Lower East Side History Blog

Here is a map of major forts and artillery batteries in Lower Manhattan during the Revolutionary War.In the Summer of 1776, George Washington's 10,000-strong Continental Army fortified Manhattan Island, concentrating five Brigades below Houston Street.The only major road into the city at the time, the Bowery, was heavily barricaded and used to maneuver thousands and thousands of troops and supplies in and out of the largest Army encampment on Manhattan...

The Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa), April 19, 1920 In the spring of 1920, thousands of families were ordered to vacate their homes during one of the worst housing crises in New York City history. The combination of a severe housing shortage and immense population boom at the end of WWI led to waves of mass evictions for much of the city's working-class and working-poor population. Motivated by a post-war interest in...

Rare image of the original Tombs Prison being dismantled to make way for a newer structure, c. 1898. Apparently nothing was spared. There was a push to rebuild the structure in Central Park for nostalgic purposes but the cost was too prohibitive. Here is a great article mentioning the preservation effort at the time: http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2011/07/lost-1838-egyptian-revival-tombs.html

August 31 marks the anniversary of the passing of pioneering social worker Helen Hall, who died of natural causes in 1982 at the tender age of 90 at her home on the Lower East Side.Known as a "second generation social reformer," Helen Hall (b. January 4, 1892) was the second director of the Henry Street Settlement between 1933 and 1967 -- succeeding Lillian Wald, who founded the esteemed settlement house...

The following scans were sent to us by Barry S. of Toronto, Canada. After reading an interview we did in the Toronto Star, Barry recalled the stories of the Bowery his parents would tell him as a child. They were performers and mingled with the likes of Sophie Tucker, Edward G. Robinson and Henny Youngman. These collectibles sat in a closet for decades until last week. Now they have a...

Each 4th of July in the 1910s, homegrown icon Dr. Henry Moskowitz led a movement to inspire a patriotic spirit in the Lower East Side immigrant population.Appointed by Mayor William Jay Wagner, Moskowitz's job was to "arouse" immigrants to "participate in the American Festival," according to a 1912 New Outlook magazine. The Mayor was concerned that "the immigrant often gets his first impression of this land of the free from...

A short film by Nelson Sullivan and Robert Coddington from the Pyramid Club on Avenue A.

From the video description: "Super-8 footage from the 1991 Wigstock in Union Square after the riots closed Tompkins Square Park. Onstage - RuPaul (as Star Booty!) and Dee Lite! Set to The Smiths' "This Night Has Opened My Eyes"

Here is some compelling footage of squatters on the Lower East Side --- looks to be some Tompkins Square Riot footage edited in. (Sorry, not in English)

This is a montage from the documentary "Hells Angels Forever," featuring a few NYC Hells Angels members and a scene from E.3rd Street headquarters (8:43). I think I recognize president Sandy Alexander (:30, 9:12, etc.) and "Big" Vinnie Giorlamo (:07, :26, etc.) -- can anyone confirm if that is indeed them? UPDATE: The original video was taken down, so the times cited above are not accurate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXL4ymdGi2o      

Archival footage of a police officer encouraging Lower East Side street vendors to move on in 1903. [iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/move_on_1903" width="640" height="480"]

Of course the Filmore East, formerly located at 105 Second Avenue, was one of the most popular music venues in America in the late 60s and early 70s. Though relatively short lived, it played host to music giants such as The Who, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and many more. This archival performance is of one of many Grateful Dead performances at the Filmore, recorded February 11,...

Archival footage of a Lower East Side fish market on the morning of May 1, 1903:

Turkish Night Club 2 Image descriptions:New York, New York. Turkish nightclub on Allen StreetJoe Levy, Jewish-Turkish-American owner of a nightclub on Allen StreetTurkish-American and his wife who own a nightclub on Allen Street. Their son is in the United States ArmyOrchestra at a Turkish nightclub on Allen StreetThe girl plays a tambourine between dances.Guests get up and dance to the Oriental music whenever they pleaseHabitues of a Turkish nightclub on...

from the VillagerPreserving Chinatown’s doo-wop era The web site of Lonnie's Coffee Shop

Thomas Greene Wiggins (1849-1908) was a former slave and indentured servant who began playing piano by the age of four and became one of the most celebrated musicians of the Civil War era.Thomas was born autistic and without sight on May 25, 1849 to Mungo and Charity Wiggins, two Georgia plantation slaves owned by Wiley Edward Jones. His family was sold soon after to Colonel James Neil Bethune, and Tom...