On this day in Old New York - Old NY Tours

Gilmore's Garden Becomes Madison Square Garden

5/31/2015

[Madison Square Garden, exteri... Digital ID: 1691043. New York Public Library

On this day, May 31st, 1879 Gilmore’s Garden officially becomes Madison Square Garden.

Gilmore’s Garden was an open-air arena that was leased to band leader Patrick Gilmore in 1876. Gilmore used the venue for flower shows, beauty contests, music concerts, temperance and revival meetings and the first Westminster Club Dog Show. Gilmore also held boxing although it was illegal at the time.

With the renaming of the venue, sporting events were added such as indoor track and field. It had previously also been known as the New York Hippdrome (not to be confused with Franconi's Hippodrome)

The open-air style of the arena made it difficult to hold events during inclement weather and eventually Madison Square Garden was demolished. The original Madison Square Garden was replaced by the New York Life Building in 1928.

The current Madison Square Garden, typically known as the Garden opened in 1968 after the previous building was demolished. It is located on 7th avenue between W31st and 33rd streets in Manhattan.

First Recorded Car Accident

5/30/2015

Photo of Charles (left) and J.F(rank). Duryea in the 1894 Duryea gasoline car. From Outing magazine. From the Google books archive: Title Outing, Volume 51, page 212 Published 1908, Original from the University of California, Courtesy Wikimedia

On this day, May 30th, 1896 the first recorded car accident occurs in New York City .

Henry Wells of Springfield , Massachusetts was visiting NYC and while driving lost control the automobile, hitting a bicyclist. The bicyclist, Evelyn Thompson suffered from a fractured leg and Wells spent the night in jail.

Two months earlier, Charles and Frank Duryea produced the first gasoline powered car and co-founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company. The earliest automobiles looked more like horseless carriages than the cars we know today.

The First Kind of "LinD Sanity"

5/29/2015

Jenny Lind September 14th, 1850 Library of Congress: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c10191

On this day, May 29th, Jenny Lind sailed from New York to England after her two year tour to the United States.

Lind, a Swedish Opera singer was already quite famous in Sweden and Europe . P.T. Barnum sought her out as she always drew extremely large crowds and had never performed in the United States. After mortgaging his personal and commercial properties as well as securing a personal loan for $5,000.00, Barnum agreed to pay Lind over $157,000.00 up front in anticipation of her success.

Lind’s first concert was held at Castle Garden , now named as Castle Clinton, a sandstone fort located in Battery Park, Manhattan. At the time of Lind’s performance the fort had been redesigned as an Opera House. Tickets for Lind’s performances were in such high demand that Barnum frequently sold them at auctions. It is known that while under contract with Barnum, Lind gave 92 performances in the United States . Also while in the United States, Lind married Otto Goldschmidt in Boston. They had known each other for many years and he became her music director. Although an international star, quite rare at this point in time, there have never been any known recordings of Lind's performances.

A philanthropist, Lind was raising money for free Swedish schools and other charities. She earned more than $350,000.00 over the course of two years performing in the United States . Barnum’s instinct was right and the media coined her success, “Lind mania”. After a year of working with Barnum, the singer severed ties after becoming uncomfortable with Barnum's sensational promotion. They parted amicably and Lind continued touring. In May 1852 Lind performed her last concert in the United States , once again at Castle Gardens . On May 29th, 1852 Lind, accompanied by her new husband and party set sail for England leaving the United States.

Rudolph Giuliani Born

5/28/2015

Rudolph Giuliani, October 12, 2006. Courtesy Jason Bedrick and Wikimedia

On this day, May 28th, 1944, Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani was born in Brooklyn, NY.

Giuliani was born in East Flatbush, an only child. Giuliani and his family moved to Garden City South. Giuliani graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in 1961. He then attended Manhattan College in Riverdale, Bronx, majoring in political schience and minoring in philosophy. During this period he considered becoming a priest. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1965, and instead of becoming a priest, he decided to attend New York University School of Law, graduating cum laude with his Juris Doctor in 1968.

Also in 1968, Giuliani volunteered for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, and had previously worked as a Democratic party committeeman on Long Island.

Giuliani's first job after law school was clerking for Judge Lloyd Francis MacMahon, United States District judge for the Southern District of New York. Two years later, he joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. After three years, Giuliani was made execitive US Attorney, and Chief of the Narcotics Unity.

In 1975, he was recruited to be Associate Deputy Attorney General, and the chief of staff, under Deputy Attorney General Harold Tyler.

In 1981, after spending a few years in private practice, Giuliani was named Associate Attorney General in the Reagan administration. After two years, Giuliani took what was technically a demotion, by being appointed US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Giuliani took this position because he wanted to personally litigate cases. It was during his tenure as US Attorney that he prosecuted some of his highest profile trials, including the Mafia Commision Trial, and Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

In 1989, Giuliani resigned from his position as US Attorney, just as the Reagan Administration ended. He then returned to private practice, until being elected Mayor of New York in 1993. This came after an unsuccessful run for the same position in 1989.

Giuliani's term as Mayor was marked by significant changes in law enforcement, including his emphasis on the controversial "Broken Windows" strategy. Crime rates dropped during his Mayoralty, but the exact impact of Giuliani's policies on the rates are subject to significant dispute.

In 1998, Giuliani started his run for the soon to be open US Senate seat to be vacated by Daniel Patrick Moynihan as of the 2000 election. This lead Congressman Charles Rangel, and other Democrats to recruit Hillary Rodham Clinton, at that time, still First Lady, to run for the seat. Their celebrity status was though to be sufficiently equal to allow for a somewhat fair fight. On May 19, 2000, however, Giuliani withdrew from the race, citing prostate cancer, and various issues in his private life.

On September 11, 2001, Mayor Giuliani was faced with the unthinkable. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, which left the Twin Towers a pile of ruble, and 2,753 people dead. Giuliani was highly visible in the days after the attack. He immediately gained international attention and a huge approval rating. In spite of the initial popularity obtained, there are many who cast doubts on the Mayor's role in the preparedness of the city for such an attack, and how he oversaw the clean-up efforts afterward.

Giuliani ran in the 2008 Presidential race, but on January 30, 2008 withdrew from the race, with dismal results thus far and endorsed John McCain.

Since the end of his term as NY Mayor, he has worked at Giuliani Partners, a security consulting firm, and Bracewell and Giuliani, a high profile law firm.

Giuliani's name has been mentioned over the years as a possible candidate for NY Governor, US Secretary of Homeland Security, and even running for the 2012 Republican nomination for President.

George Willig Fined For Climbing WTC

5/27/2015

West Street - Canal Street loo... Digital ID: 1508609. New York Public Library

On this day, May 27th, 1977 George Willig was fined $1.10 after climbing the World Trade Center the day before.

New York City Mayor Abraham Beane fined Willig a penny for each floor climbed.

A mountain climber from Queens, Willig climbed the South Tower 2 of the World Trade Center in only 3 ½ hours.

He began at 6:30 AM and authorities were alerted to the oddity believing Willig to be suicidal. Managing to communicate with Willig it became clear that he was not suicidal and police pulled him through a window at 10:05 AM, promptly arresting the climber.

Before perfecting his climbing abilities, Willig was a toymaker. He had visited the World Trade Center a year before the climb taking measurements that allowed him to create special clamps that fit into the window washing tracks.

The stunt was followed by many television appearances including The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson and Good Morning America. He became a stuntman appearing in the movies, The Six Million Dollar Man, Trauma Center and Hollywood Beat.

Actor's Equity Formed

5/26/2015

Edwin Booth, date unknown, Courtesy Bain Collection, Library of Congress, LC-B2- 6332-14

Players Club, New York, between 1910 and 1920, Courtesy Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, LC-D4-73036

On this day, May 26th, 1913 the Actor’s Equity Association begins in NYC at the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel. Although they had been meeting secretly for years 112 actors gathered to officially form the association. Prior to the commencement meetings were held regularly at the Players Club, an actors club on Gramercy Park.

Edwin Booth founded the Players Club in 1888 in order to broaden the influence of those in the theatrical community. Booth, generally remembered as being the brother of John Wilkes Booth responsible for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln was an extremely accomplished actor. A statue of Edwin Booth as Hamlet has been the centerpiece of the private Gramercy Park since 1916. The Players Club still exists at 16 Gramercy Park South.

Brooklyn- Battery Tunnel Opens

5/25/2015

Ventilating Tower, Battery Brooklyn Tunnel, From Ferry Boat I (tower on Governor's Island), by Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc, Photographer, September 19, 1951, Courtesy Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Library of Congress, LC-G613-60136

On this day, May 25th, 1950 The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel opened for traffic. The tunnel was designed by Ole Singstad and partially completed before WWII interrupted construction.

Construction began on October 28th, 1940 with a groundbreaking ceremony with President Franklin D Roosevelt. Robert Moses attempted to halt construction of the tunnel indefinitely with the proposal of a bridge instead. The bridge was voted against and President Roosevelt saw to it that the original plans were completed.

The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel connects traffic from Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn . The tunnel is named after The Battery, the southernmost tip of Manhattan where an artillery battery was located during the city’s earliest history. The tunnel is currently maintained by The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.

Brooklyn Bridge Opens

5/24/2015

Brooklyn Bridge, General View, New York, NY 1883. Courtesy Images of America: Lantern Slide Collection, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Frances Loeb Library, Gund Hall & US Library of Congress, mhsalad 020082

The Great bridge - President Arthur and his party crossing the suspended highway / drawn by Schell and Hogan, 1883. Illustration in Harper's weekly, June 2, 1883, p. 341. Courtesy Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-108304

The grand display of fireworks and illuminations: at the opening of the great suspension bridge between New York and Brooklyn, on the evening of May 24th, 1883. By Currier & Ives, 1883. Courtesy Popular Graphic Arts, Library of Congress, LC-USZC2-3252

On This day, May 24, in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened up to public traffic for the first time.

The bridge was started on January 3, 1870. Designed by John Augustus Roebling, and construction was overseen by his son Washington Roebling.

The opening of the bridge was attended by thousands of people, including President Chester A. Arthur, New York Mayor Franklin Edson, and Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low (this was before NYC was consolidated). The two mayors crossed the bridge from their respective sides, with the President accompanying Mayor Edson. They met at the Brooklyn-side tower. The crossing was accompanied with celebratory cannon fire, fireworks, and the performance of a band. Washington Roebling did not attend the opening, and was rarely at the site. He did, however, hold a celebratory banquet at his home. President Arthur also shook hands with Roebling at Roebling's home, since he did not attend the official opening.

The Public were fascinated by this new, and at the time of it's construction, the longest suspension bridge in the world. They did not trust the new technology completely. Six days after the opening, on May 30, 1883, a rumor spread that the bridge was going to collapse, and a stampede resulted, with 12 people dying as a result.

P.T. Barnum, ever the showman, took the opportunity, almost a year later, on May 17, 1884, to prove to the public, once and for all, that the bridge was sturdy and stable. Barnum had one of his biggest attractions (both in size and fame), Jumbo, lead a parade of 21 elephants over the bridge.

Since then, the bridge has become a landmark, and was what allowed for the merging of two of the largest cities at the time, New York and Brooklyn, along with the other boroughs, into what is now known as New York City.

Main Branch NYPL opens

5/23/2015

Photo shows opening day (May 23, 1911) for the New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue in New York City. (Source: Flickr Commons project and NYPL Web site, 2008), Courtesy Bain Collection, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-09235

On this day, May 23, in 1911, the Main Branch of the New York Public Library held its Grand Opening.

The official opening was presided over by President William Howard Taft, with Governor John Dix, and Mayor William Gaynor also present. This was the culmination of exactly 16 years of work, as on May 23, 1895, representatives of the Astor and Lenox Libraries, along with the Trustee of the Samuel Tilden fortune, agreed to merge the libraries, and create "The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations."

The day after the opening, the Main Branch was opened to the public for the first time.

The building, which was started in May 1902, was designed by architects Carrére and Hastings in the Beaux Arts style. In addition to its imposing design, they also incorporated a system of multiple floors of book stacks, and a means of getting books to library users in a quick and efficient manner. The building was the largest marble structure in the United States as of its opening.

Langston Hughes Dies

5/22/2015

Portrait of Langston Hughes by Van Vechten, Carl, February 29, 1936. Courtesy Van Vechten Collection, Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-92598

On this day, May 22nd, 1967, James Mercer Langston Hughes died from complications from surgery related to cancer. He was 65 years old. His ashes are interred beneath a floor medallion at the Arthur Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, in Harlem.

Hughes work, which was a significant part of the Harlem Renaissance ran from poetry, social activism, novels, plays, and working as a columnist. His innovative poetry was referred to as "jazz Poetry."

Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri.

Hughes moved to New York in 1921 in order to attend Columbia University to study engineering. This was a compromise as Hughes's father wanted him to attend college abroad, and study engineering. Hughes wanted to further his interest in poetry and writing at Columbia. His father agreed to pay for Hughe's studies, based upon this compromise. Hughes, more interested in the neighbourhood of Harlem than his studies, and because of the possible racial prejudice he experienced, left Columbia in 1922 with a B+ average.

Upon leaving Columbia University, Highes took odd jobs, including working as a crewman on the S.S. Malone. This lead Hughes to spend six months travelling Europe and West Africa.

Upon returning to the US, and moving around within the US, Hughes attended Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, graduating with a BA in 1929 (Thurgood Marshall, a fellow alumnus, graduated a year later in 1930). In 1943, the same school awarded Hughes an honorary Litt.D.

Hughes then returned to New York, and aside from trips to the USSR and the Caribbean and a brief residency in Westfield NJ in the 1930's, stayed in the city until his death.