Monday, December 1, 2014

ARCHITECTURE: CHURCHES AND BROWNSTONES C. 1931


This Harlem side street view taken in 1931 shows a block lined with brownstones but also includes a distinct church.  Everything looks pretty much the same today so can anyone guess this vantage point?  One clue is that this is one of the rare Catholic churches uptown this is still up and running today.

ANSWER:  Those guessing that the church is St. Aloysius on 132nd Street are correct.   The view was taken from 7th Avenue looking west towards 8th and most of the structures are intact except for a couple of brownstones mid block.  Those missing buildings must have been purchased by the church at one point since the institution's catholic elementary school now stands at the side of the block.

Archival image courtesy the NYPL

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