historical tidbits

[Jan Werner]

Great seeing you yesterday, Jason and Maureen! As promised, here are a
couple of things I've come across in various archives and files.

Below is a description of this area of Manhattan, quoted in a book
available online at Google Books. I haven't yet tracked down the
original source and it's unclear what time period Mines is describing.
Judging from context in the Gratacap book, it seems to be late 18th/
early 19th century.


The threaded and inundated character of the old shores, now filled in
and occupied with bulk-heads, is shown by this extract from Dr. John
Flavel Mines (Felix Oldboy): “Manhattan Island was the name given to
a high knoll of ground on the East River, above the foot of Rivington
Street, containing about an acre of land, surrounded by creeks and
salt marsh, and at high tide partly covered with sea-water…. Just
north of Manhattan Island a natural creek ran up through the center of
the present Tompkins Square to the vicinity of 1st Avenue.” Here was
Burnt Mill point, to reach which several creeks were crossed on small
wooden bridges, and the bridges themselves “were attainable only after
a decidedly moist tramp through soggy meadows and salt-marshes.”

p. 61, Geology of the City of New York: With Numerous Illustrations
and Maps (but none useful to us)
Louis Pope Gratacap
H. Holt, 1909 - 232 pages


I also have the Giuliani column in which he blabs on about how the
city needs "affordable" housing more than gardens, as well as two
NYTimes articles (well, an article and a listing) mentioning Green
Oasis. I can't figure out how to attach docs here so I'll send an
email from my regular address.

And of course I'll keep you posted on what else I find.

Best,

jan

[Jason Grote]

These are fantastic! Thanks, Jan.