Thursday, December 3, 2009

☞ SEE: Sugar Hill Circa 1850


The cottage on the Bradhurst estate near 148th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue by Victor Prevost circa 1850. The primitive picture called a calotype is probably one of the earliest photos of Harlem. This process uses light sensitive wax paper as film and the impressions are often simple and grainy looking. Nevertheless, the view of the Bradhurst family cottage is quite clear on the hill with the stone wall and the picket white fence. Apparently a wealthy landowner and socialite, Henry Maunsell Bradhurst's last name would, in the future, be attributed to an avenue a bit further east of his family country home. The lower photo shows the plot today which is on the block that houses St. Nicks Pub. The extension 145th Street A,B,C,D express train entrance is just a block south on St. Nicholas Avenue between 147th and 148th Street. Lower photo by Ulysses

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