AN ENGINEERING MARVEL

THE BRONX HISTORIAN

Newsletter of The Bronx County Historical Society

Burnside

. Originally designed as a stone arch bridge resembling a Roman aqueduct, its center arches were replaced in 1928 by a single steel arch to aid ship navigation on the Harlem River.  

Considered an engineering marvel of its day, High Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge in New York City. As part of a major restoration, its pedestrian walkway is to reopen to the public in 2015.

VOLUME 38 NUMBER 1 OCTOBER 2014 – JANUARY 2015

With a burgeoning population of 30,000, at the end of the 18th century, New York City needed a source of fresh water. It had no sewage system and most of its wells were polluted. Outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and yellow fever were commonplace. Water supplies for fire fighting were inadequate and fires raged unchecked, destroying entire city blocks.    

New York City built the Croton Aqueduct to bring water from the Croton River in upper Westchester County across the farms in the modern western Bronx to the High Bridge spanning the Harlem River into Manhattan. In 1842, water flowed into above ground reservoirs located at the present sites of the New York Public Library and the Great Lawn of Central Park. Throngs of people attended the formal celebration held October 14th celebrating with “Croton cocktails,” a mix of Croton water and lemonade.  

The High Bridge, officially the Aqueduct Bridge, was one of the most impressive parts of the system. Constructed high above the Harlem River between 1837 and 1848, the bridge connected the underground aqueducts from Westchester all the way to Manhattan, carrying water to downtown reservoirs.

The Bronx County Historical Society will showcase the exhibitions High Bridge - New York City's Oldest Bridge & Newest Greenway and The Bridge to The Fair - Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge as a tribute to two of our city’s historic bridges. (See page 3.)

THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS 3309 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 PHONE: (718) 881-8900 FAX: (718) 881-4827 www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org The Bronx County Historical Society, founded in 1955, is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation, documentation and interpretation of the history and heritage of The Bronx and its people from its earliest historical references in the 17th century to the present. The Society disseminates information by utilizing its collections in exhibitions, historical research, production of publications and documentaries, educational and cultural programming, the operation of our research library, The Bronx County Archives and two historic landmark house museums - the c.1812 Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the c. 1758 fieldstone farmhouse Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History. This newsletter is published three times a year as a service to members and friends. The Bronx County Historical Society is partially supported through funds and services provided by the NYC Departments of Cultural Affairs and Parks and Recreation, the Historic House Trust of New York City, The Bronx City Council Delegation, the Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, the Bronx Delegations of the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate, the H.W. Wilson Foundation, the Astor Fund, the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The New York Times Foundation, the Verizon Foundation, the New York State Library, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Susan Tane Foundation, the New York Public Library, and The Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

High Bridge undergoing modifications in 1862. The Bronx County Historical Society Collections.

FINANCIAL DONATIONS Cash donations help The Society fund programming, publications, equipment purchases, and build endowments. To double your donation, check with your employer for any available matching gift programs. We are grateful for the following contributions (partial list):

PURE GOLD

Schools, businesses, institutions, and

associations in The Bronx are noted:

B.S.F Auto Parts 1170 Bronx River Avenue

Est. 1980

Creston Optical 2169 White Plains Road

Est. 1941

Yolanda's Italian Restaurant 292 East 149th Street

Est. 1960

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Eryn Matthewson Glenorchy Campbell

Jean Hayter Jeremy R. Vega

Mary French Phyllis Day

Steven Benardo

COLLECTIONS DONATIONS The Society’s research library, object, and archival collections are a great resource. We thank those who recently made the following donations (partial list):

Al Pizarro- Report, “Hip Hop Boulevard Street Co-Naming Resolution.”

Ben Gerson - Book, Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood.

Bill Twomey: 50th anniversary commemorative pin, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Melrose (1903); Borden’s Condensed Milk Company invoice (1912).

Bob Paoli: Volume of reprinted news bulletins created during World War II by the

Brendan Nolan: Stainless steel dinner knife engraved “Montefiore Hospital,” c.1930s-1950s.

Brian Withers: World War II-era personal correspondence written by donor’s in-laws, Frank and Mary Tobitsch.

Carol Gabrielson Fine: Public School 90 graduation pin, 1939.

Carol R. Zanfardino: Photograph of Carmine Sarra’s farm, Williamsbridge Road and Morris Park Avenue, c. 1890s-1911.

Deby Sencer – Photograph of Shield of David Orphanage, 1936.

Edward Pinksy - Photographs of William Taft High School.

Guthrie Alberts: Scientific American issue with an illustrated article on the moving of the Mott Haven Railroad Station, 1894.

Jane R. Snyder: Castle Hill Beach Pool diving award bracelet, 1938

Jerry Rubackin: English ironstone Columbia pattern cabinet plate, 1848.

Jon Allen: Real estate prospectus for the Netherland Gardens apartment complex (1949) and a Bronx Zoo farm dictionary (c. 1944-1945).

Margaret T. Schroder – Book, Can’t Stop Won’t Shop, A History of the Hip-Hop Generation and various Bronx brochures and newspaper clippings.

Matthew Foglino: Newspaper articles, correspondence and programs on the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, 1922-1955; M.A. thesis, “American Suburban Visions: The Forgotten Bronx.”

NEW SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS:

Autographed copy, add $10

The Bronx Historian Page 2 of 4 OCTOBER 2014 – JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 1

Education & Culture in The

Bronx: A Research

Guide $20.00

$100 - $999

Adam Gottbetter Herbert Mandel

HSBC Bank Joseph Kelleher

Manhattan College Martin Luskin

Mezares Engineering Mitchell Maidman

Peter Zinman United Way of NYC

Wildlife Conservation Society

$10 - $99

Margaret Schroder Marjorie Dovman

Mark Glander Meredith Corp. Foundation

Neil Harrow Norbert Dengler

Robert Fass Russell F. Ryer Ruth Anderberg Salvatore Arena Sara S. Berlan

Shaurian Farber Stephen D. Miele

Thomas McConnell Wallis Doerge

$10 - $99

A.F. Freiss ADCO Electrical Corp. Anna Marie Castagnetta

Barbara Higgins Denis Boyle

Donald J. Petersen Harry A. Parsons

Howard A. Nenner Joan Pendergast

Joseph A. Barone Joseph Esposito Karl Reinsons

Kathy McArdle Lilly Pappas Lois Rosen

Lottie Esteban

$1,000 - $4,999

Fordham University G. Hermalyn

Howard A. Levine Krasdale Foods, Inc.

Neil Weissman New England Interstate

Water Pollution Teddy Nissan, LLC

$5,000 - and over

Lloyd Ultan Growald Family

Neil & Roula Clark

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL JOURNAL Since 1964, the BCHS Journal has been one of the premier history journals in the tri-state region. The Journal’s articles, written with clarity and scholarly substance, are of interest to all who enjoy accounts of people, business events, mercantile gain, defending the nation’s interest, or the love of The Bronx. The Society is now accepting articles for its Journal. Kindly send your article in Microsoft Word format along with 2-4 images or illustrations at 300dpi as email attachments to administration@bronxhistoricalsociety.org. Make sure you include your contact information.

The Bronx: Then & Now

$21.00

The Northern Borough: A History of The Bronx

$28.00

Museum of Bronx History

at the Valentine-Varian House 3266 Bainbridge Avenue

& East 208th Street

Owned by The Bronx County Historical Society,

the house is a member of the Historic House

Trust. Recreation.

The Bronx Historian Page 3 of 4 OCTOBER 2014 – JANUARY 2015

VOLUME 38 NUMBER 1

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage

Poe Park Grand Concourse & East

Kingsbridge Road

Owned by the New York City Department of

Parks, it is operated by The Bronx County

Historical Society since 1976. The house is a

member of the Historic House Trust.

The Bronx: Then & Now

$21.99

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS Museum of Bronx History

3266 Bainbridge Avenue & East 208th Street The Bronx, New York 10467

Museum Hours: Sat 10am - 4pm / Sun 1pm - 5pm (Group tours Mon.-Fri. by appointment)

Save the Date! Opening reception:

Wednesday, October 22nd - 4:30PM-7:00PM

Education and Culture in The

Bronx: A Research Guide

$20.00

High Bridge New York City's Oldest Bridge &

Newest Greenway

October 22, 2014 – October 4, 2015

Bronx-Whitestone Bridge Exhibition Courtesy of The Queens Historical Society and MTA

Bridges & Tunnels October 22, 2014 - April 5, 2015

BE A PART OF BRONX HISTORY Buy a Poe Paver to Support the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage!

To learn more about it, please call (718) 881-8900 or visit http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/poecottagepaver

!

Its operation of both historic houses are made possible in part by public funds and services provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

The Bronx County

Historical Society

Take A Walk Through History

BRONX WALKING TOURS Each tour costs $10 for BCHS members, $15 for non-members. Please make

reservations as these programs are quite popular and sell out quickly. Contact The Society (718) 881-8900 to reserve your spot. The tours generally run for 75 minutes.

Port Morris

Sunday, October 26, 2014 - 11:00 AM This extreme southeastern corner of The Bronx was originally advanced by Gouverneur Morris as a seaport. Today, the Port Morris neighborhood is an up and coming section of the South Bronx where former factory buildings are being converted to new commercial and residential space. Although one may think this industrial enclave may not have any historic interest, the story of Port Morris is one that explains a pivotal era in Bronx history in which rapid development and urbanization played crucial roles. Join BCHS tour guide Nestor Danyluk on a historic stroll through Port Morris as he points out old breweries, the old ferry terminal, and other historic sites. This tour starts outside of the Cypress Avenue #6 train station on East 138th Street (in front of Iglesias de Dios). Bronx buses #17 and #33 can also be used.

Marble Hill Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 11:00 AM

Marble Hill, a fifty-two acre community, has been a part of both Manhattan and The Bronx at different times and for different reasons, according to the shifting sands of time and landfill. Then the United States Ship Canal, locally called the Harlem Ship Canal, was cut through just below the village. Although the construction project joined the Harlem and Hudson rivers, it severed Marble Hill from Manhattan in the process. Once virtually an island, when the Spuyten Duyvil creek was filled in Marble Hill became part of The Bronx, and thus, attached to the mainland United States. BCHS Educator Angel Hernandez will lead a historic tour through Marble Hill and discuss its history and the age-old debate regarding its geography. This tour will start on the southeast corner of Broadway and West 225th Street, outside Chase Bank. Take the #1 train to West 225th Street or take Bronx bus #9 or Manhattan buses #7 or #20.

3309 Bainbridge Avenue The Bronx, New York 10467

Phone: (718) 881-8900 Fax: (718) 881-4827

www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org

FACILITIES Research Library

3309 Bainbridge Avenue By Appointment

The Bronx County Archives 3313 Bainbridge Avenue

By Appointment

Valentine-Varian House/ Museum of Bronx History

3266 Bainbridge Avenue and East 208th Street

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Poe Park

2640 Grand Concourse and East Kingsbridge Road

Visiting hours for both

historic house museums: Saturdays 10AM-4PM and

Sundays 1PM-5PM. Call The Society to arrange group tours

during the week.

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND

TWITTER.

FREE PUBLIC LECTURES

Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham Wednesday, October 29, 2014 – 6:00 PM

BCHS educator Angel Hernandez will provide an illustrated presentation about one of America’s gifted writers and his experience living in The Bronx. This lecture will be

given at The Bronx Library Center, located at 301 E. Kingsbridge Road. For more information, please call (718) 579-4257.

Poe and The Big Read Saturday, November 8, 2014 - 3:00 PM

As part of the literary Big Read program, noted author and historian Doc Hermalyn will talk about Poe Cottage and its relevance in New York City society. This presentation will be held at The Poe Park Visitor Center, located at 2640 Grand Concourse, inside Poe Park. For more

information, please call (718) 365-5516.

The Bronx County at 100 Saturday, December 20, 2014 - 1:00 PM

The year 2014 marks the centennial of the creation of Bronx County, the 62nd and last named county of New York State. Join BCHS Educator Angel Hernandez in a

discussion about this important milestone in Bronx history, accompanied by an illustrated presentation. This lecture will be given at The Bronx County Archives, located at

3313 Bainbridge Avenue. For more information, please call (718) 881-8900.

ENDOWED FUNDS The Bronx County Historical Society encourages the establishment of named endowment funds. Funds may be created to support many Society programs, or may be established for restricted use. The funds appear permanently on the financial records of The Society in recognition of their ongoing support of its work.

For further details, contact: Mr. Joel Podgor, CPA

Treasurer (718) 881-8900