Journals 2
Journal 4: The Enchanted Eastside- June 17, 2014
Today started the second half of our NY Experience class and we explored the Enchanted East Side! Our adventures included East Harlem, the Museum of New York City, and an exceptional walking tour with Luke, a break for lunch, and then we ended our day exploring Central Park from the Harlem side entrance and finished off by walking through Strawberry Fields and seeing the Dakota.
I was pretty excited to experience East Harlem because I have always heard mixed reviews about the area. Some people say that it is very dangerous and others have said it is beautiful, full of culture, and is in the process of gentrification. East Harlem-also known as Spanish Harlem or, more colloquially, “El Barrio”-is a uptown neighborhood of Manhattan, the boundaries of which are the Harlem River to the north, East 96th Street to the south, the East river to the east, and Fifth Avenue to the west (ENY p.85).
We walked through Harlem and stopped and saw the Carver Houses, which are also called “the projects.” These projects are named after George Washington Carver who was an African American scientist. The Carver Houses, a housing project of 13 buildings that was created for low-income residents of the neighborhood and completed in 1958 (ENY p. 86).
We then made our way to the Museum of New York City located at 1220 Fifth Avenue. The outside of the museum is just as beautiful as the inside. The staircase was absolutely beautiful and when we got up the stairs we went to watch a short film. It’s worth visiting the museum just to watch the well-made 22-minute documentary, "Timescapes," which provides an engaging multimedia history of New York City (ENY p. 87). The video was very informative and gave us a history of New York City and its development. We sat to watch a film and it was extremely informative. It was great watching the film because I could connect a lot of what we have learned and read in the text to the video. It was a good refresher. We then went see the "Gilded" room. The room was filled with Tiffany and Co. jewelry! It is one of my favorite jewelers so that was a highlight if my day. The whole room, including the walls were beautiful. As we walked back down the stairs I took picture of the quoted walls. That was something I have never seen before and it was fun to stop and read them because it was all about New York City and the people. We finished our visit by looking at different works of graffiti. I love graffiti art because each one tells a different story and it is totally different from other art forms. A lot of the pieces were very fascinating. I couldn’t pick out a favorite! There was also a room dedicated to Coney Island, which was fun to see because we already visited there. It was mostly pictures of people lounging in the beach and some quotes on the walls.
After the museum, we met up with our fantastic tour guide Luke! He was awesome and so full of life. He kept my attention the whole time because he was so enthusiastic and genuinely loved giving us a tour of Harlem. We stood around in a circle and he introduced himself. Then we went around the circle and everyone said their names and said a word that described how they were feeling. It was very personable and I liked how we started. I think we were all blown away when Luke said a poem aloud in rap form.
We then started our trek around East Harlem with Luke. We saw a lot of works of art on the sides of builds including paints, mosaics and other unique items. One of the things that makes East Harlem so special is the public art scattered around the community, which celebrates its multicultural heritage (ENY p. 87). We stopped on 104th Street at a painting of Rev. Pedro Pietri. Born in Puerto Rico, Pietri was a lifelong resident of East Harlem, a community activist, and the founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (ENY p. 87). At this point we learned that this area use to be extremely dangerous. Luke told us that even the sanitation department stopped picking up the neighborhoods garbage for a while.
We made another stop at a bookstore, which received donations of $400,000 because the bank did not want a bookstore opening in the area. The bookstore is filled with over 1,000 books in Spanish and has a children’s section downstairs. It was great to see they were able to achieve their goal because it is the only bookstore they have.
Across the street we stopped at the "Spirit of East Harlem” mural. Created by Hank Prussing in 1978, the mural captures the Latin influences on street life in East Harlem in the 1970's (ENY p. 87). Luke noted that the mural was restored and is still maintained by Manny Vega.
We made our way over to "Modesto Tin Flores Garden" which is operated in collaboration between HopeCommunity and GrowNYC (ENY p. 87). It is a quiet and public garden and seems like a quiet place to relax and even have your lunch. In the center of the garden is an outdoor fountain sculpture, called "Seed of Growth," designed by Lina Puerta, much of whose work explores the female body and female experience (ENY, p. 88). We also got to see the painting called "Soldares". The mural depicts Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos with their hands and hearts intertwined with the flag of their respective countries behind them (ENY, p. 88).
We then walked onto Lexington and saw the Julia de Burgos mosaic. This mural created by local artist Manny Vega, celebrates the achievements of the Puerto Rican poet and activist for women's rights and Puerto Rican independence (ENY p. 88). Our last stop was to a store where different herbal medicines, statues, and candles were sold. It was a family owned store pasted down from the owners parents. He told us about how the store came about and he even gets celebrities from time to time who visit and purchase items from him. We even found out that local hospitals send their patients to him!
At this point we were all really hungry. A lot of us weren’t too adventurous so we went to El Paso for lunch. I had a salad and grilled chicken tacos. Everything was so delicious and it felt great to sit down in the air conditioning and relax for a little while. We were lucky because we got to watch the soccer game! It was a great experience because people had Mexico jerseys on, had horns and whistles. The people in the restaurant made it a fun time!
After lunch we finished lunch we went to Central Park from the Harlem entering through the Vanderbilt Gate. Large scale recreational areas, like Central Park, provide those who dwell in densely populated cities with oases of tranquil green space that help take some of the harsh edges off urban living (ENY, p. 57). I love Central Park so I was excited we were ending our day here.
There is so much to do in the park and there are always a lot of people there. We entered the Conservatory Garden, which is composed of three gardens, English, French, and Italian in style (ENY, p. 59). I have never been to this side of the park before and it was extremely beautiful. We got a glimpse Belvedere Castle which I plan on going back to see. We also walked past people on rowboats, which I have been dying to do for years!! It is something I will be doing within the next few weeks.
We finished our walk of Central Park by walking through Strawberry Fields. You are supposed to be quiet in this area but it was surprising pretty loud and it was filled with homeless people. Unfortunately I did not get to snap a picture but I know I will be returning there soon. This area is dedicated to John Lennon. The memorial was designed by landscape artist Bruce Kelly, who created a meditative environment centered upon a circular black and white tile mosaic bearing the title of one of Lennon’s most inspiring songs, “Imagine” (ENY p.64). Mike concluded the class by pointing out the Dakota apartment building across the street where he was murdered.
Today was another great day but I am exhausted! Looking forward to next week and learning more about the city!
Today started the second half of our NY Experience class and we explored the Enchanted East Side! Our adventures included East Harlem, the Museum of New York City, and an exceptional walking tour with Luke, a break for lunch, and then we ended our day exploring Central Park from the Harlem side entrance and finished off by walking through Strawberry Fields and seeing the Dakota.
I was pretty excited to experience East Harlem because I have always heard mixed reviews about the area. Some people say that it is very dangerous and others have said it is beautiful, full of culture, and is in the process of gentrification. East Harlem-also known as Spanish Harlem or, more colloquially, “El Barrio”-is a uptown neighborhood of Manhattan, the boundaries of which are the Harlem River to the north, East 96th Street to the south, the East river to the east, and Fifth Avenue to the west (ENY p.85).
We walked through Harlem and stopped and saw the Carver Houses, which are also called “the projects.” These projects are named after George Washington Carver who was an African American scientist. The Carver Houses, a housing project of 13 buildings that was created for low-income residents of the neighborhood and completed in 1958 (ENY p. 86).
We then made our way to the Museum of New York City located at 1220 Fifth Avenue. The outside of the museum is just as beautiful as the inside. The staircase was absolutely beautiful and when we got up the stairs we went to watch a short film. It’s worth visiting the museum just to watch the well-made 22-minute documentary, "Timescapes," which provides an engaging multimedia history of New York City (ENY p. 87). The video was very informative and gave us a history of New York City and its development. We sat to watch a film and it was extremely informative. It was great watching the film because I could connect a lot of what we have learned and read in the text to the video. It was a good refresher. We then went see the "Gilded" room. The room was filled with Tiffany and Co. jewelry! It is one of my favorite jewelers so that was a highlight if my day. The whole room, including the walls were beautiful. As we walked back down the stairs I took picture of the quoted walls. That was something I have never seen before and it was fun to stop and read them because it was all about New York City and the people. We finished our visit by looking at different works of graffiti. I love graffiti art because each one tells a different story and it is totally different from other art forms. A lot of the pieces were very fascinating. I couldn’t pick out a favorite! There was also a room dedicated to Coney Island, which was fun to see because we already visited there. It was mostly pictures of people lounging in the beach and some quotes on the walls.
After the museum, we met up with our fantastic tour guide Luke! He was awesome and so full of life. He kept my attention the whole time because he was so enthusiastic and genuinely loved giving us a tour of Harlem. We stood around in a circle and he introduced himself. Then we went around the circle and everyone said their names and said a word that described how they were feeling. It was very personable and I liked how we started. I think we were all blown away when Luke said a poem aloud in rap form.
We then started our trek around East Harlem with Luke. We saw a lot of works of art on the sides of builds including paints, mosaics and other unique items. One of the things that makes East Harlem so special is the public art scattered around the community, which celebrates its multicultural heritage (ENY p. 87). We stopped on 104th Street at a painting of Rev. Pedro Pietri. Born in Puerto Rico, Pietri was a lifelong resident of East Harlem, a community activist, and the founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (ENY p. 87). At this point we learned that this area use to be extremely dangerous. Luke told us that even the sanitation department stopped picking up the neighborhoods garbage for a while.
We made another stop at a bookstore, which received donations of $400,000 because the bank did not want a bookstore opening in the area. The bookstore is filled with over 1,000 books in Spanish and has a children’s section downstairs. It was great to see they were able to achieve their goal because it is the only bookstore they have.
Across the street we stopped at the "Spirit of East Harlem” mural. Created by Hank Prussing in 1978, the mural captures the Latin influences on street life in East Harlem in the 1970's (ENY p. 87). Luke noted that the mural was restored and is still maintained by Manny Vega.
We made our way over to "Modesto Tin Flores Garden" which is operated in collaboration between HopeCommunity and GrowNYC (ENY p. 87). It is a quiet and public garden and seems like a quiet place to relax and even have your lunch. In the center of the garden is an outdoor fountain sculpture, called "Seed of Growth," designed by Lina Puerta, much of whose work explores the female body and female experience (ENY, p. 88). We also got to see the painting called "Soldares". The mural depicts Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos with their hands and hearts intertwined with the flag of their respective countries behind them (ENY, p. 88).
We then walked onto Lexington and saw the Julia de Burgos mosaic. This mural created by local artist Manny Vega, celebrates the achievements of the Puerto Rican poet and activist for women's rights and Puerto Rican independence (ENY p. 88). Our last stop was to a store where different herbal medicines, statues, and candles were sold. It was a family owned store pasted down from the owners parents. He told us about how the store came about and he even gets celebrities from time to time who visit and purchase items from him. We even found out that local hospitals send their patients to him!
At this point we were all really hungry. A lot of us weren’t too adventurous so we went to El Paso for lunch. I had a salad and grilled chicken tacos. Everything was so delicious and it felt great to sit down in the air conditioning and relax for a little while. We were lucky because we got to watch the soccer game! It was a great experience because people had Mexico jerseys on, had horns and whistles. The people in the restaurant made it a fun time!
After lunch we finished lunch we went to Central Park from the Harlem entering through the Vanderbilt Gate. Large scale recreational areas, like Central Park, provide those who dwell in densely populated cities with oases of tranquil green space that help take some of the harsh edges off urban living (ENY, p. 57). I love Central Park so I was excited we were ending our day here.
There is so much to do in the park and there are always a lot of people there. We entered the Conservatory Garden, which is composed of three gardens, English, French, and Italian in style (ENY, p. 59). I have never been to this side of the park before and it was extremely beautiful. We got a glimpse Belvedere Castle which I plan on going back to see. We also walked past people on rowboats, which I have been dying to do for years!! It is something I will be doing within the next few weeks.
We finished our walk of Central Park by walking through Strawberry Fields. You are supposed to be quiet in this area but it was surprising pretty loud and it was filled with homeless people. Unfortunately I did not get to snap a picture but I know I will be returning there soon. This area is dedicated to John Lennon. The memorial was designed by landscape artist Bruce Kelly, who created a meditative environment centered upon a circular black and white tile mosaic bearing the title of one of Lennon’s most inspiring songs, “Imagine” (ENY p.64). Mike concluded the class by pointing out the Dakota apartment building across the street where he was murdered.
Today was another great day but I am exhausted! Looking forward to next week and learning more about the city!
Journal 5: The Wild Westside- June 19, 2014
Today we walked straight out of Penn Station and onto 34th Street. We then continued to walk down 35th street and Broadway to Herald Square. Herald Square (actually a triangle) was named after the New York Herald, which had headquarters located there from 1894-1921(ENY p 32). Mike told us that Broadway is the oldest and the most important street in New York City. The entire length of Broadway runs 13 miles through Manhattan and the Bronx, and continues an additional 18 miles through Westchester county, terminating in Sleepy Hollow (ENY p. 32). It was extremely crowded just like I had expected. We also learned that in the 1980’s the crime rate was extremely high. Don even told us a couple of stories about how he was mugged by knife and gunpoint. Pretty scary!!
Our next stop was Times Square, which is filled with many tourists. Times Square is recognized as both the world's busiest intersection as well as the world's most popular tourist attraction (ENY p. 33). There were people dressed up as characters and they were asking people to take pictures with them. We then stopped at the RCA building. It was renamed the GE building, which is located at 30 Rockefeller Center.
We went to NBC studios, which had really nice floors that I took a picture of. We also saw a huge mural in the lobby of the building. The original was taken down and replaced. In its place, he commissioned Jose Aria Sert to create a piece 16 feet high and 41 feet long called, “American Progress”” (ENY p. 36).
When we walked out of the building we were where the Christmas tree is placed during the holidays. It was nice to see that they use the space of the ice skating rink for a restaurant in the warmer months. Mike told us about Rockefeller Center before we took a 10-minute break. This complex of buildings constructed during the Depression was one of the first architecturally coordinated developments in New York City and represents the pinnacle of Art Deco architecture and style in New York City (ENY p. 37). I would have never noticed how beautiful this part of the city was until it was pointed out. Taking in the complex as a whole, you'll undoubtedly agree with those who argue that this is one of the most dignified and delightful public spaces in the United Stated (ENY p. 38).
Next we went to the MoMA, which I was very excited about. Lovers of modern and contemporary art will definitely want to spend several hours visiting the Museum of Modern Art and even that would mean rushing your visit quite a bit (ENY p.39). This is where Don took over because art is his specialty. I am a fan of Jackson Pollock's paintings. He uses large canvases and splatters paint. Don told us that Pollock had the name, “Jack the Dripper” for the splatter paintings. It was interesting to hear Don explain that there was specific method to the spattering of paint. The splatters were black and brown and had some colors to it. Don said to look at the painting and imagine how trees intertwine with each other. We also learned that Pollock was an alcoholic, and used his alcoholism to open up his mind before creating artwork. Unfortunately Pollock died along with two other women in a car accident. They hit a tree and it is still alive today.
Another artist I enjoyed was Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was one of the most important artists of pop art, which became extremely popular in the second half of the twentieth century. Though he is best remembered for his paintings of Campbell's soup cans, he also created hundreds of other works including commercial advertisements and films. Warhol is also known as the father of Pop Art. His window advertisements were the beginning of an era where art would be seen in an array of forms away from the traditional paintings and sculptures of the old world. His love of bright colors and bold patters along with his quirky personality paved the way for his successful career as a major figure in the pop art movement.
However, not all of his works dealt with intriguing celebrities or mainstream advertising. Few people are familiar with Warhol’s darker side, evident in his “Disaster” paintings, a period in which such tragedy as, car accidents, suicide and capital punishment captured Warhol’s interest. These morbid works differ from his Pop Art masterpieces, and are crucial in understanding Warhol’s overall body of work.
Then it was lunchtime. We went to for Thai for at Yum Yum Bangkok, which I have never had before. We had a three-course meal that included two appetizers and an entrée. I had the salad with peanut dressing, steamed dumplings, and cashew chicken. I was a little worried about eating but it was very good. I tasted everything but did not stuff myself.
After lunch we headed to Morningside Heights where we met up with our tour guide Jim. Originally called Vanderwater's Heights, this area became prominent during the American Revolution at the site of the Battle of Harlem Heights, which was notable for being one of George Washington's first victories during the war (ENY, p. 70).Our first stop was the NY Episcopal Church, which I figured out on my own to be Neo-Gothic style. We then went to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The largest church in the United States and the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world, the cathedral has room for 3000 worshippers and spans a length of over 600 (ENY, p. 70). The cathedral was amazing and had a large piece of artwork that resembled a dragon, which was hanging from the ceiling. You couldn’t miss it! The cathedral was gigantic and had a ton of side rooms to explore.
Our next stop was at Columbia University located on 114th Street. This campus was absolutely beautiful and very large. Columbia University, the first college established in New York State and the fifth in the United States (ENY p. 72). We visited the library and walked up a lot of stairs. The building was beautiful and had high ceilings and marble floors. Completely different from Molloy’s library! Unfortunately we did not get to go into Saint Paul's Chapel.
I did some research of my own on Columbia University and found out that below Columbia's Morningside Heights campus, a series of underground tunnels connects various school buildings. Tunnels below Buell Hall are just a few feet wide and are thought to date back to the insane asylum that once sat in its place, while the tunnels below Pupin Hall were a meeting place for scientists during the beginning stages of the Manhattan Project. While not entirely off-limits, students and faculty are technically permitted to use some of the tunnels to travel between buildings. Security for the forbidden tunnels has increased in recent years in response to rogue tunnel explorers. Still, Columbia's tunnels are everything a City secret aspires to be: dark, difficult to find and brimming with history.
We then went to the tallest church in the United States, the Riverside Baptist Church. This Gothic Revival Church was built in 1927 by the architectural firm of Alens, Pelton, and Collins, with funds donated by John D. Rockerfeller Jr. (ENY, p. 75). This church holds the largest bells in the United States and that is why it is so massive.
We continued on to General Grant National Memorial. We were the asked, "who's buried in Grant's tomb?" I figured it was Grant, but was surprised it was his wife. The tomb is built of white granite and consist of a conical dome sitting atop a square base (ENY, p.74). We had just missed the last tour, so I will have to make a trip back and visit!
Walk west along 116th Street crossing Riverside Drive, entering Riverside Park, one of the only five designated scenic landmarks in New York City (ENY p.74). It was a nice park and we got to catch some shade from the hot sunny day.
Our second to laststop was the City College of New York. The College was founded on 23rd Street in 1847 as the Free Academy of the City of New York to provide qualified children of immigrants with access to free higher education (ENY, PDF). Jim told us that George Browne Post designed the college when the college moved to its current location in 1906. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style. While we were walking through campus it felt like I was in Medieval Times, which was pretty fascinating. My fiancés sister graduated from City College so it was nice to see where she went to school and tell her I went there today. She was attending school when Colin Powell visited. He actually was on a tour of her dorm building and she later found out he came into her and her roommates dorm room while she was napping in the other room!
Continue walking east down 141 Street until you come to Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the former home of our first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (ENY, PDF). This was a two-story federal style house built for Hamilton and his family. It was a private area away from the busy streets of Manhattan. Unfortunately, Hamilton was only able to enjoy his estate for two years before he died in 1804. Jim told us that the house was then under foreclosure in 1889, and was donated to Saint Luke’s Church. The house was then moved a couple of times and now resides in St. Nicholas Park, which is an appropriate place because it is a country style home.
Although I was very tired at the end of today and was having terrible acid reflux, I enjoyed all the places we went to because I have never experienced the later half of the day!
Today we walked straight out of Penn Station and onto 34th Street. We then continued to walk down 35th street and Broadway to Herald Square. Herald Square (actually a triangle) was named after the New York Herald, which had headquarters located there from 1894-1921(ENY p 32). Mike told us that Broadway is the oldest and the most important street in New York City. The entire length of Broadway runs 13 miles through Manhattan and the Bronx, and continues an additional 18 miles through Westchester county, terminating in Sleepy Hollow (ENY p. 32). It was extremely crowded just like I had expected. We also learned that in the 1980’s the crime rate was extremely high. Don even told us a couple of stories about how he was mugged by knife and gunpoint. Pretty scary!!
Our next stop was Times Square, which is filled with many tourists. Times Square is recognized as both the world's busiest intersection as well as the world's most popular tourist attraction (ENY p. 33). There were people dressed up as characters and they were asking people to take pictures with them. We then stopped at the RCA building. It was renamed the GE building, which is located at 30 Rockefeller Center.
We went to NBC studios, which had really nice floors that I took a picture of. We also saw a huge mural in the lobby of the building. The original was taken down and replaced. In its place, he commissioned Jose Aria Sert to create a piece 16 feet high and 41 feet long called, “American Progress”” (ENY p. 36).
When we walked out of the building we were where the Christmas tree is placed during the holidays. It was nice to see that they use the space of the ice skating rink for a restaurant in the warmer months. Mike told us about Rockefeller Center before we took a 10-minute break. This complex of buildings constructed during the Depression was one of the first architecturally coordinated developments in New York City and represents the pinnacle of Art Deco architecture and style in New York City (ENY p. 37). I would have never noticed how beautiful this part of the city was until it was pointed out. Taking in the complex as a whole, you'll undoubtedly agree with those who argue that this is one of the most dignified and delightful public spaces in the United Stated (ENY p. 38).
Next we went to the MoMA, which I was very excited about. Lovers of modern and contemporary art will definitely want to spend several hours visiting the Museum of Modern Art and even that would mean rushing your visit quite a bit (ENY p.39). This is where Don took over because art is his specialty. I am a fan of Jackson Pollock's paintings. He uses large canvases and splatters paint. Don told us that Pollock had the name, “Jack the Dripper” for the splatter paintings. It was interesting to hear Don explain that there was specific method to the spattering of paint. The splatters were black and brown and had some colors to it. Don said to look at the painting and imagine how trees intertwine with each other. We also learned that Pollock was an alcoholic, and used his alcoholism to open up his mind before creating artwork. Unfortunately Pollock died along with two other women in a car accident. They hit a tree and it is still alive today.
Another artist I enjoyed was Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was one of the most important artists of pop art, which became extremely popular in the second half of the twentieth century. Though he is best remembered for his paintings of Campbell's soup cans, he also created hundreds of other works including commercial advertisements and films. Warhol is also known as the father of Pop Art. His window advertisements were the beginning of an era where art would be seen in an array of forms away from the traditional paintings and sculptures of the old world. His love of bright colors and bold patters along with his quirky personality paved the way for his successful career as a major figure in the pop art movement.
However, not all of his works dealt with intriguing celebrities or mainstream advertising. Few people are familiar with Warhol’s darker side, evident in his “Disaster” paintings, a period in which such tragedy as, car accidents, suicide and capital punishment captured Warhol’s interest. These morbid works differ from his Pop Art masterpieces, and are crucial in understanding Warhol’s overall body of work.
Then it was lunchtime. We went to for Thai for at Yum Yum Bangkok, which I have never had before. We had a three-course meal that included two appetizers and an entrée. I had the salad with peanut dressing, steamed dumplings, and cashew chicken. I was a little worried about eating but it was very good. I tasted everything but did not stuff myself.
After lunch we headed to Morningside Heights where we met up with our tour guide Jim. Originally called Vanderwater's Heights, this area became prominent during the American Revolution at the site of the Battle of Harlem Heights, which was notable for being one of George Washington's first victories during the war (ENY, p. 70).Our first stop was the NY Episcopal Church, which I figured out on my own to be Neo-Gothic style. We then went to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The largest church in the United States and the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world, the cathedral has room for 3000 worshippers and spans a length of over 600 (ENY, p. 70). The cathedral was amazing and had a large piece of artwork that resembled a dragon, which was hanging from the ceiling. You couldn’t miss it! The cathedral was gigantic and had a ton of side rooms to explore.
Our next stop was at Columbia University located on 114th Street. This campus was absolutely beautiful and very large. Columbia University, the first college established in New York State and the fifth in the United States (ENY p. 72). We visited the library and walked up a lot of stairs. The building was beautiful and had high ceilings and marble floors. Completely different from Molloy’s library! Unfortunately we did not get to go into Saint Paul's Chapel.
I did some research of my own on Columbia University and found out that below Columbia's Morningside Heights campus, a series of underground tunnels connects various school buildings. Tunnels below Buell Hall are just a few feet wide and are thought to date back to the insane asylum that once sat in its place, while the tunnels below Pupin Hall were a meeting place for scientists during the beginning stages of the Manhattan Project. While not entirely off-limits, students and faculty are technically permitted to use some of the tunnels to travel between buildings. Security for the forbidden tunnels has increased in recent years in response to rogue tunnel explorers. Still, Columbia's tunnels are everything a City secret aspires to be: dark, difficult to find and brimming with history.
We then went to the tallest church in the United States, the Riverside Baptist Church. This Gothic Revival Church was built in 1927 by the architectural firm of Alens, Pelton, and Collins, with funds donated by John D. Rockerfeller Jr. (ENY, p. 75). This church holds the largest bells in the United States and that is why it is so massive.
We continued on to General Grant National Memorial. We were the asked, "who's buried in Grant's tomb?" I figured it was Grant, but was surprised it was his wife. The tomb is built of white granite and consist of a conical dome sitting atop a square base (ENY, p.74). We had just missed the last tour, so I will have to make a trip back and visit!
Walk west along 116th Street crossing Riverside Drive, entering Riverside Park, one of the only five designated scenic landmarks in New York City (ENY p.74). It was a nice park and we got to catch some shade from the hot sunny day.
Our second to laststop was the City College of New York. The College was founded on 23rd Street in 1847 as the Free Academy of the City of New York to provide qualified children of immigrants with access to free higher education (ENY, PDF). Jim told us that George Browne Post designed the college when the college moved to its current location in 1906. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style. While we were walking through campus it felt like I was in Medieval Times, which was pretty fascinating. My fiancés sister graduated from City College so it was nice to see where she went to school and tell her I went there today. She was attending school when Colin Powell visited. He actually was on a tour of her dorm building and she later found out he came into her and her roommates dorm room while she was napping in the other room!
Continue walking east down 141 Street until you come to Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the former home of our first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (ENY, PDF). This was a two-story federal style house built for Hamilton and his family. It was a private area away from the busy streets of Manhattan. Unfortunately, Hamilton was only able to enjoy his estate for two years before he died in 1804. Jim told us that the house was then under foreclosure in 1889, and was donated to Saint Luke’s Church. The house was then moved a couple of times and now resides in St. Nicholas Park, which is an appropriate place because it is a country style home.
Although I was very tired at the end of today and was having terrible acid reflux, I enjoyed all the places we went to because I have never experienced the later half of the day!
Journal 6: Lower Manhattan- June 24, 2014
This morning I woke up late and I was pretty exhausted for it only being a Tuesday. I participate in the New York State Park Summer Run Series and last night was a 10k at Sunken Meadow Park. This course is 6.2 miles and includes multiple terrains to run on such as grass, gravel, dirt, sand, pavement, and the boardwalk. The toughest part is “cardiac hill”, which is an extremely steep of soft dirt and sand hill. It is nearly impossible to run up the whole thing unless you are an elite runner. So I already started my day off complaining but I turned that attitude around because I knew I had an exciting day ahead of me.
After Mike and Don said a few words and told us the plan for the day, we were off to explore Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan—that section of the island between New York Harbor to the south and City Hall to the north—is where it all began for the City of New York (ENY, PDF). Lower Manhattan is home to some of New York's most famous landmarks: Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the harbor, both accessed by ferry boat from the financial district.
In the late 18th century, with the American Revolution brewing, New York became a major political center for the colonists. Protests against the Stamp Act led the so-called "Stamp Act Congress" to convene here and sign a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, asserting the concept of "no taxation with representation." Mike to us, the British soldiers captured New York and maintained control of the city until the war ended, when George Washington successfully returned to Manhattan. Washington would return again in 1789 to take the oath of office and become the nation's first president, as New York briefly served as the first capital of the United States, where the Bill of Rights was drafted and ratified.
Today we briefly saw the Woolworth Building, which Mike pointed out as being in Neo-Gothic style and was designed by Cass Gilbert. Gilbert loved the idea of medieval cathedrals so he designed this building to resemble the cathedrals in France. When it was completed in 1913, it reigned supreme as the second tallest building in the World (after the Eiffel Tower) and was the tallest building in New York City for 17 years until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930 (ENY, PDF). It would have been nice to go inside but since the tragic event of September 11th, the building is closed for visitors. The lobby has high ceilings, mosaics, and stained glass light fixtures, which I am sure are gorgeous.
We walked a couple more blocks down Broadway and made a visit to Saint Paul’s Chapel. The chapel was designed by Thomas McBean in Georgian-style out of Manhattan schist and was inspired by the Church of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields in London (ENY, PDF). The first thing I noticed was the graveyard. That was very interesting to me because I have never seen one in Manhattan before. The chapel was finished in 1766, and we learned that this is the only church that is still standing that was completed before the Revolutionary War. This church is the oldest church in Manhattan and it is also the oldest building that is still used today in NYC.
When you go inside of the chapel, you see that it has become a memorial for September 11th. The chapel is an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church. It was George Washington's place of worship after he was inaugurated as president, but more recently the chapel became known for surviving the events of 9/11 without even a broken window - despite being located across the street from the World Trade Center - and its role as a place of refuge for the WTC recovery workers in the days that followed.
Our next stop was the 9/11 Memorial located on the corner of Liberty and Greenwich Streets. Construction began on the building in 2006 and was officially completed on May 10, 2013, almost twelve years after the destruction of the original World Trade Center (ENY, PDF). On the site of the former World Trade Center towers, the memorial consists of two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools set within the footprints of the twin towers, lined with bronze panels with the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of that significant day inscribed. The surrounding plaza holds a lot of trees. The museum, located underneath the memorial tells the story of that fateful day, and holds various artifacts from the original WTC buildings. The memorial plaza is now completely open to the public.
One World Trade Center, the spiritual successor to the Twin Towers has already taken its place on the Manhattan skyline. Its spire reaches 1,776 feet above sea level, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The roof height stands at a symbolic 1368 feet, the same as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. Eventually the building will feature a public observatory on its top floors, which is projected to open in 2015.
I could see that it was an emotional visit for many people as well as myself. I had a family member in the building that day but luckily she was able to evacuate. My uncle is also a NYC firefighter who still struggles today with the events that occurred. He lost a lot of friends that day and has many friends with medical conditions from the toxic materials and fumes from months of cleanup. I will be returning to the memorial soon because it is so beautiful and I would really like to go to the 9/11 Museum. On Tuesday nights it is FREE!
We made a quick stop at Zuccotti Park where Occupy Wall Street occurred. On September 11, 2011, the park was occupied by Occupy Wall Street protestors, who soon set up an encampment with tents, a library, and a food court in order to stage continual protests drawing attention to the issue of income (ENY, PDF). We also made a quick stop at the Equitable Building at 120 Broadway, between Cedar Street and Pine Street. We have been able to notice setbacks on builds but Mike pointed out that this 41-story building did not have them. This was done because the builder wanted the building to be as profitable as possible. A large number of the public complained and a zoning law passed in 1916 stating that as buildings became taller, set backs had to be incorporate to prevent a dark and dreary city.
Our next stop was the Civic Center. The area around City Hall in Lower Manhattan has become known as the Civic Center, primarily because the neighborhood houses most of the city’s governmental offices (ENY, PDF). Before we could go in, we had to walk through a metal detector and our bags had to be checked. Mike told is this was a very unusual visit and a once in a lifetime experience because they no longer do visits after the September 11th attacks. We were given a tour of the Governor’s Room that was painted in a vibrant turquoise. It reminded me of the Crayola Crayon color, Robin’s Egg Blue. The staircase we walked up was gorgeous as well as the rest of the building. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, but she was not very enthusiastic so it was honestly hard to pay attention to her. Despite the soft-spoken tour, we got to sit in one of the courtrooms that were holding a hearing today about Hepatitis. I have never been in a courtroom before so that was a good experience.
Our second to last stop was Governor’s Island, which I had never been to but I have head great things about. It was a $2 ferry ride and about 8 minutes long. We met briefly on the lawn for classroom time and broke off to explore and find lunch. Unfortunately there a very minimal places to eat so that was pretty frustrating to the majority of the class. But it was a good learning experience so the next time the classes visit there it might be a good idea to eat before. Despite the poor food choices, the island is really nice. You can rent bikes and ride all over the island. They have art gardens to explore, playgrounds and hammocks which we took advantage of. I would like to go back to Governor’s Island on the weekend because they have walking tours and also concerts.
We took the ferry back over to Manhattan and ended the day at Fraunces Tavern Museum. It is one of the most important historical sites in Lower Manhattan. In 1763 the building passed to innkeeper Samuel Fraunces, who established a prominent tavern here known as “Queen’s Head,” a popular meeting place for New York’s Sons of Liberty (ENY, PDF). It was a very interesting visit because it has a restaurant when you walk in and a museum upstairs. It was very unique and I have never visited a place like this before. I was discussing my day with my fiancé and he actually has been there and ate in the restaurant with his coworkers. We also were able to listen to traditional music, which was different but definitely a good experience. Today was overall exhausting but we covered so much ground and I look forward to visiting these places again in the near future!
This morning I woke up late and I was pretty exhausted for it only being a Tuesday. I participate in the New York State Park Summer Run Series and last night was a 10k at Sunken Meadow Park. This course is 6.2 miles and includes multiple terrains to run on such as grass, gravel, dirt, sand, pavement, and the boardwalk. The toughest part is “cardiac hill”, which is an extremely steep of soft dirt and sand hill. It is nearly impossible to run up the whole thing unless you are an elite runner. So I already started my day off complaining but I turned that attitude around because I knew I had an exciting day ahead of me.
After Mike and Don said a few words and told us the plan for the day, we were off to explore Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan—that section of the island between New York Harbor to the south and City Hall to the north—is where it all began for the City of New York (ENY, PDF). Lower Manhattan is home to some of New York's most famous landmarks: Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the harbor, both accessed by ferry boat from the financial district.
In the late 18th century, with the American Revolution brewing, New York became a major political center for the colonists. Protests against the Stamp Act led the so-called "Stamp Act Congress" to convene here and sign a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, asserting the concept of "no taxation with representation." Mike to us, the British soldiers captured New York and maintained control of the city until the war ended, when George Washington successfully returned to Manhattan. Washington would return again in 1789 to take the oath of office and become the nation's first president, as New York briefly served as the first capital of the United States, where the Bill of Rights was drafted and ratified.
Today we briefly saw the Woolworth Building, which Mike pointed out as being in Neo-Gothic style and was designed by Cass Gilbert. Gilbert loved the idea of medieval cathedrals so he designed this building to resemble the cathedrals in France. When it was completed in 1913, it reigned supreme as the second tallest building in the World (after the Eiffel Tower) and was the tallest building in New York City for 17 years until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930 (ENY, PDF). It would have been nice to go inside but since the tragic event of September 11th, the building is closed for visitors. The lobby has high ceilings, mosaics, and stained glass light fixtures, which I am sure are gorgeous.
We walked a couple more blocks down Broadway and made a visit to Saint Paul’s Chapel. The chapel was designed by Thomas McBean in Georgian-style out of Manhattan schist and was inspired by the Church of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields in London (ENY, PDF). The first thing I noticed was the graveyard. That was very interesting to me because I have never seen one in Manhattan before. The chapel was finished in 1766, and we learned that this is the only church that is still standing that was completed before the Revolutionary War. This church is the oldest church in Manhattan and it is also the oldest building that is still used today in NYC.
When you go inside of the chapel, you see that it has become a memorial for September 11th. The chapel is an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church. It was George Washington's place of worship after he was inaugurated as president, but more recently the chapel became known for surviving the events of 9/11 without even a broken window - despite being located across the street from the World Trade Center - and its role as a place of refuge for the WTC recovery workers in the days that followed.
Our next stop was the 9/11 Memorial located on the corner of Liberty and Greenwich Streets. Construction began on the building in 2006 and was officially completed on May 10, 2013, almost twelve years after the destruction of the original World Trade Center (ENY, PDF). On the site of the former World Trade Center towers, the memorial consists of two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools set within the footprints of the twin towers, lined with bronze panels with the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of that significant day inscribed. The surrounding plaza holds a lot of trees. The museum, located underneath the memorial tells the story of that fateful day, and holds various artifacts from the original WTC buildings. The memorial plaza is now completely open to the public.
One World Trade Center, the spiritual successor to the Twin Towers has already taken its place on the Manhattan skyline. Its spire reaches 1,776 feet above sea level, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The roof height stands at a symbolic 1368 feet, the same as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. Eventually the building will feature a public observatory on its top floors, which is projected to open in 2015.
I could see that it was an emotional visit for many people as well as myself. I had a family member in the building that day but luckily she was able to evacuate. My uncle is also a NYC firefighter who still struggles today with the events that occurred. He lost a lot of friends that day and has many friends with medical conditions from the toxic materials and fumes from months of cleanup. I will be returning to the memorial soon because it is so beautiful and I would really like to go to the 9/11 Museum. On Tuesday nights it is FREE!
We made a quick stop at Zuccotti Park where Occupy Wall Street occurred. On September 11, 2011, the park was occupied by Occupy Wall Street protestors, who soon set up an encampment with tents, a library, and a food court in order to stage continual protests drawing attention to the issue of income (ENY, PDF). We also made a quick stop at the Equitable Building at 120 Broadway, between Cedar Street and Pine Street. We have been able to notice setbacks on builds but Mike pointed out that this 41-story building did not have them. This was done because the builder wanted the building to be as profitable as possible. A large number of the public complained and a zoning law passed in 1916 stating that as buildings became taller, set backs had to be incorporate to prevent a dark and dreary city.
Our next stop was the Civic Center. The area around City Hall in Lower Manhattan has become known as the Civic Center, primarily because the neighborhood houses most of the city’s governmental offices (ENY, PDF). Before we could go in, we had to walk through a metal detector and our bags had to be checked. Mike told is this was a very unusual visit and a once in a lifetime experience because they no longer do visits after the September 11th attacks. We were given a tour of the Governor’s Room that was painted in a vibrant turquoise. It reminded me of the Crayola Crayon color, Robin’s Egg Blue. The staircase we walked up was gorgeous as well as the rest of the building. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, but she was not very enthusiastic so it was honestly hard to pay attention to her. Despite the soft-spoken tour, we got to sit in one of the courtrooms that were holding a hearing today about Hepatitis. I have never been in a courtroom before so that was a good experience.
Our second to last stop was Governor’s Island, which I had never been to but I have head great things about. It was a $2 ferry ride and about 8 minutes long. We met briefly on the lawn for classroom time and broke off to explore and find lunch. Unfortunately there a very minimal places to eat so that was pretty frustrating to the majority of the class. But it was a good learning experience so the next time the classes visit there it might be a good idea to eat before. Despite the poor food choices, the island is really nice. You can rent bikes and ride all over the island. They have art gardens to explore, playgrounds and hammocks which we took advantage of. I would like to go back to Governor’s Island on the weekend because they have walking tours and also concerts.
We took the ferry back over to Manhattan and ended the day at Fraunces Tavern Museum. It is one of the most important historical sites in Lower Manhattan. In 1763 the building passed to innkeeper Samuel Fraunces, who established a prominent tavern here known as “Queen’s Head,” a popular meeting place for New York’s Sons of Liberty (ENY, PDF). It was a very interesting visit because it has a restaurant when you walk in and a museum upstairs. It was very unique and I have never visited a place like this before. I was discussing my day with my fiancé and he actually has been there and ate in the restaurant with his coworkers. We also were able to listen to traditional music, which was different but definitely a good experience. Today was overall exhausting but we covered so much ground and I look forward to visiting these places again in the near future!
Journal 7: Immigrant New York- June 26, 2014
These past four weeks have flown by. Today was our last day of class and I definitely had some mixed emotions. As I took my usual 8:55 am train from Huntington I reflected on of the experiences I was able to encounter over these past few weeks. It really is amazing how much we were able to cover and learn. Today we started our day at the Tenement Museum. I have been there before but that visit was about two years ago so it was nice to go back. It was a much shorter visit this time but I did enjoy going back and having the tour guide refresh my memory of what life was like years and years ago.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is one of the smaller museums in New York. It lets visitors experience how early immigrants to the United States lived. The museum is a building at 97 Orchard Street. It was built in 1863 by a German immigrant named Lucas Glockner. He worked as a tailor making clothes before investing his money to develop a property. His tenement building was one of many built in New York as a way to profit from the increasing demand for housing for immigrants.
We split up into two groups and our tour guide was very excited and enthusiastic to have us. She was extremely knowledgeable and was able to keep my attention despite the heat. The word “tenement” comes from a Latin word meaning “to hold.” A tenement building holds many rooms where different families lived. The word is not used much anymore in the United States. When people use the word today, they mean an old crowded building where poor families live in terrible, unhealthy conditions. But in the 1800’s, the word “tenement” simply meant a building in which many families lived.
Later, many immigrant families improved their living conditions by moving from the Lower East Side to other areas of New York. Some lived in the same kinds of buildings, but the living areas were cleaner and larger. They did not want to call them tenements, so they called them apartment buildings instead.
History experts say more than half the people in New York lived in tenements in 1863. The building at Ninety-Seven Orchard Street shows the kind of spaces where families lived. The front room was the largest. It was the only one with a window. Behind it were a kitchen for cooking and a small bedroom for sleeping. The apartment had no running water, and no bathroom, toilet or shower. There were six places where people left their body wastes in the back yard, next to the only place to get drinking water. Such unhealthy conditions led to the spread of disease.
Over the years, New York City officials passed laws to improve conditions in the tenements. The owners of Ninety-Seven Orchard Street placed gas lighting in the building in the 1890’s. They added water and indoor toilets in 1905, and electric power in 1924. Then they refused to make any more improvements. They closed the building in 1935. In 1998, the federal government declared the building a protected National Historic Place.
Museum officials researched the history of the building and its twenty apartments. They found more than 2000 objects that belonged to people who lived there. These include kitchen devices, medicine bottles, letters, newspapers, money and pieces of cloth. They also learned the histories of many of the 7000 people from more than twenty countries who lived there. And they spoke with and recorded memories of people who lived at Ninety-Seven Orchard Street as children.
Museum officials used this information to re-create some of the apartments as they would have looked during different time periods in the building’s history. These apartments are what people see when they visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.
Now we enter the apartment of the Gumpertz family. They were Jews from Germany who lived here in the 1870’s. In 1874, Julius Gumpertz dressed for work, left the building and never returned. He left his wife Nathalie and their four children, ages eight months to seven years. Mrs. Gumpertz was forced to support her children by making clothing in the apartment. She earned about eight dollars a week. This was enough to pay for the apartment each month and send her children to school. The apartment has a sewing machine and other tools similar to those Nathalie Gumpertz used in her work. She made the largest room into her workspace. That was where she saw people who wanted clothes made or repaired.
The next apartment we visit belonged to the Baldizzi family. They came from Italy and were Catholic. Adolfo Baldizzi, his wife Rosaria and their two children moved to Orchard Street in 1928. Their daughter Josephine liked to help other people. Every Friday night she would turn on the lights in the nearby apartment of the Rosenthal family. The Rosenthal’s could not turn on the lights themselves because it was the start of the Jewish holy day and no work was permitted.
On our tour, our guide spoke to us about poverty and government aid in the tenements. In order to get government aid, someone had to come into your home and evaluate your belongings from your clothing to your furniture to determine if you qualified for government aid. This action seems to be a mix of the two structures. In Institutional programs, aid is funded through the government and is a longer term. Residual programs were very stigmatized. They were put in a position to prove that they were in poverty. I could not imagine having to do that now. Going to the museum makes you appreciate what you have and to not take anything for granted.
After the Tenement Museum visit, we broke up into 4 groups and explored Chinatown. That was a fun experience because we were able to do it on our own. We headed to Mott Street where there were a lot of food options. We were eating lunch soon so I did not get anything but a few students from the group stopped for bubble tea at ViVA and they really enjoyed it. Next we went to Canal Street where men and women would come up to us asking if we wanted watches or pocketbooks. We went along with one guy just for fun, but they were charging way too much money for a fake bag. We did detour through Little Italy because we had extra time before lunch. I’m not a big Chinese food fan so I had a taste of some sesame chicken, mixed vegetables and Chinese broccoli.
We then met up with our tour guide Jim who also gave us our tour of Morningside Heights and Hamilton Heights. Our first stop was the 1st Settlement House, which was built in 1886. It was later renamed the University Settlement and is know as the second settlement house in the world.
Before stopping at the Economy Candy Store we stopped to admire a Synagogue on Rivington Street. It was built in Art Deco style by Emery Roth. As we walked on, we learned that a lot of tenement houses were ripped down to widen Allen Street. The candy store was definitely a hit for everyone! I have not been in a candy store in many years so that was a fun experience!
We walked down to Essex Street and Rivington Street. This is where we saw a statue on top of the Red Square Apartment building. It is a statue of Russian Lenin. At the time, the area was filled with Jewish people, and it was once the most densely populated area in the world. The Williamsburg Bridge was built to help with the overpopulation of people in Manhattan.
Our next stop was the oldest Baptist Church in the City built 1815. And then we went to Saint Mary's Church, which is the third oldest church in New York City. As Jim was talking about the Church, we had a funny encounter with a butterfly. It landed on a good number of the class and had a few laughs before we headed inside.
Our last three stops were at 290 Henry Street at Saint Augustine Episcopal Church. The church was built in 1829 and is the oldest church. We then made our way over to another settlement house. This was the Henry Street Settlement. Jim told us that Seth Low was the president of the settlement and it was founded in 1893. Our last and final stop of the class was at the Synagogue on Eldridge Street. It was very beautiful and possibly one of the nicest places we were able to see. It was a hot long day but it was sad to say goodbye to everyone. I am so glad I was able to have this experience. It will be something I will never forget!!
These past four weeks have flown by. Today was our last day of class and I definitely had some mixed emotions. As I took my usual 8:55 am train from Huntington I reflected on of the experiences I was able to encounter over these past few weeks. It really is amazing how much we were able to cover and learn. Today we started our day at the Tenement Museum. I have been there before but that visit was about two years ago so it was nice to go back. It was a much shorter visit this time but I did enjoy going back and having the tour guide refresh my memory of what life was like years and years ago.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is one of the smaller museums in New York. It lets visitors experience how early immigrants to the United States lived. The museum is a building at 97 Orchard Street. It was built in 1863 by a German immigrant named Lucas Glockner. He worked as a tailor making clothes before investing his money to develop a property. His tenement building was one of many built in New York as a way to profit from the increasing demand for housing for immigrants.
We split up into two groups and our tour guide was very excited and enthusiastic to have us. She was extremely knowledgeable and was able to keep my attention despite the heat. The word “tenement” comes from a Latin word meaning “to hold.” A tenement building holds many rooms where different families lived. The word is not used much anymore in the United States. When people use the word today, they mean an old crowded building where poor families live in terrible, unhealthy conditions. But in the 1800’s, the word “tenement” simply meant a building in which many families lived.
Later, many immigrant families improved their living conditions by moving from the Lower East Side to other areas of New York. Some lived in the same kinds of buildings, but the living areas were cleaner and larger. They did not want to call them tenements, so they called them apartment buildings instead.
History experts say more than half the people in New York lived in tenements in 1863. The building at Ninety-Seven Orchard Street shows the kind of spaces where families lived. The front room was the largest. It was the only one with a window. Behind it were a kitchen for cooking and a small bedroom for sleeping. The apartment had no running water, and no bathroom, toilet or shower. There were six places where people left their body wastes in the back yard, next to the only place to get drinking water. Such unhealthy conditions led to the spread of disease.
Over the years, New York City officials passed laws to improve conditions in the tenements. The owners of Ninety-Seven Orchard Street placed gas lighting in the building in the 1890’s. They added water and indoor toilets in 1905, and electric power in 1924. Then they refused to make any more improvements. They closed the building in 1935. In 1998, the federal government declared the building a protected National Historic Place.
Museum officials researched the history of the building and its twenty apartments. They found more than 2000 objects that belonged to people who lived there. These include kitchen devices, medicine bottles, letters, newspapers, money and pieces of cloth. They also learned the histories of many of the 7000 people from more than twenty countries who lived there. And they spoke with and recorded memories of people who lived at Ninety-Seven Orchard Street as children.
Museum officials used this information to re-create some of the apartments as they would have looked during different time periods in the building’s history. These apartments are what people see when they visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.
Now we enter the apartment of the Gumpertz family. They were Jews from Germany who lived here in the 1870’s. In 1874, Julius Gumpertz dressed for work, left the building and never returned. He left his wife Nathalie and their four children, ages eight months to seven years. Mrs. Gumpertz was forced to support her children by making clothing in the apartment. She earned about eight dollars a week. This was enough to pay for the apartment each month and send her children to school. The apartment has a sewing machine and other tools similar to those Nathalie Gumpertz used in her work. She made the largest room into her workspace. That was where she saw people who wanted clothes made or repaired.
The next apartment we visit belonged to the Baldizzi family. They came from Italy and were Catholic. Adolfo Baldizzi, his wife Rosaria and their two children moved to Orchard Street in 1928. Their daughter Josephine liked to help other people. Every Friday night she would turn on the lights in the nearby apartment of the Rosenthal family. The Rosenthal’s could not turn on the lights themselves because it was the start of the Jewish holy day and no work was permitted.
On our tour, our guide spoke to us about poverty and government aid in the tenements. In order to get government aid, someone had to come into your home and evaluate your belongings from your clothing to your furniture to determine if you qualified for government aid. This action seems to be a mix of the two structures. In Institutional programs, aid is funded through the government and is a longer term. Residual programs were very stigmatized. They were put in a position to prove that they were in poverty. I could not imagine having to do that now. Going to the museum makes you appreciate what you have and to not take anything for granted.
After the Tenement Museum visit, we broke up into 4 groups and explored Chinatown. That was a fun experience because we were able to do it on our own. We headed to Mott Street where there were a lot of food options. We were eating lunch soon so I did not get anything but a few students from the group stopped for bubble tea at ViVA and they really enjoyed it. Next we went to Canal Street where men and women would come up to us asking if we wanted watches or pocketbooks. We went along with one guy just for fun, but they were charging way too much money for a fake bag. We did detour through Little Italy because we had extra time before lunch. I’m not a big Chinese food fan so I had a taste of some sesame chicken, mixed vegetables and Chinese broccoli.
We then met up with our tour guide Jim who also gave us our tour of Morningside Heights and Hamilton Heights. Our first stop was the 1st Settlement House, which was built in 1886. It was later renamed the University Settlement and is know as the second settlement house in the world.
Before stopping at the Economy Candy Store we stopped to admire a Synagogue on Rivington Street. It was built in Art Deco style by Emery Roth. As we walked on, we learned that a lot of tenement houses were ripped down to widen Allen Street. The candy store was definitely a hit for everyone! I have not been in a candy store in many years so that was a fun experience!
We walked down to Essex Street and Rivington Street. This is where we saw a statue on top of the Red Square Apartment building. It is a statue of Russian Lenin. At the time, the area was filled with Jewish people, and it was once the most densely populated area in the world. The Williamsburg Bridge was built to help with the overpopulation of people in Manhattan.
Our next stop was the oldest Baptist Church in the City built 1815. And then we went to Saint Mary's Church, which is the third oldest church in New York City. As Jim was talking about the Church, we had a funny encounter with a butterfly. It landed on a good number of the class and had a few laughs before we headed inside.
Our last three stops were at 290 Henry Street at Saint Augustine Episcopal Church. The church was built in 1829 and is the oldest church. We then made our way over to another settlement house. This was the Henry Street Settlement. Jim told us that Seth Low was the president of the settlement and it was founded in 1893. Our last and final stop of the class was at the Synagogue on Eldridge Street. It was very beautiful and possibly one of the nicest places we were able to see. It was a hot long day but it was sad to say goodbye to everyone. I am so glad I was able to have this experience. It will be something I will never forget!!
Final Impressions of New York City
My impressions of New York City have not changed. I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge about the history, architecture, art styles, and much more. It is incredible how much we covered over the past 4 weeks. We were able to visit boroughs and places I have never been to and probably would have never visited if it were not for this class. I walked at graduation in May and this was my last course at Molloy College. I could not have thought of a better way to end my undergraduate degree. I plan on going back to a lot of the places we visited because we only got to have a glimpse of some places that were very intriguing. New York City is filled with so many experiences I never knew existed. The class not only taught us about history and art. We were able to learn how to understand the Subway system which is something I struggled a lot with. I don't have it down perfectly, but I definitely feel more comfortable after attending this class. I am excited to go back and share my experiences with my family and friends and take them into the city. Thank you to Mike and Don for giving us the experience of a lifetime. I don't know anyone who has had the opportunity to do what I did in the last 4 weeks. You two put together a great class and I am very thankful for your knowledge and for all the fun we had!
My impressions of New York City have not changed. I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge about the history, architecture, art styles, and much more. It is incredible how much we covered over the past 4 weeks. We were able to visit boroughs and places I have never been to and probably would have never visited if it were not for this class. I walked at graduation in May and this was my last course at Molloy College. I could not have thought of a better way to end my undergraduate degree. I plan on going back to a lot of the places we visited because we only got to have a glimpse of some places that were very intriguing. New York City is filled with so many experiences I never knew existed. The class not only taught us about history and art. We were able to learn how to understand the Subway system which is something I struggled a lot with. I don't have it down perfectly, but I definitely feel more comfortable after attending this class. I am excited to go back and share my experiences with my family and friends and take them into the city. Thank you to Mike and Don for giving us the experience of a lifetime. I don't know anyone who has had the opportunity to do what I did in the last 4 weeks. You two put together a great class and I am very thankful for your knowledge and for all the fun we had!