New York City in 1850
Lower Manhattan in 1850
Lower Manhattan in 1850
A window into the past. Happy New Year, ping!
…”and the afternoons she spends rolling hoops and playing in Washington Square”
…I sell real estate and sometimes in areas where the “great flight” took place. I always imagine the way it used to be where kids were playing, Dad was coming home from work in his new LaSalle etc. Roll hoops in Washington Square now and you’ll get pistol whipped.
Great post, thank you for sharing! This book and others can be read for free on openlibrary.org!
IMO, the Bible teacher was pretty spot on. At least socially and morally.
I just bought this book for my mother. She grew up on 8th street near 5th avenue in the 30s. She has told me stories of playing around New York as a little girl, going where ever she pleased alone, and was completely safe.
She particularly remembers going to a hotel called the Plaza Vendome. It was a luxury hotel, and had a huge swimming pool in it in the basement. No one was ever there and she payed a quarter and got the pool all to herself.
Remarkable diction and perceptiveness for a 10 year old compared to today.
How much of that is a difference in income, a difference in the education system, and/or a difference in the cultures belief in a need for education?
“I hope I shall live to see the next century, but I don’t want to be alive when the year 2000 comes, for my Bible teacher says the world is coming to an end then, and perhaps sooner.”
Ya gotta just love those biblical scholars. They know. They know because they are smarter than us.
I loved this! A slice of NYC history from a first person perspective. I love Americana and the rich history of NYC in particular. Thank you for posting it.
Thanks for posting this! I could spend all day, (and do quite a bit), looking/reading about American History.
That’s lovely. I wonder if, looking out her window at night, she saw the moon and wondered what it would be like to be able to fly there? Dream your dreams, little one, and don’t be in a hurry to grow up... Beautiful post!