NYPL Map Division

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:58:09 -0400

Detail of "Atlas of the City of New York" (1885)

View looking south from the top of one of the island piers (1905)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Blackwell’s Island (Roosevelt Island)

…is in the East River beginning opposite E. 50th St and extending northward. It is a long, narrow strip of land containing about 120 acres and is the property of the city of New York. It is also one of the group of islands upon which are the public charitable and correctional institutions for which New York is famous. Upon it are the penitentiary, the almshouse, lunatic asylum for females, workhouse, blind asylum, city hospital, hospital for incurables and convalescent hospital. The majority of these buildings are of granite, of imposing size and are unique in their way. They have been built from stone quarried on the island and by convict labor. There is a rudeness about the work which is quite in accord with the style of architecture, which is a turreted and battlemented design of the feudal character. Around the shores of the island, too, are heavy granite seawalls, all built by the convicts at a comparatively small cost to the city. The island is fertile and farming and gardening are carried on, all by convict labor… In the summer time and especially from the New York shore channel, the island is as attractive as it is imposing in appearance. In the penitentiary building are confined person convicted of misdemeanors and the average number of inmates is about 1,200. The population of the entire island is estimated at about 7,000 persons all told.

Atlas of the city of New York (1885)

View looking south from the top of one of the island piers (1905)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:45:44 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Long Island

…is a narrow, fish-shaped strip of land extending along the mainland from the mouth of the Hudson River nearly to the eastern boundary of Connecticut, being separated from the mainland on the north by the Long Island Sound and washed on the south by the ocean. Its greatest length from west to east is 115 miles and its average breadth from north to south is 12 miles. The resemblance to a fish extends to the bi-lobed tail; the southern, which is the longer lobe, ends in Montauk Point, the northern in Orient Point. Between them lies Peconic Bay. The total area of the island is 1,682 square miles… Along the north shore there is a narrow range of hills called the “backbone” of the island, but the rest of the surface slopes gradually to the ocean. The south shore is one immense sand-bank, called the Great South Shore, nowhere more than a mile wide and separated from the island proper for nearly its entire length by inlets from the ocean. The largest of these inlets is the Great South Bay, which extends for 60 miles without a break behind the Great South Beach. Rockaway and Coney Island beaches, which have become famous summer resorts, owing to their proximity to New York, are western extensions of the Great South Beach. The island is divided into four counties of Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

Map of Long Island and the southern part of Connecticut (1870)

Atlas of Long Island, New York. From recent and actual surveys and records (1873)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:31:43 -0400

"A scene on the Harlem River, New York" (1875)

Atlas of the city of New York, plate 32 (1885)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Harlem River

…divides Manhattan Island from the mainland. It may be regarded as one of the mouths of the Hudson, from which it branches off at Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It takes first a general easterly direction, making two sharp curves. This part, which is narrow is called Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It then turns southward and finally bends to the southeast, dividing where it meets the East River to encircle Randall’s and Ward’s Islands. Its entire length, as the channel winds, is about 7 miles, being 2 miles more than a straight line… In order to make a ship-canal between Long Island Sound and the Hudson River, the United States Government has made a cut across one of the bends at King’s Bridge and dredged the shallow parts of the river so that it is nowhere less than 9 feet deep. The river is frequented for boating; piers line the lower part of its course and are scattered throughout the upper portions. From 155th St to Sherman’s Creek, at 195th St, its western shore is skirted by the Speedway.

A scene on the Harlem River, New York (1875)

Atlas of the city of New York (1885)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:33:23 -0400

Detail of "Atlas of borough of the Bronx" (1921)

Detail of "A plan of New York Island with part of Long Island, Staten Island & East New Jersey..." (1776)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Fordham Heights

The ridge that follows the east bank of the Harlem River is know by this name at a point west of Fordham. In the Revolution the British erected an earthwork here to dislodge the Americans from Fort George, on the opposite side of the Harlem [ River ]. The Putnam Railroad has a station here ( fare 9 cents from 155th St ). Several handsome villas and the attractive residence locally known as Sedgwick Park crown the heights. Here also is the Webb Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, while a little southward lies the campus of New York University.

Atlas of borough of the Bronx (1921)

A plan of New York Island with part of Long Island, Staten Island & East New Jersey…(1776)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:31:00 -0400

Detail of "Atlas of Staten Island, Richmond County, New York" (1874)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Kill van Kull

“Kill” is a Dutch word signifying the channel or bed of a river and in early Dutch times all the rivers about New York were called “kills.” The Kill van Kull (commonly misspelled von Kull) is the narrow passage between the north shore of Staten Island and the Jersey shore. Its name was bestowed by the first Dutch mariners - a part of the crew of Henry Hudson, who went through the passage in a small boat to Newark Bay, which they spoke of in their reports as Achter Kol and the passage they called Kill van Kol.

Atlas of Staten Island , Richmond County, New York (1874)

In the Kills Great Kills, Staten Island, N.Y. (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:59:24 -0400

Detail of Bromley's "Atlas of the city of New York, Manhattan Island" (1897)

Madison Square Garden (1900?)

Interior of Madison Square Garden (1921)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Madison Square Garden

A large and handsome building occupying the entire block bounded by 4th [ Park Ave. ] and Madison Ave. and 26th and 27th Sts. In the center is an amphitheatre for equestrian performances, with a contrivance so that the floor can be covered with water 4 ft deep and aquatic sports shown. Here horse, flower, dog and poultry shows, etc. are held annually and concerts, mass-meetings, circus performances, six day foot and bicycle races and other gatherings frequently. The building also contains a theatre, restaurant concert room and ballroom. A tower 368 feet high crowns one of the corners and is surmounted by a gilded statue of Diana poised as a wind-vane. Visitors are admitted to the tower on payment of 25 cents. and are taken to about 100 feet from the top by elevator… It is built entirely of masonry, iron and glass, and is strictly fireproof. It was opened to the public in 1890.

Atlas of the city of New York, Manhattan Island (1897)

Madison Square Garden (1900?)

Interior of Madison Square Garden (1921)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:38:00 -0400

Detail of Bernard Ratzer's "Plan of the city of New York in North America" (1776)

"Maiden Lane, New York. Jewelry centre of the world. " (ca. 1885)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Maiden Lane

A Street running from Broadway between John and Liberty Sts., east to the East River, is one of the most ancient in New York. It was established as a road in the earliest times of the Dutch, its course through a valley being the easiest route of passage from the two great highways along the North [ Hudson ]and East River sides and was from the first used as such. It was then known as “T’Maagde Paatje,” or the Maidens Path. It was laid out as a street about 1693, during the governorship of Colonel Fletcher, when it received its present name. At present it is lined with substantial stores and is the center of the wholesale jewelry trade.

Plan of the city of New York in North America (1776)

Maiden Lane, New York. Jewelry centre of the world (ca. 1885)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:51 -0400

Detail of "City & county map of New-York, Brooklyn, Williamsburgh, Jersey City & the adjacent waters" (1849)

A view of South Street and Corlear's Hook ca.1876.

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Corlear’s Hook

Is at the bend of the East River just below Grand St. and opposite the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The locality has long had an unsavory reputation. Large machine shops and storage warehouses along it made the river-front almost deserted at night and afforded thieves their opportunities to sally out for and return with their booty unobserved, while the numerous squalid rookeries and tenements near by furnished places of concealment. The neighborhood has been much improved by laying out a park of more than 8 acres in area.

City & county map of New-York, Brooklyn, Williamsburgh, Jersey City & the adjacent waters (1849)

East River - Shore and skyline - Manhattan - Corlears Hook. (1876?)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:49:59 -0400

Detail from Bromley's 1899 Atlas of the city of New York

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Department Stores

Many of the former dry-goods stores display goods in almost every branch - furniture, carpets, crockery and glass, household articles, boots and shoes, apparel, fancy articles, leather goods, books, groceries, tobacco, and liquors - and have come to be known as Department Stores. Large sales and cheapness are their distinguishing features; durability in their goods may or may not be conspicuous. Some of the best known of these establishments are John Wanamaker’s, formerly A.T. Stewart’s, Broadway , 4th Ave, 8th to 10th Sts, Macy’s, Broadway and 34th St, Siegel-Cooper Co.’s, 6th Ave and 18th St, 14th St Store, and Bloomingdale’s, 3rd Ave and 59th St. Others on 6th Ave, Grand, 14th, 23rd and 125th Sts. In Brooklyn the leading department stores are Journeay & Burnham, Abraham & Straus, A.D. Matthews & Sons, Chapman & Co. and Loeser, all on Fulton St within a short distance above the borough hall.

Atlas of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan (1899)

New great department stores in Herald Square (1903)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:32:00 -0400

Detail of "Map of the city of New-York" [1846]

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Immigrants

Prior to 1855 vessels arriving at this port were allowed to land immigrants at any pier, but by a State law enacted at that time masters of vessels were compelled without exception to land them at Castle Garden. The United States government, however, took charge of them in 1890, and received them at the Barge Office, and since Jan. 1, 1892, at permanent quarters on Ellis Island. The buildings on Ellis Island were burned in 1897, and immigrants were again landed at the Barge Office until new buildings were completed in 1900.

Map of the city of New-York. ([1846])

Castle Garden landing for emigrants, Barge Office, Battery (ca. 1869)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:05:00 -0400

Detail of "Topographical map of the city and county of New-York" (1836)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Elevation

borough of Manhattan:

Battery 5 ft

City Hall 10 ft

Fifth Ave. at 59th St. 49 ft

Mount Morris 100 ft

Central Park Reservoir 112 ft

Broadway at 118th St. 135 ft

Kingsbridge Road at 175th St 200 ft

map: Topographical map of the city and county of New-York (1836)

image: Martel’s New York Central Park (1864)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:25:00 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Erie Basin

Is on the Brooklyn side of New York Bay, halfway between Manhattan Island and the Narrows. Its area is about 100 acres and a mile of breakwater divides it from the waters of the harbor. Within the basin are several important dry docks, 2 large covered piers, 8 smaller open piers and many stores for grain and other merchandise. Every year many vessels of all description are laid up here to winter or have repairs made.

map: Detailed estate and old farm line atlas of Brooklyn (1880)

image: Erie Basin (1920)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 10:58:38 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Mount Morris Park (Marcus Garvey Park)

Is a public park of about 20 acres on the line of 5th Ave. between 120th and 124th Streets. In the center rises a hill of rocks to the height of 100 ft. and to avoid the labor and expense of blasting this, 5th Ave. has been allowed to be broken here after preserving a perfectly uninterrupted straight line for nearly 6 miles from its starting point at Washington Square. The hill is crowned with an old wooden tower 50 ft. high, containing a bell. Band concerts are given on Tuesday evenings in summer.

map: Insurance maps of New York, Manhattan (1912)

image: East lawn, Mount Morris Park, N.Y. City (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:01:00 -0400

Map detail showing elevated railroad along Bowery

The Bowery in 1895

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Bowery, The

In the Dutch and early colonial days of New York the present Bowery was a lane running along the farms, or “Boweries,” on the northern outskirts of the city; hence its name, which is all that remains to recall the former rural character of the locality, for, from its starting point at Chatham Sq. to its termination at the junction of 3rd and 4th Aves., not a blade of grass or a shrub is to be seen, unless it be in the one or two florists’ windows that are to be met with. The Bowery, with its rows of cheap stores, where half the stock seems to be displayed on the sidewalks, its numerous concert and beer saloons, its fruit, peanut and sodawater stands which impede the pedestrian’s progress at every step, its noisy venders of every variety of small articles to be had “at a bargain,” its quadruple line of streetcar tracks and its rumbling, puffing, elevated railway trains overhead, is probably the most unique sight that the city possesses and withal the most bewildering to the uninitiated.

map: Taunton’s pocket edition of the merchant’s and shipper’s guide map to the port of New York (1879)

image: Elevated railroad, Bowery, New York (1895)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:06:12 -0400

St. George, Staten Island

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Staten Island

Is in shape an irregular triangle…Its area is about 57 square miles, its greatest length 13 miles, and its greatest breadth 8 miles. The island is very hilly, and its shores are almost everywhere dotted with the homes of New York business and professional men, many of whom make it their place of residence all the year round…There is a complete system of railway on the island. One line extends from Tompkinsville to Tottenville, following the longest side of the triangle about a mile from the shore and connects with Perth Amboy, New Jersey, by a steam ferry about every hour. Another line (the Rapid Transit Line) extends from Richmond Beach, on the east side stopping at Stapleton and Tompkinsville, to St. George and thence goes a little south of west to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where it connects with the Baltimore & Ohio road. A bridge has been built across the Arthur Kill for this purpose. The ferry-boats now touch only at St. George, instead of going on to other places…The entire population is nearly 50,000.

map: Atlas of the borough of Richmond, city of New York by (1907)

image: Greetings from Staten Island (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York and Its...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:46:00 -0400

North New York c.1874

Bronx River (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York and Its Neighborhood (1905):

Bronx, Borough of the

Although a considerable area in its southern part is quite solidly built up with brick stores, factories and dwellings, this is mainly a district of suburban homes. It comprises that portion of the city lying north of the Harlem River, and has an area of about 40 sq. miles, being next to the smallest boroughs. It takes its name from the Bronx River, which divides it into two nearly equal parts. The part west of the river, formerly the towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge, was annexed to the city, Jan. 1, 1874 ; the eastern part, including the former town of Westchester and a part of Eastchester was annexed Jan. 1,1895. From Central Bridge [Macombs Dam Bridge] northward there stretch two parallel ridges, rising to over 100 feet above tide-water, which join at Fordham Heights to form a plateau a mile wide continuing to the city line. A similar ridge stretches from Spuyten Duyvil along the Hudson and both these elevations in places exceed a height of 200 feet. There is also a ridge east of the Bronx River running northward from Unionport. Between these heights are the valleys of the streams that traverse this district. In the thinly settled portions are patches of woodland and old orchards, while the principal streets are bordered with well-grown shade trees. The dwellings are of all classes, from the villas overlooking the Hudson at Riverdale and the Harlem at Fordham Heights, to the small flats of North New York [southwest Bronx], from which the foreign-born mechanic looks out upon the tracks of the elevated railroad.

map: Topographical atlas of the city of New York, including the annexed territory showing original water courses… (1874) by Egbert L. Viele

image: Bronx River (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:00:59 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Brooklyn

Long practically a part of the great metropolis, the former city of Brooklyn became, Jan. 1, 1898, a division of the “Greater New York.” It is situated on the western end of Long Island, south and east of Manhattan Island, from which it is separated by the East River. At the time of its consolidation with the other boroughs Brooklyn was the fourth city of United States in population, and fourth also in manufacturing and commerce…Originally settled by the Dutch and afterward by New England people, it has been for years drawing to itself that portion of the population of the great city who have drifted hither from the eastern states and who have given to it a conservative character quite in keeping with their puritanical origin. Brooklyn, unlike old New York, is not cosmopolitan, it presents itself to the beholder as a pleasant but rather quiet city…As a place of residence , Brooklyn has many advantages. The greater part of it is considerably elevated above tide-water; the streets are wide and for the most part are a t right angles with each other, affording a fine circulation of air. Rents are much lower than in Manhattan. The air, however, especially on [Brooklyn] Heights, is very strong and persons with weak lungs or throat disease will do well to avoid this part of Brooklyn.

maps: Map of the city of Brooklyn, and village of Williamsburgh (1846) & “The city of Brooklyn” Atlas of Long Island (1873)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:08:00 -0400

Fort Greene Park (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Fort Greene (incorrectly called Washington Park)

Is on an elevated plateau east of the Brooklyn Borough Hall, between Myrtle and DeKalb Aves and Raymond St. and Washington Park. It contains 30 acres, and its undulating surface is handsomely laid out in walks, lawns, etc., and is surrounded by a fine stone wall. During the war of the Revolution it was the site of extensive earthworks. Its elevated situation is cool; it commands a fine view, and is the center of a fashionable neighborhood to the east and south. At the Myrtle Ave and St. Edward’s St. corner is a superb series of terraces, in which is the tomb of the patriot soldiers who died in the British prison-ship “Jersey,” in the East River, during the war of the Revolution. At the foot of these terraces, outside the park gates, is a large plaza.

map: Farm line map of the city of Brooklyn (1874) by Henry Fulton

image: Fort Greene Park (n.d.)

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:09:00 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Deutscher Verein

A German club, having a house at 112 W. 59th St., opened March 16,1891. McKim, Mead & White were the architects of the house, which ranks amongst the finest in the city. It has a frontage of 75 feet on 59th St., and a depth of 120 feet, and rises to a height of five stories. Its front is oolitic limestone. The second floor of the house is almost entirely give up to the use of the wives and daughters of members, a ladies’ restaurant and reception-rooms, etc., being provided for their accommodation. There are 22 apartments and suites for the use of members who may wish to live at the club. The building cost nearly $400,000.

map: Atlas of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan (1899) by G.W. Bromley & Co

image: Real Estate Record and Builder’s Guide

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:41:00 -0400

Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

Grand Opera-House (northwest corner 8th Ave & 23rd St.)

A fine massive building of white marble, having a front of 113 ft. on 8th Ave, and 98 ft. on 23rd St. The theatre proper, however, is in a rear building, the approach to which is through a wide vestibule from each street. It was a failure as a theatre at the start, and was purchased in 1869 by James Fisk, Jr., and Jay Gould, and the upper floors occupied by the offices of the Erie Railway until the death of Fisk. It was the scene of the magnificently audacious career of that prince of railway wreckers, and the theatre was kept open at a loss during his occupancy principally as the home of opera-bouffe. After being the scene of many unsuccessful ventures, it was made a paying property with leading “stars” at popular prices. The house is very large, handsomely decorated, and will seat over 2,000 persons. The lobby is spacious and handsome, with a noble staircase, The office portion of the building contains many lodge-rooms of fraternal societies.

map: Atlas of the city of New York, Manhattan Island (1897) by G.W. Bromley & Co

image: Grand Opera House, northwest corner, West 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue, Manhattan. (August 12, 1936)