Monday, January 30, 2012

Lower Broadway in 1899

Looking north up Broadway from around Fulton Street in New York City in 1899. Everything in this photo has since been demolished. Seen are the Western Union Building (demolished 1911), the Mail and Express Building (demolished 1922), the City Hall Post Office (demolished 1939), the St. Paul Building (demolished 1958), the National Park Bank and the Knox Building. Photo from The New Metropolis, 1899.

2 comments:

archibuff said...

The old City Hall Post Office was teh right building unfortunately built in the wrong location.

In spite of the losses, lower Broadway still has the most incredible and diverse collection of extant late 19th and early 20th century masonry buildings anywhere including the Woolworth Building, the Equitable Bldg, the former Irving Trust Bank (a glorious Art Deco gem, the former AT&T Bldg, the old Cunard Bldg (a masterpiece both inside and out), the former Standard Oil Bldg, the wonderful Neo-Egyptian Bowling Green Offices, the old US Customs House, The Trinity Offices flanking historic Trinity Church to name but a few magnificent buildings along lower Broadway.

The Down East Dilettante said...

These are some of the most interesting photos of New York that I've seen--full of life and the rush and optimism of a city becoming the World's Greatest.

Too bad indeed about the Post Office. I've always loved those pompous-over-the-top second Empire buildings.