Take a peek inside.
This etching, which "exudes a frenetic male energy", is one of 15 steel plaques illustrating Harlem's history and culture installed along the waterfront railing of Harlem River Park.
Built in 1895-96, this was once the Coachmen's Union League Society of New York City. According to the AIA Guide to New York City: "Moorish-Venetian? Limestone frippery? It was built to sell life insurance to residents of this newly opened 'suburb' of Harlem, particularly to those living in the King Model Houses" (a.k.a. Strivers' Row).
On this site, Mr. Marcus Garvey held his first public meeting in the United States in the year 1916.
In the 1930s, the Bronx Terminal Market was a bustling agglomeration of produce and meat vendors. It later became one of the nation's largest Hispanic wholesale food markets, and in recent years was known as an important source of hard-to-find products ("goat legs and 99-cent toothpaste") for African immigrants in the region. It had been plagued by poor management and "mired in political scandal and decay" since the early 1970s, however, and most of its buildings were knocked down several years ago and replaced by the big-box shopping center whose tenants' logos can be seen looming in the background of this photo.
The remaining structure above, which has been taken over by Hostos Community College, is "a piquant landmark to every northbound motorist on the Major Deegan Expressway. This building was designed to serve as a bank and, upstairs, a hotel for farmers."
This community center was originally the 369th Regiment Armory, home of the Harlem Hellfighters.
This plaque inside the armory honors the achievements of the Harlem Hellfighters, the renowned African-American regiment that fought in World War I. The rest of the plaque reads:
- Only volunteer regiment raised for the war which reached France
- Embarked as part of first 100,000 of A.E.F.
- Shipwrecked three times enroute to France
- Only regiment in history of U.S. to carry state flag throughout war
- First regiment in history of U.S. to serve as an integral part of a foreign army
- First American privates in army of France to receive Croix de Guerre • Henry Johnson — Needham Roberts •
- Regiment cited by French high command approved by American high command for extraordinary gallantry in action and colors decorated with Croix de Guerre
- First regiment of the Allies to reach the Rhine
- Served 191 days in action longest of any American regiment
- Never lost a man by capture or a foot of ground
- First combat regiment to arrive home and to march up Fifth Avenue under the Victory Arch [great photo of the Victory Arch here]
"Founded in 1968 by Barbara Ann Teer, the theater was created to showcase productions by, and about, black Americans at a time when such stories rarely appeared on the mainstream stage. It has evolved into a cultural spawning ground, one that presents shows and workshops intended to foster respect for African ancestry and for black self-expression, and one graced over the years by artists like Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Nina Simone, Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou."
(The financial issues mentioned in the article linked above have since been resolved.)
at the older section of St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx
This sculptor of American history lay in an unmarked grave until 2006.
"In 1925, Owen F. Dolen (c.1864-1925) was asked to speak at a ceremony in this park, then known as Westchester Square. The occasion was the unveiling of a new monument to the neighborhood soldiers who died in World War I (1914-1918). Dolen was a well-respected educator and life-long member of the community, and had spearheaded the campaign to place the memorial at the square. He gave a rousing twenty-five minute speech, bowed to the crowd, sat down, and died of a heart attack just minutes later."
Standing atop Crow Hill, in one form or another, since 1855
In order for a barbershop to qualify for the Barberz tally, its name must include a Z where an S would normally be. "Butta'z" may not be part of the official name of this establishment owned by Rob Butta Cruz, but I'd consider it an extension of the name.
at the doctors' office. You can see the mural in its entirety here and here.
lies the Park Avenue Tunnel, which originally carried rail traffic.
This little shack stands atop a ventilation shaft that, as far as I can tell, is being temporarily used to transport personnel and equipment deep beneath street level to the tunnels of the massive East Side Access project.
reads:
This tablet marks the geographic center of the farm known in Revolutionary days as "Inclenberg", owned by Robert Murray whose wife, Mary Lindley Murray (1726-1782), rendered signal service in the Revolutionary War.Speaking of Mary Murray, here's a story recalled by James Thacher, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War:
Erected by Mary Murray Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
1926
Replaced by the Murrary [sic; oy!] Hill Committee 1994
When retreating from New York, Major General Putnam, at the head of three thousand five hundred continental troops, was in the rear and the last that left the city. In order to avoid any of the enemy that might be advancing in the direct road to the city, he made choice of a road parallel with and contiguous to the North River, till he could arrive at a certain angle, whence another road would conduct him in such a direction as that he might form a junction with our army. It so happened that a body of about eight thousand British and Hessians were at the same moment advancing on the road, which would have brought them in immediate contact with General Putnam, before he could have reached the turn into the other road. Most fortunately, the British generals, seeing no prospect of engaging our troops, halted their own, and repairing to the house of a Mr. Robert Murray, a quaker and friend of our cause; Mrs. Murray treated them with cake and wine, and they were induced to tarry two hours or more, Governor Tryon frequently joking her about her American friends. By this happy incident General Putnam, by continuing his march, escaped a rencounter with a greatly superior force, which must have proved fatal to his whole party. One half hour, it is said, would have been sufficient for the enemy to have secured the road at the turn, and entirely cut off General Putnam's retreat. It has since become almost a common saying among our officers, that Mrs. Murray saved this part of the American army.
This sculpture was not exactly beloved by the critics of its day: "There never was such a statue done in this world before. It is like the hideous nightmare which people have after supping on roast pork and lobster salad."
