I had started to do a little photo project a while back - documenting this corner/block over the years because it's changed so much. At one point, I'd linked to a 1914 or 1911 photo on Shorpy's website, but now I can't find it...it showed Suicide Hall and a hotel/pub with suited men in hats standing on the sidewalk in the shadow of the elevated train. I can't believe how 100 years of history were wiped out with one stomp of the glass box beast...
I have an out of print paper back from the early 70's about pimps and prostitutes on the Bowery. Also the Hell's Angels. One Chapter talks about a prostitute named "Suction Cup Mary" who lived on Bowery and 1st. She charged a few dollars and was aging. The "Pimp" was a 70 something year old former sailor. His name was "Sailor Jack" or something like that. It's amazing how this was the early 70's on this same street, a low life hell hole with scumbag people everywhere.
11 comments:
I would love to know what was going on at the time in those buildings in the top photo...the mind swims with possibilities.
Im with you, NYCD...
I had started to do a little photo project a while back - documenting this corner/block over the years because it's changed so much. At one point, I'd linked to a 1914 or 1911 photo on Shorpy's website, but now I can't find it...it showed Suicide Hall and a hotel/pub with suited men in hats standing on the sidewalk in the shadow of the elevated train. I can't believe how 100 years of history were wiped out with one stomp of the glass box beast...
I have an out of print paper back from the early 70's about pimps and prostitutes on the Bowery. Also the Hell's Angels. One Chapter talks about a prostitute named "Suction Cup Mary" who lived on Bowery and 1st. She charged a few dollars and was aging. The "Pimp" was a 70 something year old former sailor. His name was "Sailor Jack" or something like that. It's amazing how this was the early 70's on this same street, a low life hell hole with scumbag people everywhere.
Today, It's hard to find a real hell hole.
Ah, so the 5-story red-brick was McGurk's? I didn't reconginze it - thanks Goggla!
Here is another view of that corner when the Suicide Hall was still standing there...
http://gammablog.com/gammablablog/im05/02feb/06/suicide-pano300.jpg
Yeah, McGurk's...I have a few pics here that were taken just before the demolition:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=suicide&w=24771397%40N00
Forgotten NY also has a good piece on it:
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bowery/bowery.html
Goggla, I think this is the 1914 shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40045986@N00/3544114921/
NYPL has a shot that shows the base of the building(s) on that corner, including McGurk's.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=406576&imageID=716778F&total=6&num=0&word=bowery%20%221st%20street%22&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=20&pos=2&e=w
(wow, long link...hope it works)
I posted a few shots of this block from 2002 as well here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38222723@N06/sets/72157621934247507/
Thanks for the links, everyone. Wow, I completely missed that this corner was McGurk's. Should have been noted in my original post!
Here's 2 more shots of that corner from 1942 - can't remember where I got them from though:
Southeast corner -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampackman/3969674707/sizes/o/
Northeast corner -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampackman/3969674703/sizes/o/
Wow, the SE shot is amazing - unrecognizable!
That a great area. I have been looking near there for good nyc apartments.
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