, stay strong, and remember there will be a happy ending!”
Does Your Water Taste… Different?
Have you noticed that your water tastes different recently (say in the last week or so)? If you have, you’re not alone. We contacted the DEP to see what’s up using this form:
Which is the web version of calling 311 for those of you who’d prefer to not talk to an operator.
We got a call back this morning that said that about a week ago, the DEP switched NYCs drinking water from Delaware and Catskills watersheds, to Croton water. This switch will be in effect for approximately a month.
The DEP has (of course) tested the water and it’s all good, it just comes from different sources, and thus has a slightly different taste.
You can, if you want to spin this in a positive way, think of this as the historic taste of NYC water. When the Croton Aqueduct system finally brought water to NYC in the 19th century, this is what New Yorkers would have (more or less) tasted in 1842.
Since then, Delaware and Catskills water has become more dominant in our taps, and that water/taste has usurped the original Croton water/taste.
Cheers.
Federal Drug and Weapons Arrests
This just came in from the commanding officer of Harlem’s 28th Precinct:
Subject: Narcotic operation arrests in the 28th precinct
Greetings Harlem residents and Stakeholders, On 12/2/20 an on-going investigation culminated with (14) Federal indictments for drug dealing and associated violence and weapons possession. The area in and around W.122nd St – W.124th St. Lenox to Adam Clayton Powell Avenues will receive some relief from the drug trade that was operating in that area. The concerns that were conveyed to the NYPD were not made in vane and these indictments and associated arrests are a testament to the work and commitment invested in effectively addressing and resolving the issue.
Often targeting the “low hanging fruit” only provides for instant, temporary relief for a few days before these individuals return and the condition continues. This operation targeted subjects on all levels of this drug dealing hierarchy, and thus will have a definite impact on its operational abilities. The prosecution of these cases will rest with the Federal Court system.
The enforcement and maintenance of this location will continue so that the benefits of this operation are long lasting.
On Wednesday, Captain Henning of the 25th Precinct went over the CompStat data and noted that there is an significant increase in property theft (from homes, cars, and work sites) between 125th and 135th streets. Please be extra vigilant and watch belongings, keep tempting items and packages out of sight.
For those car owners, it was also jaw-dropping to hear that he (the commanding officer) personally arrested a man this past month engaged in a car break-in. This individual had an arrest record of OVER 100 car break-ins. He was not held.
HRD
Untapped New York collected some wonderful images of the Harlem River Drive. Note in the first two images, the High Bridge (the bridge which brings Croton water into NYC) consists solely of masonry arches (your can see the Croton High Bridge tower on the right-hand side, above a white building):
Construction of the Harlem River Speedway began in 1894 with the carving of the bluffs overlooking the river. After its opening in 1896, it quickly became a tourist attraction where people could watch horse races on the track as well as boat races on the river. The track was as wide as one-hundred feet in some areas, allowing for several carriages to compete at once. The natural beauty of the surrounding scenery attracted spectators from all social classes. Thousands from around the country visited to watch planned parades and competitions, and rich sportsmen were satisfied with their exclusive speedway, using it heavily to train and display their horses.
To read more about the history of the Harlem River Drive, see:
