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[historysisco]

Happy Easter!!! Today I'm highlighting the Roman Catholic Church of Our Savior which is located at 59 Park Avenue corner of 38th Street.

Ground was broken on April 1, 1956 and the church was dedicated by Cardinal Spellman on September 27, 1959. It was designed in the Romanesque style by architect Paul C. Reilly. Its believed that the church is one of the first (if not the first church) in NYC to have air conditioning.

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This beautiful Beaux-Arts building at 243 East 34th Street is called Estonian House fka The Civic Club. It was designed by Brooklyn architect Thomas A. Gray in 1899 and founded by social reformer, businessman and Politician Frederick Norton Goddard (08/20/1860 - 05/28/1905.)

Goddard's vision for the Civic Club was for it to be a safe haven gor those in the who lived in the surrounding community. Goddard is described as such in his obituary from the New York Times dated May 29, 1905:

"Born into the possession of great wealth and reared in luxury, but with a wholesome interest in his fellow-beings, he was moved to leaving his own class and settle among people of the humblest walks of life. And he did not go among them to study them, to use them or to pity them. He lived with them as one of their own, sharing their cares and pleasures, sorrows and confidences."

When he passed suddenly in 1905, The Civic Club ceased to operate. The building remained in the family until 1946. The building was sold to the New York Estonian Educational Society, Inc. by Goddard's widow Mrs Alice S. Winthrop.

Rechristened The Estonian House, it would become a place where Estonian culture and learning would take place for generations of Estonians in New York City. Estonian House became New York City Landmark No. 0980 in 1978. It was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

In 1992 the building went under a $100,000 revovation of its limestone and brick facade and interior work under the direction of Estonian architect Tonu Vanderer.

From someone who delivers the mail here regularly, the interior is beautiful. You can see a picture of it on the Estonian House website.

[historysisco]

I recently came across these old school painted signs/advertisements on a couple of buildings near 5th Avenue and 33rd Street and Madison Avenue and 32nd Street. They all seem to be advertising handbags and the like. I looked up the companies listed. Here is what I found.

Robert Bestien was located at 1 East 33rd Street from 1978 to 1987. The company specialized in handbags and leather goods since the 1950s.

The Magid Handbags name brand has been around since 1916 and was created by Eastern European immigrants Anna and Isaac Magid. As per the MagicNYC website The, The Rand family led by patriarch Moishe Rand started making handbags in 1956 and is still a family owned and run company in the hands of the Rands.

The Coblentz Bag Company was created by Frenchman Louis B. Coblentz and was established in 1935 at 6 West 33rd Street. The company would move to 30 East 33rd Street in 1938. They were there until the business went out of business in 1980.

For Further Reading:

Robert Bestien, 1 E. 33rd St. (2003) from 14to42.net

Magid, Coblentz, Alan Miller, etc., 30 E. 33rd St. (Crystal Bldg.) near Madison Ave. (2002) from 14to42.net

MagidNYC.com

The Coblentz Bag Company from the Bag Lady Emporium website

[historysisco]

I've been meaning to post about this beautiful building at 207 East 32nd Street in the Murray Hill neighborhood. Until recently it was under renovations after being purchased by the New York Times Review of Books (NYRB) in 2020. Prior to the NYRB, the building was owned by famed graphic designer and Bronx-born Milton Glaser (June 26, 1926 - June 26, 2020.)

Glaser bought the 1902 Beaux-Arts building in 1965 which was initially built for the famed (or infamous) New York political machine Tammany Hall. According to legendary New York Times writer Christopher Grey in his post "Where the Ghosts Smoke Cigars" from Streetscapes dated December 19, 2013.

"The architect, Robert T. Lyons, developed an exuberantly French facade of red brick and limestone, with a mansard roof; although showy for 32nd Street east of the Third Avenue El, it was worthy of any lot on Fifth Avenue. Lyons presumably gave it a few smoke-filled rooms, and it also had a top-floor gymnasium, card rooms and an assembly hall for political conventions."

After Tammany Hall, the building was used by the City of New York as a courthouse.

Aside from being co-founder of New York Magazine in 1968 (with Clay Felker,) Glaser is arguably best known for his iconic "I ❤ NY" logo.

Glaser is believed to have created the logo during a cab ride and it started being used in 1977. Glaser created the logo with the best interests of New York City at heart during a dark period in the city's history when crime was rampant, nearing bankruptcy and the metropolis was being referred to as "Fear City." Glaser created the logo on a pro-bono basis.

The renovation of the building was completed in February of this year with Glaser's "Art is Work" remaining part of the new front door.

[historysisco]

I've always loved these buildings located on Alexander Avenue between 138th and 139th Streets in the Bronx. You don't really see too many of these types of row houses in the Bronx. I've mainly seen them in Brooklyn, particularly in Fort Greene.

According to the Historic District Council (HDC) Mott Haven Historic Districts webpage:

"Designated July 29, 1969

Alexander Avenue, once known as “The Irish 5th Avenue” and “Politicians’ Row,” features numerous handsome residences and public buildings from the turn of the century. One of the earliest, if not the earliest, series of row houses in the Bronx can be found here, built between 1863 and 1865."

There's nothing like coming across some history while getting your steps in on the streets of the Bronx and New York City.

#AlexanderAvenue #MottHavenHistoricDistrict #ArchitecturalHistory #RowHouses #BronxHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

For Further Reading:

Mott Haven Historic District from the Museum of New York City website

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 25, 1911: A deadly fire erupted in the Asch Building located on 23-29 Washington Place which led to the deaths of 146 people (123 women and 23 men.)

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory occupied the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the Ashe Building. Blocked stairwells and locked exits hindered the attempts for those trapped by the blaze to be rescued and to escape. The only fire escape collapsed due to the weight of those trying to escape the fire. The Fire Department was also hampered by having ladders that reached up to the 6th floor. Many leapt to the deaths trying to escape the flames.

The Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law was signed in October 1911, which required sprinkler systems to be installed in buildings. The Factory Investigative Committee was also formed whose observations led to 20+ new laws being passed in the areas of building, fire amd workers safety.

With the overwhelming majority of those killed being immigrant women who often worked grueling 50+ hour, six day work weeks, the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) saw a rise in both membership and prominence.

While tragic, many of the lessons from that day were learned and applied in safer environments for workers today.

#TriangleShirtwaistFactoryFire #AschBuilding #LaborHistory #SafetyHistory #WomensHistory #WomensStudies #HERStory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 24, 1900: The ground was broken by NYC Mayor Robert Anderson Van Wyck at City Hall for NYC's first subway called the Interborough Rapid Transit line (IRT). Established by Rapid Transit Act of 1894, the contract known as "Contract One", started operating the first underground line on October 27, 1904 and was managed by financier August Belmont.

The initial IRT line started at City Hall and followed the current 4-5-6 train local route to 42nd Street. It would then turn west on 42nd and continue north under Broadway on the current 1 train route to 145th Street.

Service into Brooklyn would come with "Contract Two" of 1902 with stops at Borough Hall, Hoyt Street Nevins, Nevins Street and Atlantic Avenue.. our of the original stations City Hall, Worth Street, 18th Street and 91st Street have been closed.

#NYCSubway #InterboroughRapidTransit #IRT #RobertAndersonVanWyck #AugustBelmont #SubwayHistory #MassTransitHistory #TransportationHistory #TrainHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

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On This Day in New York City History March 23, 1857: The first commercial passenger elevator is installed by Elisha Graves Otis in the E.V. Haughwout Building. The Haughwout Building was home to a five-story department store at 488 Broadway on the corner of Broadway and Broome Street in what is today the SOHO neighborhood of NYC. The elevator came at a cost of $300 dollars which in today's dollars would cost $10,373.79.

What made Otis' elevator successful and revolutionary was the safety brake that prevented the elevator from falling. The creation of safe elevators led to building being built higher up into the sky. Life as we know it in vertical cities of today wouldn't be what they are without the Otis elevators.

#ElishaOtis #OtisElevators #HaughwoutBuilding #EngineeringHistory #ArchitecturalHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 21, 1867: Theater director and producer of the famed Broadway shows called the Ziegfield Follies, Florenz Ziegfield Jr. (March 21, 1867 -  July 22, 1932) is born in Chicago, Illinois.

It can be argued that the Great White Way aka Broadway is what it is today because of Ziegfield's shows, that where held on Broadway from 1907 until his death in 1932. Based on the the Folies Bergère of Paris, Ziegfield's shows were a blend of vaudeville and variety shows which led to the creation of such terms as the Ziegfield Girls and led to the rise of many of the famous artists of the 1920s through the 1940s.

Ziegfield passed away due to  complications from long term pneumonia at the age of 65.

#FlorezZiegfield #ZiegfieldFollies #BroadwayHistory #EntertainmentHistory #TheaterHistory #VaudevilleHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 20, 1986: By a vote of 21-14, the City Council of New York passed a gay rights bill known as Intro. 2. The passing of the bill came at the culmination of 15-years of efforts to get the legislation passed.

According to the article "Homosexual Rights Bill is Passed by City Council in 21-14 vote" from the New York Times dated March 21, 1986, the purpose of the bill is described as follows:

"The bill, which amends the administrative code of New York City, is intended to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment and public accommodations."

The bill would be signed into law by Mayor Edward Koch on April 2, 1986.

#GayRightsBill #LGBTQHistory #GayHistory #GayRightsHistory #CivilRightsHistory #CivilRights #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBYB3_OBh-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 19, 1928: Irish-American actor Patrick Joseph McGoohan (March 19, 1928 - January 13, 2009) was born in Astoria, Queens.

McGoohan was raised in Ireland and had quite the acting career. He starred on stage, TV and movies. While he won a number of Emmy Awards for his work on the Peter Falk drama Columbo, he is best knows as being Prisoner 6 in the cult favorite Sci-Fi series The Prisoner.

#PatrickMcGoohan #IrishAmericanHistory #ThePrisoner #Columbo #TelevisionHistory #HollywoodHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #AstoriaHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_QUNzOkig/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On This Day in New York City History March 18, 1986: Brooklyn born Jewish American author and educator Bernard Malamud (April 26, 1914 – March 18, 1986) passes away at the age of 71.

Malamud was the author of such works as the Fixer (Pulitzer and National Book Award for Fiction winner,) the Assistant, the Magic Barrel and arguably his most famous work the Natural. The Natural tells the tale of former standout and aging ballplayer Roy Hobbs, which was adapted to the screen starring Robert Redford.

Malamud is considered to be among the best Jewish American authors of the 20th Century alongside such authors as Philip Roth, Saul Bellow and Joseph Heller.

#BernardMalamud #JewishAmericanHistory #TheNatural #TheFixer #TheMagicBarrel #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #BrooklynHistory #LiteraryHistory #Literature #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp7nbI2uC9k/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 17, 1762: The first recorded St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City is held.

According to the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade website:

"The first NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride but was banned in Ireland. In that 1762 parade, participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were meaningful to the Irish immigrants of that time."

The original parade route went past Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral (now Basilica) which is located on the corner of Mott and Prince Streets. Today the Parade is held along NYC's Fifth Avenue, passing by St. Patrick's Cathedral.

#NYCStPatricksDayParade #StPatricksDay #IrishAmericanHistory #IrishHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco (at St. Patrick's Cathedral)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp42nw7u4Lx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On This Day in New York City History March 16, 1827: The Freedom Journal which was fhe first African American-owned and operated newspaper in the United States was founded by John Brown Russwurm and Samuel Eli Cornish. The newspaper covered such issues as education, health, jobs and social events for free blacks not only in NYC but throughout the Northeast. After a falling out between co-founders, the focus for the newspaper would center on the movement for the return of Blacks to Africa in the form of the new colony of Liberia. This practice established by the American Colonial Society started in 1820. Liberia would become the first African colony to become an independent nation in 1847. The paper would cease publication in 1829. #FreedomJournal #AfricanAmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanStudies #BlackHistory #BlackStudies #BlackHistoryMatters #JohnBrowbRusswurm #SamuelEliCornish #NewspaperHistory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2dFnHur0k/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On This Day in New York City History March 4, 1933: Teacher, Women's Rights advocate and New York City and State government servant Frances Perkins is appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to his cabinet as the Secretary of Labor. In achieving this post, Perkins becomes the first women to hold a Presidential Cabinet position and was the first woman to enter the presidential line of succession. Perkins is the longest serving Secretary of Labor, having held the position for 12 years.

Perkins was influential in the development and application of many New Deal policies dealing with social security, unemployment insurance, federal minimum wage, and federal child labor laws. Perkins also served on the United States Civil Service Commission under President Harry Truman. While on the Civil Service Commission, Perkins advocated for women to be hired as secretaries and stenographer based on their qualifications instead of their physical attractiveness which had been the norm.

Prior to her Washington appointment, Perkins worked with then NYS governors Al Smith and FDR in a variety of commissions where she successfully advocated for women's labor rights. Her stance on labor rights for women was highly influenced by the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire that led to death of 123 women and girls and 23 men. Her efforts led to the passing of a 1913 NYS bill that capped the amount of hours women and girls could work in a week at 54-hours.

After her career in government service came to an end in 1952, Perkins would write a memoir of her time in FDR's cabinet entitled "The Roosevelt I Knew." She would also teach at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University until her death in 1965, at age 85.

#FrancesPerkins #FirstFemaleCabinetMember #WomensHistory #WomensStudies #HERStory #WomensRights #CivilRightsHistory #WomensHistoryMonth #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #NYCPolitics #NYPolitics #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpXh6A_OhG9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[historysisco]

On This Day in New York City History March 2, 1903: The Women's Hotel aka the Martha Washington Hotel opens in what is now the NOMAD neighborhood.

Built by the Women’s Hotel Company, the company focused in building "high grade hotels for the exclusive accommodation of business and professional women." According to the article How the Martha Washington went from women-only lodging to hip hotel from the Curbed New York website:

"One of the many articles written about the hotel noted that the hotel was typically frequented by "teachers, bookkeepers, stenographers, musicians, artists, writers, nurses, physicians and other professional women." In addition to hosting women, the hotel also hosted organizations of importance to women; in 1907, the hotel served as the headquarters for the Interurban Women’s Suffrage Council."

In 1920, the name was changed to the Martha Washington Hotel and would be available only to women as late as 1998.

As of 2016, the hotel has been known as the Redbury New York Hotel.

#WomensHotel #MarthaWashingtonHotel #WomensHistory #WomensStudies #HERStory #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #ArchitecturalHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

(at The Redbury New York)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpT5MXxuO4d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On This Day in New York City History March 1, 1912: NYPD Jail Matron Isabella Goodwin (February 20, 1865 - October 26, 1943) becomes the first female detective on the force.

She joined the police force in the late 1890's serving as a jail matron, a position that had her looking after female and children prisoners. In the course of her employment, Goodwin would go undercover from time to time to investigate crimes and gain access to locations such as women only gambling dens where male police officers could not enter. It was while undercover that her big break came.

In 1912, there was a robbery where $25,000 (roughly $770,000 in today's dollars) was stolen. One of the suspects was believed to frequent a boardinghouse for relations with one of its tenants. Goodwin went undercover as a scrubwoman at the boardinghouse. She did so until she gained enough evidence to have the suspect arrested and the case was solved.

For her actions, Goodwin was appointed as New York's first female detective and given the rank of 1st grade lieutenant. By the 1920's Detective Goodwin would oversee the  Women’s Bureau that was tasked with investigating cases involving prostitutes, runaways, truants and victims of domestic violence. She would retire in 1924.

As of 2019, 6,570 women were working in New York City’s 36,500-member police force (18 percent) including 781 detectives, 753 sergeants and 200 lieutenants.

Goodwin would pass away on October 26, 1943 and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetary in Brooklyn.

#IsabellaGoodwin #WomensHistory #WomensStudies #HERStory #WomensHistoryMonth #NewYorkPoliceDepartment #NYPD #NYPDHistory #CrimeHistory #TrueCrime #NewYorkHistory #NYHistory #NYCHistory #History #Historia #Histoire #Geschichte #HistorySisco

(at One Police Plaza- NYC Police Headquarters)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPzBQUOsuZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=