Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem acquaints readers with the richly diverse history and lore of this famously picturesque locale. From Henry Hudson's exploration of the area's waterfront in 1609 to Gen. George Washington's conversion of its terrain into a battlefield in 1776, momentous events marked Manhattanville's crossroads long before the village streets were laid out in 1806. Readers discover later landmarks, including New York's first Episcopal church to abolish pew rentals, where patriots, Tories, and African American abolitionists convened-today, Harlem's oldest continuing congregation on the same site. The book also introduces notable Manhattanville residents, such as founders Jacob and Hannah Lawrence Schieffelin, clothier Daniel Devlin, and New York City Mayor Daniel F. Tiemann.
Book Description
During the 1800s, Manhattanville flourished as the West Side counterpart to its parent village of Harlem. The wide valley around present-day Broadway and 125th Street formed a unique gateway to the Hudson River between Morningside Heights and Washington Heights. Although rural, Manhattanville was the convergence of river, railroad, and stage lines, representing one of nineteenth-century New York City's most significant residential, manufacturing, and transportation hubs. However, this once-prominent upper Manhattan suburb eventually succumbed to the advent of mass transit and to the absorption of its distinctive features by the city in chase.
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About the Author
Eric K. Washington has written for several national publications and has conducted walking tours for the New-York Historical Society. A licensed tour guide, he has surprised visitors with how much remains to be seen of Manhattanville, the old heart of West Harlem.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent history of a fascinating slice of New York,
By "aoxomaxoa" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem (NY) (Images of America) (Paperback)
Mr. Washington has managed to summarize the rich, diverse history of a small yet fascinating section of the northern half of Manhattan which has consistently been ignored by virtually all writers on urban culture. His prose is terse and informative, and his photographs are truly stunning to anyone familiar with this neighborhood. This concise book is a precious piece of primary historical research which provides evidence on every page of the thought and effort that went into its creation. Whether you live in this neighborhood (as I have for twenty years) or are simply interested in the social and economic evolution of urban areas, this volume will provide you with a living, breathing history of an incredibly diverse slice of a continually evolving city. I urge you to read this fascinating tale of a truly unique part of our city and country.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old Manhattanville and Photographs of Old New York,
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This review is from: Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem (NY) (Images of America) (Paperback)
I will make a review of both these books together. I ordered them to help me with my own book that can be purchased on Amazon - The Journal of Anne Reading from Florence Nightingale to Dorothea Dix and Beyond. Old Manhattanville gives wonderful information about life in the mid 1800s and the photographs in the other book are great. I keep going back to both books. Thank you Amazon for making me aware of these books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating History,
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This review is from: Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem (NY) (Images of America) (Paperback)
Today, this neighborhood is mostly ignored. Who knew it had such a complex history? This book has great photographs. I live nearby. The web site morningside-heights.net has some pictures of this neighborhood.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
With Manhattanville's formation, the new village quickly became a significant suburban destination along the Bloomingdate Road. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, Black Culture, Manhattan Street, Amsterdam Avenue, Riverside Drive Viaduct, Church of the Annunciation, Civil War, Manhattan College, African American, Christian Brothers, Columbia University, Grant's Tomb, Hudson River Railroad, Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Sheltering Arms, Lawrence Street, Old Broadway Synagogue, Central Park, College of the Sacred Heart, Revolutionary War, Teachers College, United States, Alexander Hamilton, Claremont Hill New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
With Manhattanville's formation, the new village quickly became a significant suburban destination along the Bloomingdate Road. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, Black Culture, Manhattan Street, Amsterdam Avenue, Riverside Drive Viaduct, Church of the Annunciation, Civil War, Manhattan College, African American, Christian Brothers, Columbia University, Grant's Tomb, Hudson River Railroad, Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Sheltering Arms, Lawrence Street, Old Broadway Synagogue, Central Park, College of the Sacred Heart, Revolutionary War, Teachers College, United States, Alexander Hamilton, Claremont Hill New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
See all 6 books this book cites
- Clothing Industry Hb (Trends in Textile Technology) by Hazel King in Back Matter
- The Encyclopedia of New York City by Kenneth T. Jackson in Back Matter
- Rhapsody in Blue: Solo Piano (Original) by George Gershwin on page 120
- Prisoner of War: The Inside Story of the POW from the Ancient World to Colditz and After by Major Pat Reid in Back Matter
- James Fenimore Cooper (Literature and Life) by Robert Emmet Long on page 73
See all 6 books this book cites
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