Originally a northern section of Avenue A between East 114th and East 120th Streets –cut off from York Avenue, which was also originally Avenue A, by a bend in the Harlem River — Pleasant Avenue has been anything but, during its checkered history. A day-old newborn was found here in 1884; its throat had been cut. In 1935, Thomas D’Auria was stabbed to death witha bread knife — by his own father. In 1949, a saloonkeeper reduced the price of a glass of beer to a nickel. He was soon rubbed out by a competitor. Pleasant Avenue was the bailiwick of “Fat Tony” Salerno, the capo of the Genovese crime family. In 1971, Francis Ford Coppola filmed James Caan as Sonny Corleone beating up his brother-in-law in a fitting setting.
1867 Dripps atlas section showing Avenue A, which became Pleasant Avenue in the 1880s. This cutoff section was far removed from the more continuous Avenue A downtown, and it was renamed for its pleasant location in a then-rural enclave near the bucolic Harlem River.
Over the decades East Harlem became a mostly Italian neighborhood and later, mostly Latino. I recently walked the length of 116th Street from Broadway to the Harlem River, and wound up on this Pleasant enclave that, at least on this sunny day in August, revealed little of its violent past.
There are traces of an Italian past in East Harlem – I found several on 116th Street — but the most obvious one on Pleasant Avenue is Rao’s, the Italian restaurant at the south end of Pleasant and East 114th, one of the most difficult restaurants in NYC at which to get a table. The restaurant has only ten tables, and one seating per night. Bwanas with connections, like movie stars, mobsters, and politicians can, of course, get in more easily than the hoi polloi. The NY Times’ Mimi Sheraton gave Rao’s a 3-star review in 1977, and there has been an aura of exclusivity at the place after that. It was founded by Italian immigrant Charles Rao in 1896, and has remained in the family since. Rao’s sells a line of Italian specialties in supermarkets and groceries for those who can’t get in, and that’s mostly everyone.
The Corinthian-columned Manhattan Center For Science and Mathematics makes an impressive sight from East 115th Street, in the building formerly occupied by Benjamin Franklin High School. It is one of Manhattan’s most academically accomplished high schools, graduating 97% of its senior class in 2009.
Hydrant in USA or Puerto Rico colors.
The ground floor space on the SE corner of East 117th and Pleasant has been converted to a new restaurant. When the Google Camera Car went by several months ago [in 2009] the space’s old use as an insurance business was still apparent.
Looking at the well-built apartment houses on Pleasant Avenue at East 117th (left) and East 118th built by architects with a clue you’d never believe this used to be a very dangerous area. But appearances can be deceiving of course.
The east ends of both East 117th and East 118th are much busier now that they provide access to the new Target department store complex along the FDR Drive between 116th and 118th. On East 117th, though, I preferred to concentrate on a building largely unchanged since the Depression — the original fance and door are likely the ones seen here. I liked this handmade George Frank Woodworking sign next door.
The dead end of East 118th east of Pleasant Avenue is one of the few uptown Manhattan blocks still paved with Belgian blocks. I liked the small mansard-roof building with the dormers. The new Target Center can be seen at the end of the street.
The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Rosary can be seen looking west on E. 119th from Pleasant Avenue. The parish was established in 1884 and the church was constructed between 1898-1900.
Photographed August 2010, page completed October 5, 2010
You just missed Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church around the corner on 115th St, scene of an historic religious feast to the Madonna in July that used to draw 10s of thousands of Italians each day from all over (including us from Brooklyn). A much smaller feast, with its own giglio, is still held. The neighborhood was once the largest Italian community in the city, a place where many moved to after first settling downtown, and 1st Ave was lined cheek by jowl with pushcarts and food stores of all kinds from 96th to 116th and above. . Lexington Ave was a dividing line between Italian and Latino Harlems, and one crossed with some danger you were Latino.
A little history on the George Frank Cabinet Shop pictured. it’s just off Pleasant on E. 1117th. As far as I know it has always been a commercial cabinet shop but Mr. Frank is a much interesting story, I met him a few times before he passed away in the 1990′s or maybe a little later(I’m in the same trade as him Antique Restoration). In his day he was the top antique restorers,refinisher, a pioneer in new techniques and teacher, he was Hungarian by birth but relocated to Paris where he set up shop, among his clients where the Louvre, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the Art Deco designer Jean Pascaud. At some point he moved to NYC where he lectured and worked until his death. A shop on E.117th still bears his name
Pleasant Avenue was the major conduit for heroin in the United States during the late 1960s. See David Durk’s (former NYC cop) book The Pleasant Avenue Connection.
I grew up at 445 E 120st went to PS78 Scott’ies candy store on 118 st.went to Holy Rosery. 1959 to 67 hung out had friends and everything on Pleasant ave
East Harlem was the greatest place to grow up in back in the 1940′s & 1950′s.
A wonderful sense of community, not like today when you really do not know who your neighbor is.
I grew up on 117th St Bet. 1st & Pleasant Avenues, went to PS 78, was married in Holy Rosary Church. Stickball games every sunday, Jefferson Park (Pool) the plots where we planted vegetables, Rao’s Bar (wasn’t a famous restaurant back then) just a local bar with dogs lying out front basking in the sun. Greek the hotdog guy, all the local candystores where we hung out and were safe. No school shootings in those days. There were gangs back then and they did not carry guns. They were our protection. We didn’t need security. Had to have my say.
Hi Nancy,I have done the same thing as you but in the 50s and 60s wow
I lived at 502 E 119th St between Pleasant Avenue and the East River Drive(FDR) in late 50s early 60s. I loved it tere. Played a lot of stoopball and stickball and 2 hand touch football. Each Street from 117th to 120th had its own stoopball fields and we would play each other for “a dollar a man”. If you played on your turf you had home advantage, knowing how to play the Spalding bll off the various surfaces(buildings, etc.).
I went to PS78 and Junior High School James Otis which was in the Benjamin Franklin HS on 115 and Pleasant Ave. At PS78 I liked 2 girls both named MaryAnn.
I went to Holy Rosary Church on Sundays and came out and and coffee and buns at a place on Pleasant Ave near 118th St. At night we played kick the can , catch one catch all, 4 corners at corner of 119th and Pleasant Ave.
The Feast of Mt. Carmel was fantastic with the food and entertainment on the temporarily built stage on Pleasant near Ben Franklin HS. There are so many great memories