I love finding these postcards of long forgotten corners of New York City.
4-11-1906. Dearest Mrs. Sachs: Have been on the elevated cars every day since I am here. Am having a delightful time, may change my mind & live here. Tomorrow in Trenton, N.J. 10-16. Love, Anna.
The 9th Ave El was over 100 feet above the street at "Suicide Curve", which made a 90-degree turn from 9th Ave onto 110th St. then another from 110th St. onto 8th Avenue. The line ran along 9th and Columbus Avenues in midtown and upper Manhattan, and Greenwich Street in lower Manhattan, and ran until it was closed in 1940 and dismantled, following the purchase of the IRT by the City of New York. The line from 155th Street north into the Bronx was continued as the "Polo Grounds Shuttle" until 1958.
Also: in 1927 the New York Times reported that 11 people had jumped to their deaths from the station. Merchants complained it was souring business and people avoided the area at all costs. More here.
It does look precarious! I love the snippet from the New York Times with the merchants more concerned about their businesses.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post. I love New York. I've traveled there, driving from the Pacific Coast with my family, twice.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the postcard! Happy PFF!
They must have had a great view from up there. Great card and fabulous post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was admiring the composition of the picture and did not notice the elevated cars at first. Gosh I would be riding those every day as well.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting scene with a variety of transportation and ads.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great postcard! I like the anecdotes too, although the one about the suicides is so sad. Happy PFF!
ReplyDelete...stopping by through PFF... Postcards are such a wonderful glimpse of the times, places and people...
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to take a ride on the 9th Ave El.
Blessings & Aloha!
Wow, this was really something. I can imagine it was quite a sight. happy PFF
ReplyDeleteI wonder, if you stood in the same spot today, how much this view would have changed? the el was taken down, but what else changed?
ReplyDeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteLove the sporadic vivid hand tinting!
ReplyDeleteInteresting NY history... reminds me of a roller-coaster. Don't think I would have liked riding on it. Happy PFF.
ReplyDelete