Forgotten New York is in Association with the Greater Astoria Historical Society, a non-profit organization supported by the Long Island City community.
There used to be a time, not too long ago, when you could recognize what borough you were in by looking at the color of the street sign. This state of affairs was in effect between 1964 and about 1990. In 1964 a wholesale change in NYC street signage took place, as the DOT replaced [...]
Though Your Webmaster has resided in Flushing since 1993, I hadn’t yet taken advantage of its many historical dwellings and locales, many of which are unknown by Flushing’s thousands of residents. On a hot, humid June afternoon, a couple dozen Forgotten Fans and I decided to remedy the situation… No, this is not the next batch of “Survivor” [...]
Categorized in: Neighborhoods Tours Tagged with: Flushing Queens
On street corners throughout the city you’ll find these unpreposessing little structures built to release the miasmic vapors from underground wells, subway stations, and secret lairs of megalomaniacal madmen. This, Forgotten Fans, is their story. So the next time you have a coughing or sneezing fit, think of where you caught the irritation. THE WILDEBEEST (GNX-1141a) [...]
Categorized in: Street Scenes
In central Staten Island there’s a place whose original residents were dedicated to stamping out demon liquor years before the Volstead Act actually did the deed from 1919 to 1933. Developed in 1887 by the National Prohibition Campground Association, what’s now Westerleigh was known as Prohibition Park and was lined with narrow, brick streets and one-family [...]
Categorized in: Neighborhoods Tagged with: Staten Island Westerleigh
As many Bishops Crooks lampposts that are still standing…there are legions of these old warriors that are no more. As late as the early to mid 1980s, the streets of New York City were still greatly populated by these poles that imitated episcopal staffs. They kept a Little Old New York ambience wherever they stood. [...]
Categorized in: Street Lamps Tagged with: Bishop Crooks Financial District Grand Central Terminal Greenwich Village Lower East Side Manhattan
If there’s anything Greenwich Village is not, it’s Forgotten. Guidebooks spend dozens of pages pointing out the Village’s trendy spots and tourist attractions. But there’s a Village of centuries-old houses, hidden alleys and landmarks the guidebooks won’t show you. For example, Washington Square used to be a potters’ field and before that, a place of [...]
Categorized in: Neighborhoods Tagged with: Greenwich Village Manhattan
