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Yes, I can see the walkway on Saxon Ave that leads to the courtyard on Google Maps. A very interesting history. Thanks.
Hi DrDan.
Building One, which appears to have its main entrance at 74 VCPS, doesn’t have any commercial areas facing the streets that I can see. Per the NYCityMap site, the building was constructed in 1928. Was the pharmacy within the apartment building and available only to the co-op owners? Was that also the case for the grocery store?
The building at 50 VCAW was also erected in 1928, according to NYCityMap. If the dates of construction cited in NYCityMap are correct (and that’s a big “if”), then the building was first used in another fashion before accommodating the grocery store and the pharmacy.
I used to walk from my apartment at 4652 Manhattan College Pkwy (Spuyten Duyvil Pkwy until the name change in 1953), across the construction of the Major Deegan in Van Cortlandt Park, up VCAW and along Sedgwick Ave to DeWitt Clinton HS from 1950 to 1954). That was after I gave up riding the city bus down Broadway and changing busses at either W 238th or W 231st. I think that we were issued bus passes, but my memory is fuzzy now. A few times, in order to vary the route, I would use the stairs at the beginning of VCPS and walk along that street to Mosholu Pkwy, then down to the HS. Good times!Thank you, Thomas, for the follow up. I look forward to reading your article, And, yes, I’m Jonathan Baker, Jonathan to you all.
From a search of this site I found the September, 2019 Photo Contest. In post # 1127 Alan Lasky provided a photo showing 3014 Godwin Terrace and 226 Kimberly Place, with the painted advertisements on the back wall. They are also in the picture above.
The Google Earth Pro app shows those two buildings behind the Post Office located at 5517 Broadway.
The NYCityMap app indicates that the Post Office building was erected in 1952 (however accurate that may be).
I say that Maurpat got it right! (Sorry, Thomas 8^)
Is there any chance that the Mocudrama will be posted online for viewing after its showing at the festival for those of us who are unable to attend?
Thanks for the photos, Thomas.
In the first picture looking towards the train station, just to the right of the #1 trolley, is the rear of what looks like a 1948 Pontiac (Forest Green color?). What are the chances that that car was my parents’ car? We lived a block away on the street just out of the right frame (on Spuyten Duyvil Pkwy, changed to Manhattan College Pkwy in April, 1953).
I wonder if the picture was taken in November since all the trees have full, green leaves, ‘though men are wearing suit jackets and the lady by the #2 trolley is wearing a coat. The temperature in NYC on November 5, 1952 was around 55 F, so maybe the picture was taken on that date. The car at the left frame of the picture is, I believe, a 1951 Pontiac Chieftain with the driver’s window open, ‘though the resolution doesn’t lend itself to a more accurate analysis for either car.
The second picture with the #1, #2 and #3 trolleys had to have been taken in the Spring or Summer, not in November, as people are in shirt sleeves, the grass is green and the trees have green leaves.
This brings back nostalgic memories of the trolleys that ran on Broadway. Sometimes boys would jump and hang onto the rear of the trolley to get a free ride and some thrills. I did that once and decided that it was supremely stupid…I could get really hurt if I were to fall off. In the summer, many trolleys would have wicker sides up to shoulder height and then open from there to the roof that allowed cool air to waft over the riders as the trolley moved from stop to stop. Those were better than the enclosed ones with only the windows opened; no A/C in those days.
I remember the trolleys going up Kingsbridge Road. I think that they carried a supply of sand to drop onto the tracks for traction in the winter to get themselves up the hill.
Although the buses are a bane, and having trolleys to replace them would be nice, from a safety standpoint, buses embarking and debarking passengers at the curb is better than doing so in the middle of the street.
Thanks for this post, Peter.
Travelling 50 miles a day for 6 days straight must have been grueling for both the horse and the rider. Perhaps Revere changed horses along the route. Talk about saddle soreness…
Historic times! The fortitude that people had in the face of institutional power is forever humbling to me.
Thank you for your sleuthing, Stephanie. Wow, I though that I had somewhat remembered the occasion of the increase, but I was waaaay off. Shakes me to my core…lol.
Thanks for the additional info, Tom. Inflation hits hard; what cost slightly less that eight cents in 1950 now costs a dollar. I think that the desire for ~2% inflation rate is to encourage people to spend some money rather than save it, thus stimulating the economy. The value of the dollar has decreased almost 97% since 1913, the year that the Federal Reserve was formed. Since we are dealing in fiat money now, I don’t know if it really matters so long as one is lucky enough for personal wealth to grow proportionately.
Educating the public and keeping it aware of the history of the area is always a good thing. Thank you for your efforts, Stephanie.
I think that the toll for the bridge was raised from 10 cents to 25 cents in the 1950s. Does anyone have the exact year?
That is a beautiful building with so many unique design elements. It would be a shame for it to disappear, especially given that it began its core existence in the pre-Revolutionary period. A lack of sufficient care or interest in preserving our history (and the anticipation of monetary gain) resulted in the burial of the Kings Bridge at W. 230th Street and the loss of the Godwin and Moller houses. It appears that more of the same will happen to the Victorian Home.
Thank you for this, Nick. I would think that based upon your analysis of the history of the house that it deserves landmark status. Is there some way for this to happen and for the house to be saved?
The Sanborn Maps wikipedia page explains how the maps were kept up to date. It was very labor-intensive, sending out a cadre of people to physically paste new information on each map held by subscriber businesses. Wow!
Thanks for that additional info on the insurance maps, Tom. I would assume that any map shown on the publisher’s website would be considered the latest and greatest. But, how were things handled back in the early years of the 20th century?
I have an unknown Manhattan student to thank for saving my life back in 1943(ish). In the middle of summer on a very hot day I had grabbed an ice cube from the refrigerator and was sucking on it as I walked up Spuyten Duyvil Pkwy. Class had just let out and students were walking down to the subway. The ice cube got caught in my throat and I couldn’t breath. I suppose that I was clutching my throat when one of the students bent down, grabbed my ankles, swung me upside down and hit me on the back. The ice cube popped out and I was put back on my feet. The student continued to walk away as I recovered. Luckily, I was a small, lightweight kid and he was a strong and quick-thinking person. I guess engineers are kind of bright individuals 8^D
Thanks for the clarification, Tom. In my field of endeavor I was always aware of the need to highlight any revision to documentation. Without revision letters, I wonder how those maps were not a cause of confusion, unless those revised maps were somehow identified.
Testtesttest, I was aware of the footpath. One of my friends who lived at 3875 Waldo Ave would use the path to get to Broadway and a meat market in that area. I wonder if it ever had become a road, though that seems very unlikely.
