There was a large prewar building at the northwest corner of 125th Street and Madison up until the late 1990's but we were surprised to find another structure on the site in the above photo taken in 1920. Apparently, a rather large church had existed on the corner plot of land and was at the time for sale. A transaction must have happened soon after and an apartment complex would sit on this part of East Harlem until it was abandoned by the turn of this century (and eventually razed by 2001). The lower photo shows the Harlem Children's Zone which now sits on the same corner today. We found this clip from 1921 that describes the sale of Harlem Presbyterian Church on 125th Street:
LINK. Archival photo courtesy NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses
There was a large prewar building at the northwest corner of 125th Street and Madison up until the late 1990's but we were surprised to find another structure on the site in the above photo taken in 1920. Apparently, a rather large church had existed on the corner plot of land and was at the time for sale. A transaction must have happened soon after and an apartment complex would sit on this part of East Harlem until it was abandoned by the turn of this century (and eventually razed by 2001). The lower photo shows the Harlem Children's Zone which now sits on the same corner today. We found this clip from 1921 that describes the sale of Harlem Presbyterian Church on 125th Street: LINK. Archival photo courtesy NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses
If you're a Times subscriber and can read the text of the article, it's pretty interesting and worth a look. The article notes the sale of the church as "marking a decided southern trend in the ownership and activities of negroes in Harlem." 125th St must have been southern frontier for African Americans in Harlem in 1921. What a difference a decade would make, as by the time Adam Clayton Powell led his "Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work" protests on 125th in 1934, it was the commercial heart of black Harlem.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see these old photos of street cars I can’t help imagining them clanging across 125th street in 2010, or other city cross streets. They may not be as efficient as the buses but what a wonderful tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the street cars might be more efficient. They don't require fuel to operate and traffic on 125th is always so backed up that it was take the same amount of time to travel crosstown. It would be nice if they do a turn around at the West Harlem Piers (think Market Street in San Francisco) and have the streetcar travel the length of 125th and maybe turn down Lexington or another wide avenue to 116th or 110th. City planners.....
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure of the power source of these old street cars as I see no obvious means of propulsion from this photo. A lot of the street cars where horse drawn but maybe 125th had a cable system at one time like Dee mentions in SF. Looking at old maps of Harlem there was a network of tracks laid and street cars where everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe streetcars might be better and faster since they have their own path unobstructed by traffic. Sometimes walking is quicker if the traffic is bad on 125th Street!
ReplyDeleteI believe that that's a synagogue.
ReplyDeletethe church was beautiful and was correct for its time and use. the school that replaced it was the prime example of destructive and poor planning. when the HCZ was in the planning stage harlem was on the upswing. they knew the future plans for 125 street but they did not want to contribute to the economic upgradung of the area. yes the school is much better looking than the ratty buildings that it replaced. but the school has hurt my community in at least two ways : 1) millions of dollars in real estate taxes would have generated if the school were sited elsewhere say one block away in marcus garvey park and the park location would much better for the students and
ReplyDelete2)at nite half the block between madison and fifth is dead and somewhat freeky for there is no commercial use at the sidewalk level at the school.
you are rite mr Canada, failure to place retail on the ground level does slow down gentrification and does help keep harlem poor and underserved
i hope that the planners at the con ed site have learned from you mistakes
125 street must be woken up. do not stop progress