An old colored post card of Mt. Morris Park's east side from 1907 shows that there used to be an entire row of brownstones with park views lining that part of Madison Avenue (click on top image to enlarge). The view looking north from 120th Street shows the old trolleys that used to go up and down the avenue and the small village ambiance at this part of East Harlem. For some odd reason, almost the entire section of the east side of the park has now been replaced by taller buildings and not one of the original brownstones remain today. Mount Morris Park West on the other hand is a different story and that landmark district has some of the finest townhouse homes to be found in the city today.
Same way with Stuyvesant Park downtown, beautiful brownstones and townhouses on three sides, including Calvary Church (or is it St. George. . . ? Combined parishes and I can never remember which is which). In any event, across the road, in this case 2nd Avenue, are hospitals. That may be the story with Mount Morris as well, it’s Madison Avenue and a straight thoroughfare thus inviting development.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loss, the west side of the park is arguably one of the most beautiful blocks in Harlem if not Manhattan, the east side would have been equally spectacular as this postcard shows, now it is nothing special, so much for progress.
ReplyDeleteSanou's Mum you might have something there; In 1905 two brothers from PA founded the Hospital for Joint Disease in a couple of brownstones along Madison Ave & 123rd Street. As there prominence increased so did their acquisition of neighboring buildings and eventually the whole block. As time progressed the brownstones were inadequate for their & their patients & staff needs and were torn down to make way for a new building. One of those brothers was a Titanic survivor but not long after he returned from that disaster he committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the hospital. So that by 1949 you had two hospitals(un-related) on either side of the park. Of course HJD went on to become a prominent specialty institution in NYC and the country as a whole. I can remember families bringing loved ones from as far away as Hudson Bay in Canada for Hip surgery that the Canadians wouldn't touch. However, the Mt. Morris Park General Hospital didn't last long enough to expand & rebuild and closed in '65. However, the Mt. Morris Park G. H. building remain intact. I think it was located at Numbers 10 & 11 Mt. Morris Park West.
ReplyDeletePS: Back in the day, Madison Avenue was a two-way thoroughfare. I think it becomes a one way street around 1970 or so.
ReplyDeleteUncanny coincidence. . . I hadn't realised HJD began on Madison and 123! It was called Jewish Hospital for Joint Diseases and Deformities. That must have helped patients’ self esteem.
ReplyDeleteI have spent untold hours at HJD clinics with my son who has cerebral palsy. Excellent hospital. Shame about the architecture.
Wow. What a depressing sight. Could have been the jewel in the city if it remained like that today. Where was land marking when you needed it? ;)
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