CLASS 4: THE ENCHANTED EASTSIDE
North Central Park
Central Park North forms a "gateway" to the rest of Harlem and runs along the north end of Central Park from Fifth Avenue to Frederick Douglass Boulevard, which is the continuation of Central Park West/Eighth Avenue. Frederick Law Olmsted was the landscape architect who designed Central Park in 1858, the design was supposed to created circles at each corner of the park. Central Park North is still called 110th Street to the east and west of the park. The blocks bordering the park came to be called Central Park North due to a movement spearheaded by one of its residents, Bettijean Miller. Miller is president of the Harlem Gateway Committee, an organization that works for beautification of the block, including renovations of the subway station at Frederick Douglas Boulevard, eradicating graffiti, fighting drug activity and planting flowers and trees on the block. The residents of Central Park North have immediate access to the delights of the northernmost portion of the park. |
The Museum of The City of New York
If you have an afternoon and want to learn about the history of New York City then this museum is a must go. The displays are fabulous and incredibly educational was really timeline over the city over the centuries.( Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)The various art galleries are worth a stop and a gander but the but there was so much more to enjoy. My tour of the museum included the viewing of video. The video was in a dark mini-theater which covered the whole development of the city over centuries. Just AMAZING. This museum is easily accessible from the NE side of Central Park - just across 5th Avenue from the Conservatory Gardens and ornate Vanderbilt Gate, in between 103rd and 104th Street. ( Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)We embarked on Central Park Tours starting in the north end of the park in the late morning which of course involved a pretty strenuous walk, and then this museum in the early afternoon. We had a nice lunch Afterwards, it was about 2 blocks' walk to the nearby subway stop to get us back to midtown Manhattan. |
Central Park North & East Harlem
Central Park is a multicultural melting pot with three distinct communities; East Harlem, Morningside Heights and Harlem each with its own history architecture and social intuition.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162) All three communities experience repeated cycles of economic booms and declines throughout their histories and all are currently experiencing the effects of gentrification. This promises to change the characters of these communities once again.( Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)It is very fortunate that gentrification is not completely eliminated the racial and ethnic heritage heritage it's amazing that you can still find a gospel service in Central Harlem or trace the root of the Harlem Renaissance back into the community.
Central Park is a multicultural melting pot with three distinct communities East Harlem Morningside Heights in Harlem each with its own history architecture and social intuition. All three communities experience repeated cycles of economic booms and declines throughout their histories and all are currently experiencing the effects of gentrification which promises to change the characters of these communities once again.( Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)It is very fortunate that gentrification is not completely eliminated the racial and ethnic heritage.( Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162) It's amazing that you can still find a gospel service in Central Harlem or trace the root of the Harlem Renaissance back into the community. East harlem East Harlem is also known as Spanish Harlem or more colloquially El Barrio. This is in Uptown neighborhood of Manhattan that boundaries of which our Harlem River to the North East 96th Street to the south the East River to the east and the Fifth Avenue to the west.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)The neighborhood which has been experiencing a wave of gentrification in recent years has been home to several different ethnic communities.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 162)Today East Harlem has one of the largest Latino communities in the country and still manages to retain its distinctive Latino Culture. |
CLASS 5: THE WILD WEST SIDE
Hells Kitchen
After we take a walk a few blocks into an area by the name of Clinton beast known as Hells Kitchen. Located at around 9th avenue.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122) Hells Kitchen is an area compiled of various restaurants both affordable to the pocket and delectable to taste. No one knows where the name Hells Kitchen actually originates from, but it was a name that stuck because of how historically poor this neighborhood was, because of its square shape and crime ridden city during the 19th century in New York City (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122)The area that is now known as Hells kitchen was previously occupied by a farm cultivated by a man named Andres Hopper. After Andres Hopper the farm was obviously taken down and the area know as we know it today began becoming industrialized being occupied by tanneries and slaughterhouses. This however led to the pollution of the Hudson River (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122)). Around this time in the 19th century immigrants from Ireland who were fleeing from the Great Hunger.. Following the times of the civil far many tenements were built primarily to cater to the needs of the poor; thus leading to congestion. Hells kitchen soon became the breeding ground for crime(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122). In fact by the turn of the century, Hells Kitchen was one of the most dangerous communities in the United States, being controlled by various gangs like the Westies (allied with the Gambino crime family) came to dominate the area, and tensions between the older Irish and the Italian; this is only the beginning however because of the impending immigrants form Puerto Rico would frequently erupt in violence. (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122) Gentrification is the element introduced I the 1990's that actually helped to change the environment . Today Hells kitchen is compiled of Upscale apartment buildings , international restaurants attracting more professional, working classed people.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122)
|
The Frick
Henry Clay Frick Mansion is where I was first introduced to the Gilded age. The Gilded age is a period of increased wealth in the late 1800's. Looking down through the hall waybos blast from the past from the 30s. This big room was never used as a ballroom unlike other Gilded mansions. he wanted not only a home but a place to display his art. But you can sense through structure art is embedded inside. (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.123) rick collections harbor Vermeer painting only few on existence. Frick had to obtain permission to purchase from the enemy during the first world war because it was in Berlin .(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.123)
Frick came from very modest means and was the head with Andrew Carnegie. Today our tour guide explained the life of Henry Frick. Frick ends up spending most of his young life in suburbia on a farm with his dad in Pittsburg. Who would've thought that by the mere age of 30 he would make his first million? Frick; much like me was a socialite. In his home he was the host of frequent house parties . The first room we visit was the Garden room. Our tour guide mentioned that this room was not actually apart of the original Frick home. Where the garden is today is the previous placement of the driveway. Such a pity that such a beautiful garden was never seen by Frick. Henry Frick married and had four children through wedlock . The dinning room where most of there visitors would be entertained with 23 live in servants , in the dinning room he wanted four full length painting of woman looking down on him , two of the works were of two married woman with two different life styles and stories . (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.123) Frick was a collector of arts. He would acquire most of his pottery from Morgan now the chase Bank . Architectural difference is the simplest of homes. Something simple light and airy. First house he lived in in New York was the Vanderbilt house which was the house of opulence.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.123) Frick left that house to build this one to prove a point. Its a house that's long and low it only appears to big biggest from the outside. The garden in the front produces an illusion for a bigger space. This house is the reverse of a typical house.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.123) The library was waist high so the art could still be recognized a compilation of a variety of art books. He owns the book of wealth he has an interest of documenting himself |
CLASS 6: LOWER MANHATTAN
City Hall
The New York City Hall houses the offices of the mayor and the city council. The city hall that we are visiting today was actually the third in existence. The first built by the dutch in the 17th century on pearl street; the second built also known as federal hall in 1700 on Wall street.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40)George Washington was here at City Hall in the exact space where my friend Jane was standing
Detters prison were for people that had money but do not want to pay their bills. Who were involved in the fur trade in the 1660s. British took over the colony because they wanted to control the fur trade.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40)In 1802 New York City decided they wanted their own City Hall. Two architects got together one French and the other American; a duo who haven't previously worked together. This building is neoclassical very long and horizontal. Its very fascinating to know the New York City actual barrows down into a point like a triangle(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40).In front of each city hall stands a 6'3 Sculpture of George Washington. George actually had a plaster mask made of his face so it is the most accurate portrayal of George Washington left today. George was left as general of the first continental army. He didnt want to be president but he was begged. Which he's served 8 years five of those spent in NY. Which is why New York loves him so much. Inside the lobby is an eelegant and sophisticated because it is all marble interior. The building was built to host as the welcome center for the mayor and to be the official conventional center of NY.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40)
The inside part of city hall has an Omega shaped staircase. The interesting thing about an omega staircase is that it has no support and stands through compression. Each step weighing 1000 pounds it was interesting enough to find that through compression stairs werre inserted into the wall to maintain stabilty. Concered about movement? No worries an assessment was fist done by Laser analysis.
Detters prison were for people that had money but do not want to pay their bills. Who were involved in the fur trade in the 1660s. British took over the colony because they wanted to control the fur trade.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40)In 1802 New York City decided they wanted their own City Hall. Two architects got together one French and the other American; a duo who haven't previously worked together. This building is neoclassical very long and horizontal. Its very fascinating to know the New York City actual barrows down into a point like a triangle(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40).In front of each city hall stands a 6'3 Sculpture of George Washington. George actually had a plaster mask made of his face so it is the most accurate portrayal of George Washington left today. George was left as general of the first continental army. He didnt want to be president but he was begged. Which he's served 8 years five of those spent in NY. Which is why New York loves him so much. Inside the lobby is an eelegant and sophisticated because it is all marble interior. The building was built to host as the welcome center for the mayor and to be the official conventional center of NY.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.40)
The inside part of city hall has an Omega shaped staircase. The interesting thing about an omega staircase is that it has no support and stands through compression. Each step weighing 1000 pounds it was interesting enough to find that through compression stairs werre inserted into the wall to maintain stabilty. Concered about movement? No worries an assessment was fist done by Laser analysis.
Saint Paul's ChapelSt Paul's Chapel is located directly across the street from the world trade center and happened to survive the devastating 9/11 attack. This chapel was designed by Thomas MacBean in a Georgian style out of Manhattan shist. the Great Fire of 1776.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.48)The fire of 1776 destroyed a great portion of the original city of New York
|
African Burial Ground National Monument Bank
The African burial ground National Monument is located on the first floor of the Ted Weiss federal building( 290 Broadway, between Duane and Reade streets. (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.41) 1692 to 1794 an estimated 20,000 free Americans and slaves were buried in a 6.6 acre burial ground on this site which at the time was outside the boundaries of New York City.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.41) as with much of African American history the burial ground was developed over and forgotten until the year of 1991.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.122)About 8 years later a memorial opened inside of the Ted Weiss building to pay respect to the important roles that African slaves played in the development of New York City. Visiting this site today really opened up my eyes because people only know bits and pieces of real history. Throughout all the years of going to school it is today that I learned that the slaves had an integral role in the building of New York City. Not only that but these slaves where our ancestors. Underappreciated they were back then and memorialized they are now.
|
CLASS 7: IMMIGRANT NEW YORK (LOWER EAST SIDE, , LITTLE ITALY, AND CHINATOWN)
The Lower East Side/ The Tenement Museum
Today is the day of our last class. I can already tell today is going to be interesting just by the way my day started. An unfortunate sequence of events in my household has me rushing through the door at 9:50am to make the train to Penn Station. For the very last time. According to the Gotham Site we are going to the area which surrounds Little Italy and Chinatown. Our first day stop is the Tenament house museum.
The tenement museum is a portrayal of immigrants wave that was received by New York in the 1840s. Many immigrants to include my parents come in search of a better life, more jobs opportunities and a better life for them and the family (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.32) Mostly Ashkenazi (from RUSSIA/EASTERN EUROPE)Jews with a few Sephardics (Jews from Spain and North Africa) migrated from Eastern Europe in the 1880s to the Lower East Side.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.65)Averaging two and half million Ashkenazi Jews that would settle in United States The Tenement building was constructed in 1863 with 20apartments estimated that between 1863-1965 over 7000 people lived here. With about 40 layers of paint, each apartment have 3 rooms with 8-10 people occupying the apartment at once ,with a average rent of about $15 a mth (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.69). Many of these families now in a now environment and broke of course need places to reside and for a more than reasonable price. In response to this, many tenements arose throughout lower Manhattan. Tenements soon became the go to place for Jewish working classed families (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.32) Typically each floor were four apartments: two in the front of the building and two in the back. Inside each individual apartment was three small rooms-- a kitchen a bedroom and a living room which all lead one to another. How Gotham Has Struck Me |
Chinatown Adventure pg 72You can walk for blocks though this neighborhood and only hear Chinese spoken. Although flushing is now giving Chinatown a run for its money as New York's premier Chinese community New York Chinatown can still both having the largest number of Chinese immigrants outside of Asia.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.72)The first set of Chinese immigrants that came to the United States of America became prominent for establishing diplomatic relations in 1868.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.72)Many of the first Chinese people worked on the first Transcontinental Railroad and settled in the area around my street. At first the intentions of the men we're only to stay in the United States to learn enough money to return to China. In the long run they ended up staying permanently in the United States bringing their culture traditions and cuisine into the neighborhood that eventually became Chinatown. (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.72) the late 1800 the Chinese community in New York was about two hundred to one. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively halted immigration from China. The law was then repealed in 1943 and United States allowed a small number of Chinese immigrants back into the country.(Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.72)The influx of immigrants Ashley help the Chinese population Chinatown went from a whopping seven blocks 55 block area that has taken over many part of Little Italy. I love Chinese people for their great cuisine. I keep asking the chef at the local Chinese food restaurant for the recipe of my favorite dish Hunan Happy Family. But he says it is his Chinese secret! Some times they speak in Chinese and I ask them to translate for me. They taught me the Ni Hao means hello in Mandarin. The country of China is very interesting to me as they are fighting for democracy in Hong Kong. Their government must know the world is watching how they will respond. I want to go to China ; but I am waiting for the protest to be over. |
|
It's almost flabbergasting to believe that I have been a resident of New York State a majority of my life and know so little historically. I have the pride of a New Yorker but no background knowledge of the various advancements to include those of gentrification and technological backing. This semester I was able to actually make use of one of the classes offered at Molloy.. Instead of the in classroom alternative of four hours once weekly; We went to various sites that I typically would have never thought of. Although the Chelsea site was not the most enjoyable I was able to better appreciate art and the African American bank with the slave memorial kept me in touch with the history of my ancestors. My appreciation for historical site has grown tremendously over the past 7 weeks and I am currently ecstatic about sharing with my friends and loved ones.