As we headed towards Trinity Cemetery today for a public event, we couldn't help but noticed the amazing iron work and stone that surrounded this landmark located on the northern reaches of West Harlem. The north border of the cemetery is on West 155th Street, between Broadway and Riverside Drive, with the street sloping downward as one walks westward. The misty weather just intensified the fall greens and yellows, providing a striking contrast to the dark cast iron gates. If your are like us, we just marvel at the all the hand crafted carvings on the stone gate post, the contrast marble used for the accent columns (top photo) and the overall balance between the walls and the metalwork. For those a little more superstitious on the whole cemetery thing, then maybe this is a great halloween landmark to check out. The nearest subway is the the 1 train at 157th Street or the C train at 155th Street. Trinity Cemetery is on the former estate of naturist, John James Audubon. Read more about this lost landmark in our previous post: LINK. Photos by Ulysses
That middle photo is gorgeous, Ulysses. Looks like a painting.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Trinity is indeed a superb Manhattan treasure.
ReplyDeleteThough Audubon is buried in the eastern portion of the cemetery, he never owned any portion of the land comprising the cemetery. Audubon's farm - Minnie's Land - lay in its entirety north of 155th Street. He bought it the same day (in 1841) that Richard Carman bought a large plot south of 155th, land that he sold to the Trinity Corporation the next year for use as a cemetery - the cemetery we see today.
Historians seem to have different sides of this information and I guess the truth is somewhere in either accounts. There's quite a few references from historian James Renner who has advised that the land between 153rd and 155th Street was sold by Audubon in 1842. Richard Carman was a big land owner in northern Manhattan so it also makes sense that he would have sold Manhattan property to Trinity.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving this iron work its much deserved spotlight. I enjoy discovering this beautiful artwork that is sometimes formal and elegant or other times playful. It may not be regarded as fine art but is certainly enjoyable and a wonderful medium that survives the elements and time for all to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteUlysses,
ReplyDeleteThe myth that Audubon owned Trinity is an enduring one, but has no basis in historical record. Take a trip to the City Registry in lower Manhattan and see for youself; the records are there for anyone to inspect and are very clear: Audubon never owned any property below 155th Street and only owned 14 acres above (not the 40 often cited).
Again, thanks for posting the pictures of Trinity and covering the ground-breaking for the Heritage Rose District. Your site is very impressive!
Matthew, I trust your knowledge on the matter. You have an amazing site on the history of the Audubon estate! Thanks for clearing up all the different stories that have been circulating about the boundaries of the naturist's property.
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