New York City has undergone both subtle and dramatic changes over the past century, as showcased in a captivating new book. “New York City Yesterday and Today,” authored by Jamie McDonald, presents a collection of black and white photographs from the 1930s and 1940s, juxtaposed with present-day images. These photographs document virtually every piece of real estate in the city’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
With a team of almost 1,000 employees, predominantly auditors and bookkeepers, the tax department embarked on this ambitious project. However, the task of capturing the photographs fell to only 32 photographers. McDonald highlights this staggering contrast in his introduction.
One notable transformation can be observed in Duffy Square, the northern triangle of Times Square. The introduction of LED screens in the area has replaced traditional neon and light bulbs with video screens and fiber optics. Interestingly, Coca-Cola has maintained its presence in the square for decades.
Another striking juxtaposition is seen between the World Trade Center Complex and the former “Little Syria” neighborhood that once occupied the same space. Today, the neighborhood shows little evidence of its vibrant past as an immigrant enclave.
As readers take a journey through the book, they will witness the evolution of the Big Apple, with remnants of the past still visible alongside the architectural and technological innovations that have shaped the city.
Here are some specific examples from the book:
– Hotel Edison, located at 224-228 West 47th Street in Manhattan, remains open to this day. McDonald shares the interesting tidbit that inventor Thomas Edison himself ceremoniously turned on the lights when the hotel opened in 1931.
– Patrick Duffy Square, situated at 200 West 47th Street in Manhattan, captures the essence of Times Square. The previous building housed various entertainment-related offices, while a new office building took its place in 2008. The transition brought forth a shift from neon and light bulbs to video screens and fiber optics. Coca-Cola, however, has retained its spot in the square.
– Gallagher’s Steakhouse, found at 228 West 52nd Street in Manhattan, is hailed as a quintessential New York City steakhouse by McDonald. Its origins trace back to 1927 when vaudeville performer Ed Gallagher, his wife Ziegfeld girl Helen Gallagher, and gambler Jack Solomon transformed it into a speakeasy. Gallagher’s holds the distinction of being the first place to serve a New York strip.
– The neighborhood once known as Little Syria, located at 193 Greenwich Street in Manhattan, has vanished beneath the World Trade Center complex. McDonald notes that it now hardly bears any traces of its vibrant past as an immigrant enclave.
– Orchard Street in Manhattan, captured in a black and white photograph, exemplifies the diversity of the Lower East Side. The image showcases the neighborhood’s mix of ethnicities and plethora of goods and services.
– Mon Hing Co., situated at 19 Pell Street in Manhattan, was a local restaurant supply company when the photograph was taken. However, the apartments above were notorious for housing unsavory characters, including suspected Chinese gang members. Thankfully, today the only “clipping” happening at the location is in the first-floor barber shop.
– The Gideon Tucker House at 2 White Street in Manhattan remains unchanged in the Tribeca neighborhood. Constructed in 1809, this Federal Style house was built by Gideon Tucker, a city alderman, and owner of a plaster factory. Over the years, it has housed various businesses, including a barber shop, restaurant, and cigar store.
– Located at 1216 Surf Avenue in Brooklyn, the World Circus Side Show at Coney Island presented a quintessential sideshow experience reminiscent of traveling country carnivals and P.T. Barnum. Operated from 1922 to 1941 by “Professor” Samuel Wagner, the sideshow boasted well-known stars such as Pip and Zip, Prince Randian, and Lady Olga.
– A row of buildings on Castleton Avenue in Staten Island, specifically at 1005, 999, and 997, once thrived as a bustling shopping spot. However, these stores have long been closed, leaving behind a nostalgic relic.
– In South Beach, Staten Island, stands the G. Caiozzo Candy Store at 42 Reid Avenue. Over the decades, this building has undergone several modifications. Nevertheless, eagle-eyed observers can still make out the original structure by looking at specific details such as the center roofline above the Royal Deli & Grill sign.
– The Bronx offers an unusual structure at 2007 Cornell Avenue. Once a barge, this ship was made livable and transformed into a home. The lax city and building regulations of the time allowed for makeshift structures like these, as evidenced by the use of tar paper shacks and even tents as homes and shops well into the mid-20th century.
– Finally, at 203 East 29th Street in Manhattan, stands a wooden house that is one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the city. Little is known about its history or purpose, although some speculate it may have served as a small farmhouse within an orchard. Its true age also remains a subject of debate.
“New York City Yesterday and Today” offers a captivating glimpse into the city’s transformation through the ages. From iconic landmarks to forgotten neighborhoods, the book encapsulates both the nostalgia and progress that define the ever-evolving New York City.
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