Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Friday, May 11, 2018
Thursday, May 10, 2018
when being in the second place was better
New Yorkers of a certain age remember grabbing the morning paper on the way to the subway.
Besides broadcast, it was the only way to learn the news.
But you never took the top paper, you slid out #2.
Because the top one was always gritty.
It had been left on top all day, protecting the rest.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
should I stay or should I go
Attilio Piccirilli was just 20 years old when our ClockTower was built in 1886.
Born in the Carrara region of Italy,
he grew up around fine marble and sculptors.
He immigrated in 1888 and went to work for his father as a stone carver right here in the Bronx on East 142nd Street.
Attilio won a gold metal for his carving in 1915.
His sculptures are featured in the Frick and Metropolitan Museums.
He also helped create an art school to give affordable
training in art, like sculpture, to New York’s poor.
But his real claim to fame is Lincoln.
As in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
But you can see his work at the Fireman’s Memorial
on Riverside Drive, too!
Monday, March 26, 2018
behold the lowly bar joist
The Manhattan Bridge was built from 1901-1912 using a device
known as the Warren Truss.
That “W” design dawned on British engineer James Warren
way back in 1848.
If he alternated triangular supports, the resulting truss was very light, and remarkably strong.
It worked well in big planes, too.
Today it’s called a “bar joist” and it is still used
in all kinds of buildings.
So of course they tried a bridge.
Worked great.
In fact our Manhattan Bridge is the first ever to be based
on the Warren Truss.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
JFK reloaded
I was 12 years old when my favorite president was gunned down
in Dallas, Texas.
Along with 9/11,
it remains the most lasting traumatic event I’ve ever endured.
I can still feel the sorrow that lives inside me.
There is a lot of debate these days about how the internet is coarsening and cheapening every one of us who uses it.
Now there’s an online game about JFK’s assassination.
There’s a prize to emulate Lee Harvey Oswald.
We’re a classy bunch these days.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
all about the Benjamin
Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital is historic for several reasons.
Founded by Dr. Thomas Bond in 1751, it was the result of the Doctor’s recent visit to London.
There he discovered the hospital concept and resolved to establish one in Philly, then the capital of the United States.
archive
The Pine Building east wing dates from 1755.
The west wing from 1797.
And the center building dates back to 1804.
Ambulances are still housed in the original carriage house.
The Pine Building is still considered one of the finest surviving examples of classic 18th century architecture in all of America.
Guess who else was also a founder.
Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790.
Because it was 1700’s Philadelphia.
Because of course he was.
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