In the decades following the Revolutionary War, opportunists from across the globe poured into New York City seeking fortune in the Capital of the newly formed United States of America. Anticipating a major growth in population, the modern day street… Read More »How crowded was the Lower East Side?
Based on 1891 G. W. Bromley map For well over a century, the Lower East Side’s waterfront hosted Manhattan’s primary industrial district. Among dozens of factories and horse stables was one of the largest concentrations of coal, lumber and iron… Read More »Industrial Alphabet City, 1891
Outside 114 Bowery c. 1897 (left), scan of Brodie’s 1896 liquor license (right) These are some rare images relating to Steve Brodie, a man whose claim to fame was just that, a claim, that in 1886 he jumped from the… Read More »Rare photos of the legendary Steve Brodie
Here is a crude map of bar locations in the LES “Jewish Quarter” in 1897. There was one bar for every 208 people living the the neighborhood. Eric FerraraEric is a 4th generation Lower East Sider, professional NYC history author,… Read More »1897 Saloon Locations in the “Jewish Quarter”
Did you know that Brooks Brothers, America’s oldest mens retail store, got its start on the Lower East Side? These images are from its original store on the corner of Catharine and Cherry Street — which opened in 1818! It… Read More »Brooks Brothers First Store on the Lower East Side