☞ REMEMBER: 1994 Madison Avenue

A testament to the population decline of Harlem in the mid-20th century may be found on the visibly empty lot at the corner of East 127th Street and Madison Avenue. In archival photos, one will find that there was a great Queen Anne-style apartment complex that could be seen at all angles from this section of East Harlem, slightly north of Mount Morris Park. With its distinct corner, turret tower, contrast brickwork and handsome chimneys, the building must have been a proud landmark for the new homeowner in the ever-expanding neighborhood of Harlem in the late 19th and early 20th century. As folks desired the suburban life in the 1950's, after all the major highways and bridges were built, landlords abandoned their buildings, and many were left to fade away and succumb to the elements. The second photo shows a complete block of early 19th century buildings across the street from 1994 Madison -- where the brownstone in the foreground remains, but the block north has been replaced by a two-level, bus shelter-like building. Otherwise, many of the other historic buildings, as one goes further north, are still in place, albeit with the absence of their striking brethren on the corner. Archival photo courtesy NYPL