The top vintage photo shows the southeast corner of Lenox and 135th Street circa 1941. One can make out the corner store called Cushman's along with the prewar buildings that used to line this particular block of Central Harlem. Also, at the far right, the original cast iron subway entrance for the 2,3 line can be found. The lower photo shows the corner today which is basically an open lot with some retail stores fronting the superblock of affordable housing called Lenox Terrace. The side steps to the Lincoln Theater building can be made out to the far left of both images but that building has been altered and is unrecognizable from its original appearance today:
LINK. Archival photo courtesy of
NYPL.
The top vintage photo shows the southeast corner of Lenox and 135th Street circa 1941. One can make out the corner store called Cushman's along with the prewar buildings that used to line this particular block of Central Harlem. Also, at the far right, the original cast iron subway entrance for the 2,3 line can be found. The lower photo shows the corner today which is basically an open lot with some retail stores fronting the superblock of affordable housing called Lenox Terrace. The side steps to the Lincoln Theater building can be made out to the far left of both images but that building has been altered and is unrecognizable from its original appearance today: LINK. Archival photo courtesy of NYPL.
I love these vintage photos -- how great Harlem once was! Keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteI remember those old subway entrance kiosks. I always wish for them on snowy and rainy days as they kept the elements off the stairs.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ulysses
I think this is 125th Street and Lenox Ave. I think that was where the only Harlem Cushman Bake Good Store was located. Besides the traffic pattern is wrong for Lenox.
ReplyDeleteNo, this is 135 by Harlem Hospital, the much appreciated newish accessible subway and that highly regrettable church facade.
ReplyDeleteMidcentury the nadir for ecclesiastical architecture.
I lived at 49 W. 135th Street in the late 1950's. You mentioned Cushman's as being a store. It was a store, but it really was a bakery. I remember it well. Cushman's also had a store on the SW corner of 125th & 7th Avenue. I don't know how big the chain was, but I do remember those two locations.
ReplyDeleteThank for correcting me, I loved Cushmans Chocolate Layer Cake.
ReplyDelete