USA > New York > New York City > The City of New York. A complete guide and a complete new street directory 1885 > Part 4
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GRAND CENTRAL DEPOT. Fourth Avenue and 42d Street, New York,
CITY OF NEW YORK.
the north-west corner, is the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Crosby, Pastor. At the south-west corner of 23d street is the building of the Young Men's Christian Association. At the north- west corner is the Academy of Design, and the next building is the
GERMAN SAVINGS BANK BUILDING, Cor. of 4th Av. and 14th Street.
Lyceum Theater. On the north-east corner is the New York Colleg- of Physicians and Surgeons. At the corner of 24th street is the Ash- land House, and at 26th street may be noticed the extended building known as Madison Square Garden, and at 34th street the tunnel is reached, and the street that passes overhead is known as Park Avenue.
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INTERIOR VIEW OF GRAND CENTRAL DEPOT.
D
CITY OF NEW YORK.
PARK AVENUE.
This is merely a continuation of Fourth avenue on the top of the hill. The horse railroad passes through the tunnel and Fourth ave- nue is continued beyond. At 32d street may be seen the handsome gigantic Park Avenue Hotel, built by the late A. T. Stewart. Park avenue is occupied by a better class of houses than Fourth avenue, and contains three handsome churches : the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), Rev. Robert Collyer, Pastor, at 34th street; the Church of the Covenant, at 35th street, GRAND UNION HOTEL. and the First Baptist Church, at 39th street. At 40th street an' im- mense hotel has recently been erected, called the Murray Hill Hotel. At 41st street may be seen the popular Grand Union Hotel, and the avenue reaches an apparent end at the immense
GRAND CENTRAL DEPOT.
This is one of the largest and most imposing buildings in the country. It consists of a "head house " on 42d street, in which are the waiting rooms and general offices of the N. Y. and N. H. R. R. Co., a long continuation along the west side, containing the waiting rooms and general offices of the Harlem and N. Y. Central and Hud .. son River R.R.'s, and an immense iron "train house," seven hun- dred feet long, three hundred feet wide, and nearly one hundred feet high, covering all in one great span roof. The style is French, with Mansard towers, and, seen from the west or south, the building is both grand and striking. The interior, particularly at night, is impressive for its enormous size, its lightness of construction, and grace of outline. The Lincoln Bank and Safe Deposit Build- ing in 42d street, near Park avenue, is among the finest of recent erections. A short distance to the right, on 42d street, is the Asylum for Cripples, occupying a curious looking building of brick and iron
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
on the north side of the street. Beyond 42d street the yards of the three railroads that use the Grand Central Depot occupy Fourth avenue as far as 50th street, Crossing from Madison avenue to Lex- ington avenue are a number of iron foot and carriage bridges. Beyond 50th street the railroad is sunk below the level of Fourth or Park
METROPOLITAN SAVINGS BANK, Third Av. and Seventh Street.
avenue in an immense open cut and tunnel that makes one of the most remarkable pieces of railroad engineering to be found in the country. Visitors who have time should not fail to examine this immense and most interesting work. At 50th street may be seen a portion of the buildings belonging to the Columbia College and School of Mines on the west side of the avenue. Opposite are the buildings
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99
W
CHARITIES AND CORRECTION, 3D AVENUE AND 11TH STREET.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
of the Women's Hospital of the State of New York. At 52d street, on the east side of the avenue, is Steinway & Sons' great piano-forte manufactory. Extending from 66th to 67th street, and reaching to Lexington avenue, is the Seventh Regiment Armory, 405 by 200 feet, of pressed brick, with granite trimmings. The drill room is 200x3 0 feet. At the corner of 69th street may be seen the Normal College, a fine red brick building in the Gothic style, and at 70th street, on the west side of Park avenue, are the fine new buildings of the Union Theological Seminary.
THIRD AVENUE.
Third avenue is one of the longest and most populous single strects in New York. It extends from the junction of Fourth avenue and the Bowery at Sixth street, northward, between Fourth and Second avenues, to Harlem River. More than six miles long in a perfectly straight line, solidly built up for almost the whole length, and largely devoted to business, it makes one of the most remarkable streets in the world. The New York Elevated Railroad, beginning at the Bat- tery, runs through Pearl street, the Bowery, and the entire length of Third avenue from Sixth street to the Harlem River, with frequent stations its entire length. Third avenue, with its wide road-way and ample sidewalks, and the variety and extent of its shops, is quite well worth seeing, if for nothing more than its overflowing life and intense activity. It shows few buildings of particular interest or importance, except the office of the Department of Charities and Corrections at Eleventh street, and is only of value to the visitor as an extensive New York thoroughfare and shop street.
SIXTH AVENUE
makes a second Broadway. It extends from Carmine street, north, between Fifth and Seventh avenues, to 59th street, at Central Park. Beyond the Park it goes on to the Harlem River. Below the Park it is solidly built up its entire length, and is devoted to retail stores. Above the stores the buildings are devoted to tenements and flats. Some of these are elegant and expensive, and the whole aspect of the street suggests successful business enterprise and com- fortable prosperity. Beyond the Park the avenue is only partly built up. The Metropolitan Elevated Railway enters Sixth avenue at West Third street, and runs along the avenue to Central Park. The Sixth avenue horse railroad occupies the avenue below 59th street.
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
Though it does not present many public buildings of interest, it is one of the most famous thoroughfares in New York, and is well worth a visit on account of its life, animation, and business activity. Its miles of stores offer every attraction to the shopper. The chief build- ings of interest may be found in the lower part of the avenue. At the junction with Greenwich avenue, near Ninth street, is the Jeffer- son Market court and prison, a striking Gothic building with lofty
MASONIC TEMPLE,
Sixth Avenue and West Twenty-third Street.
clock tower, and the new Jefferson Market, completed in 1884. At West Fourteenth street, a little to the left, is the Fourteenth Street Theater, and a little farther west is the armory of the Twenty-second Regiment. On the west side of the street are some of the largest re- tail stores in New York-Simpson, Crawford & Simpson's, Altman's, O'Neill's, and others. At the south-east corner of West 23d street for- merly stood Booth's Theater, one of the most fashionable places of amusement in the city, now completely remodeled and made into fine stores and offices. On the opposite corner is the Masonic Temple,
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
perhaps the most costly and magnificent building of its character in the country. Besides the Masonic Halls and offices, it contains the Garfield Bank and spacious and magnificent fire-proof rooms and vaults of the Central Safe Deposit Company. A few steps to the left, down West 23d street, is the new Twenty-third Street Theater. At 28th street are the Rushton flats. At 34th street Sixth avenue cross- es Broadway. At 40th street is the new Hotel Royal, and extending from 40th to 42d street is Bryant Park. At 43d street are the large stables of the Sixth avenue horse car line. A number of small hotels may be found on this avenue, all of them more or less favorites with the traveling public. Beyond this there is little of particular interest on this avenue except its numerous and attractive stores.
SEVENTH AVENUE.
This avenue begins at Greenwich Avenue near West 11th street, and extends north between Sixth and Eighth avenues to 59th street, at Central Park. It is more quiet than Sixth or Eighth avenues, and is partly occupied by stores and dwelling-houses. The business portion extends to about 42d street, and from there to 50th it is lined with dwellings. Broadway crosses at 45th street, and here is the Armory of the Twelfth Regiment. At SOth street are the stables of the Broad- way and Seventh avenue horse car lines. The Adelphi flats at 52d street, the Vaucorleur at 56th, the Grenoble at 57th, and the large stone front on the opposite corner are the most notable buildings. At 55th street is an octagonal building, used for panoramas and other shows. 59th street, from Seventh avenue to Broadway, is ornamented by a long row of "flats," the Cordova, Madrid, Granada, and others, usually called the Navarro or Spanish flats. The Broadway line of horse-cars use the upper part of this avenue jointly with the Seventh avenue line, and take passengers to the same gate of the Park.
EIGHTH AVENUE.
This long and busy avenue begins at Greenwich street, at Abingdon Square, and extends northerly past Central Park along its western side to Central Bridge over the Harlem River at a point once known as "McComb's Dam." The only building of special interest in the lower part of the avenue is the Grand Opera House at the corner of West 23d street. A large variety theater, Harry Miner's, is. at 25th street. Opposite is Ehrich's great dry goods store. Beyond this point the avenue is entirely devoted to retail trade. A walk through
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THEROM220FT
LHtEl
198
-J.HOEY & Co
BOSSMORE HOTEL, Broadway, 42d St. and Seventh Ave .. New York.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
the place of a Saturday evening gives one of New York's most peculiar sights. The petty trade that crowds every store and clings to the edge of every walk is something wonderful, while the vast throngs of people out shopping by gas-light are more wonderful still. Above 50th street a better class of stores and more expensive residences appear. At 59th street, Eighth avenue, Broadway and the Boulevard unite in a circle or circus. Near by is the Park View apartment house. A fine hotel fills one side, and one of the entrances to Central Park, fancifully called the "Merchant's Gate," makes another. To the left a short distance down 59th street may be seen the picturesque towers and buildings of the Roosevelt Hospital. Beyond 59th street, Eighth avenue runs on the west side of Central Park its entire length, passing the gates at 72d, 79th, 85th, 96th, 100th and 110th streets. Between 72d and 73d streets is the mammoth Dakota flat, the largest in the city. Beyond Central Park the avenue descends a long hill to the flats bordering Harlem River. Here views of High Bridge and the surrounding country may be obtained. At the river the avenue passes a few scattered blocks of houses and follows the old country road to Central Bridge, leading to the main land. Beyond the river the Hudson River Railroad is crossed and the road enters the open country.
OTHER AVENUES.
Besides the great avenues already mentioned there are a number of others of equal length, but of less interest to the stranger. At the east side of the city are the four shorter avenues, known as Avenues A, B, C, and D. They each begin at Houston street and extend north- ward to the East River. Avenue A is next east of First avenue, Avenue B comes next, and C and D follow in order, each being shorter than the last. They are all occupied by a poorer class of houses and present no special features of interest. First avenue and Second avenue lie east of Third avenue, and both begin at Houston street and extend northward to Harlem River between Third avenue and the East River or Avenue A. They are compactly built up in the lower part, but opposite Central Park they are still more or less unfin- ished. On the west side of the city next west of Eighth avenue, are Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh avenues. Ninth avenue is closely built up as far as 59th street, where a large Roman Catholic Church has just been erected, and is chiefly remarkable as the site of the New York Elevated Railroad. All of these avenues are occupied by shops
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ARMORY AND TOMPKINS MARKET, 3D AVENUE AND 7TH STREET.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
and manufactories and by tenements, for the immense population that throngs them at all times. The peculiar shape of New York city makes further description of the streets unnecessary. Broadway and the great avenues make its business thoroughfares, its residences are mainly on the cross streets that intersect the island from east to west.
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.
It has been said, "London for business, Paris for pleasure, New York for both." However true this may be, it is certain that New York is abundantly supplied with amusements of every kind and quality. Its first-class theaters are equal to any in the world. New York is a great center to which all artists, both musical and dramatic, foreign as well as native, look for their highest honors, and in turn they all : appear here. Chief among New York places of amusement come the first-class theaters. Each may be briefly mentioned in order and the visitor can then select to suit himself. The prices vary greatly, but even at the best houses the charges are reasonably low.
Madison Square Theater, adjoining the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in 24th street, was newly opened in the spring of 1879. It is famous for long runs and splendidly set plays, and for the beauty of its deco- ration and its double stage.
Fifth Avenue Theater, located on 28th street near Broadway, is a select and fashionable resort, devoted to first class dramatic per- formances, both "star " and stock companies appearing. The dramas are generally of the modern society type, and are unexceptionable.
Wallack's Theater, on Broadway corner of 30th street, is a hand- some theater, devoted exclusively to first-class plays. The mounting and acting are invariably of the finest and most artistic. The plays generally belong to the highest modern school.
Union Square Theater, on 14th street and Union Square, rivals the Fifth Avenue and Wallack's in point of artistic rendering of its performances. The company is maintained at a high standard and the plays given are always admirably presented. The dramas com- monly belong to the modern French school.
Fourteenth Street Theater, formerly the Lyceum, on West 14th street, near Sixth avenue, formerly under the management of Mr. J. H. Haverly, presents a varied list of attractions.
Tony Pastor's Theater, on East 14th street near Third avenue, presents a variety of plays, generally of a light order.
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·
RANDOPERAHOUSE
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, W. 23d St. and Eighth Avenue.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
Academy of Music, 14th street and Irving Place, is devoted to opera and dramatic performances of the highest order. For several years Italian opera has been given here by Col. Mapleson's troupe. The younger rival of the Academy is the
Metropolitan Opera House, at Broadway and Seventh avenue, . between 39th and 40th streets, in most respects the finest building of the kind in this country. The new management has brought about a sharp rivalry in the lists of prima donnas and operas presented at the two opera houses.
The Casino, Broadway and 39th street, is one of the most beautiful of the recent theaters, has a delightful open-air restaurant on the roof, and is devoted to light opera and concerts.
New Park Theater, Broadway and 35th st., has a good company. Lyceum Theater is on Fourth avenue, near 23d street.
Daly's Theater is the old Broadway and Wood's Museum changed and improved, on the corner of Broadway and 30th street.
Standard Theater is a pretty little place of amusement on Sixth avenue and Broadway, near West 33d street.
Niblo's Garden Theater, under the Metropolitan Hotel, Broadway and Prince street, presents spectacular and sensational plays.
Leavitt & Pastor's Theater, at Third avenue and 31st street, pre- sents melodrama chiefly.
Thalia Theater, at 46 Bowery, is devoted to German plays.
Star Theater, formerly Wallack's, is located on Broadway, corner of 13th street.
Grand Opera House, on Eighth avenue and West 23d street, is one of the largest theaters in New York. Here are given the plays, at reduced prices of admission, which first appear at the more fash- ionable theaters.
People's Theater, on the Bowery, opposite Spring street, is also conducted on the plan of good plays at reduced prices.
Other variety theaters are:
Harry Miner's, on the Bowery, between Delancey and Broome sts. London, on the Bowery, between Rivington and Stanton streets.
New York Comedy Theater, Broadway near 28th street.
Harry Miner's, at Eighth avenue and 25th street.
Twenty-third Street Theater, 23d street, near Sixth avenue, is much patronized by traveling companies for short "runs."
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Academy of Design.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
Eden Musée, West 23d street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, contains a collection of wax groups and figures rivaling the famous wax works of Madam Tussaud.
Steinway Hall, East 14th street, near Broadway and Fourth avenue.
Chickering Hall, corner of Fifth avenue and 18th street, are places devoted to concerts in the winter. First-class concerts are given at these places almost every night from October to June.
Madison Square Garden, Madison and Fourth avenues, and 26th and 27th streets, is used during the summer season for garden con- certs, and during the winter months for athletic sports.
Below is a tabulated alphabetical list of the principal places of amusement, and by reference to the daily press it is easy to find what are the special attractions of each.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC E. 14th st. and Irving Place. Broadway and 39th st.
CASINO.
CHICKERING HALL .. Fifth avenue and W. 18th st.
COSMOPOLITAN THEATER. Broadway and 41st st.
DALY'S THEATER.
Cor. Broadway and 30th st. West 23d st., near Sixth ave.
EDEN MUSEE.
FIFTH AVENUE. W. 28th st., near Broadway. W. 14th st., near Sixth ave.
FOURTEENTH STREET THEATER.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
HARRY MINER'S THEATERS
Eighth ave. and 2 det. Bowery, near Broome st. and Eighth ave. and 25th st. . . . Broadway, near 29th st.
LEXINGTON AVENUE OPERA HOUSE
.E. 58th st. Hear Third ave.
LONDON THEATER Bowery, near Rivington &t. 1.YCEUM THEATER. . Fourth ave., near 23d st.
LEAVITT & PASTOR'S THEATER. . Third ave., near 31st st.
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Madison ave. and E. 26th st.
MADISON SQUARE THEATER W. 24th st., near Broadway.
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE Broadway and 39th st.
NEW PARK THEATER. Broadway and 35th st.
NIBLO'S I'HEATER .Broadway, bet. Prince and Houston sts.
PEOPLE'S THEATER.
. Bowery, opp. Spring st.
STEINWAY HALL E. 14th st., near Fourth ave.
TONY PASTOR'S E. 14th st., near Third ave.
UNION SQUARE THEATER E. 14th st., near Broadway.
WALLACK'S THEATER
Broadway and 30th st.
ART GALLERIES.
New York, though not well supplied with free art galleries, has a number of art stores, all of which are open to the public, and these make up in part for the absence of a great gallery. The Academy of Design, on the corner of E. 23d street and Fourth avenue, is the largest and best gallery in the city. Exhibitions of paintings are held here at certain times in the year, and a small fee is charged at the door. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, devoted to painting, sculp- ture and ceramic art, is open all the year, and is free to the public on
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HAVERLY'S COMEDY THEATER.
--
New York Historical Society. Second. Avenue, corner of Eleventh Street.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
last four days in the week and holidays. A fee is charged other days. The museum is a very fine one, and is located in Central Park, at 83d street and Fifth avenue. The Lenox Library, close by, on Fifth ave- nue, has some fine old masters. Cooper Institute, Free, Fourth ave- nue and 8th street, and the Historical Society, corner Second avenue and 11th street, where strangers are received on introduction by mem- bers, have many portraits. The latter has the famous Abbott collec- tion of Egyptian antiquities, and 800 oil paintings. In addition to these are a number of picture galleries attached to picture stores, all of which are freely open to the public. Knoedler & Co.'s, late Goupil's, at the corner of 22d street and Fifth avenue, is the most noted of these. Cottier & Co., No. 144 Fifth avenue, includes ceramic art, stained glass, and the higher kinds of household decorations. Avery's, 88 Fifth avenue; Kohn's, 166 Fifth avenue; and Schaus's, No. 749 Broadway, are devoted to oil paintings and engravings. At Sypher & Co.'s, Broadway and 17th street, may be seen a large gallery of cera- mies and statuary. At Kurtz's Photographic Gallery, on 23d street (Madison Square), is a fine gallery in which paintings of all kinds are often ou exhibition. Besides these are a great number of lesser, places, all of which display pictures of varying merit. At various times during the season, galleries of paintings are displayed at the various art auctions, due notice of which may be found in the daily papers. The Stewart, Vanderbilt, Belmont, and other private collec- tions can be seen by the public but rarely, and under restrictions. The principal yearly exhibitions are of the Academy of Design, of the American Water Color Society, and of the Society of American Artists.
LIBRARIES.
The Astor Library, founded by John Jacob Astor in 1848, is free to all for reference, but none of the books can be taken from the build- ing. It is located in Lafayette Place and numbers over 200,000 vol- umes. The Mercantile Library in Astor Place is general in its char- acter. It has a large reading-room, and keeps its shelves well sup- plied with all the new books. It was established in 1848, and is free to its members only. It counts 200,000 volumes. Branches have been established at 2 Liberty street and 431 Fifth avenue. The Society Library, in University Place, was organized in 1754. It has a library of 75,000 volumes, reading-room, etc. It is exclusively used by share- holders, and such others as may pay a small annual fee. The Appren-
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SOCIETY LIBRARY
FOUNDED A . D .1854
New York Society Library, 67 University Place.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
tice's Library, belonging to the "General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York," is free to apprentices; others pay a small fee. It is of a general character, numbering 65,000 vol- umes. The Library of the Historical Society, numbering 70,000, and the Eclectic Library, 30,000 volumes, stand next in importance. The New York Institute Law Library, in P. O. Building, is open to mem- bers of the bar on payment of a fee of $150. It numbers about 25,000 volumes, exclusively on legal subjects. The Cooper Union Library, of a general character, and numbering about 16,500 volumes, is entirely free. It also includes a free reading room, both located in the Cooper Union, at the junction of Fourth and Third avenues. The Library of the Association of the Bar of New York, located in 29th street, was started in 1871, and now numbers nearly 20,000 volumes. The Geo- graphical Society and the American Institute have libraries of about 20,000 and 16,000 volumes. The Young Men's Christian Association has a general library of 36,000 volumes in its building on East 23d street, for the use of its members only. The City Library, in the City Hall, consists entirely of public documents, and is free to such as wish to consult its 4,000 books. The Free Circulating L'brary, 36 Bond street, is doing a good work in giving out good books for home reading to all respectable people without charge. Contributions of books and money are earnestly welcomed. The Mott Memorial Li- brary, devoted to medical and scientific books, was founded by the widow of Dr. Valentine Mott. It numbers 4,000 volum s and is free. Besides these are the Women's Library in Bleecker street, numbering over 3,000 volumes, and free to working-women; the Library of the Natural History Society-12,000 volumes; the library of the Medical Library and Journal Association in East 28th street 3,500 volumes; the Harlem Library-12,000 volumes; the Printers' Library - 3,500 vol- umes; the Washington Heights Library, with 2,500 volumes; the Five Points Mission (free) and the Young Women's Christian Association, 7 East 15th street. The Lenox Library, occupying a magnificent building on Fifth avenue, between 70th and 71st streets, has been lately called by one of the trustees a museum rather than a library. It is not easily accessible to the general public, and is strongest in rare, curious and costly editions. There are many other libraries in the city of less importance than the above. We append a list of the prin- cipal libraries of the city, giving their location and the hours they are open to the public:
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
APPRENTICES .-- 18 East 16th st. Open from 8 A. M. to 9 P. M. ASTOR .- Lafayette place, near Astor place. 8 A. M. to 4 P. M. Free. CITY .- 12 City Hall. Open daily from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M. Free. COOPER UNION .- Seventh, corner Fourth avenue. Free reading- rooms for males and females. Open from 9 A. M. to 10.30 P. M.
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