Roosevelt Island Historical Society

Jan

Thursday, January 11, 2024 – GOLDWATER LAMPS RECOVERED *** IN PIECES

By admin

FROM THE ARCHIVES

THURSDAY, JAN. 11, 2024

GOLDWATER LAMPS

RECOVERED

JUDITH BERDY

ISSUE# 1162

IMAGES COURTESY OF EVAN BLUM

Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

I received a call this afternoon from a NYPD Detective that the Goldwater lamps had been recovered. Apparently the scrap dealer who acquired them from the perpretrator who sold them to an antique collector/dealer who immediately recognized their value and history.

They are now secured with the dealer and insurance, a permanent home and use for them will have to be determined. This will probably take a long while.

I am thrilled that all of this came together and there will be future, though not what had ever been thought.

The condition they are in is shocking and we must imagine what can be done with them to bring them back to a useful purpose.

Thanks to NYPD, Coler Hospital Police, the un-named scrapyard dealer and Evan Blum for recovering the lamps.

Judith Berdy

FROM 1939 TO 2013 THIS WAS THE VIEW OF ONE OF THE LAMPS

AFTER RECOVERY
All the glass lenses were broken out of the lamps
Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

This base is intact
Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

The lamps were just thrown in a truck, junk to some, artifacts to us.
Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

The dealer who has the lamps tells me that they can be restored.. Part of the finial is visible on the floor. Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

The base plate from one lamp.

Demolition Depot and Irreplaceable Artifacts

THE GOLDWATER LAMPS

FROM 1939 TO 2013 SIX BRONZE LAMPS GRACED THE ENTRANCE TO GOLDWATER.

THE FULLY FUNCTIONED UNTIL THE DAY THEY WERE DISCONNECTED,

ON A GRACEFUL PLYMTH THE LAMPS WERE IMPRESSIVE

TYPICAL OF PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE, GOLDWATER WAS THE BENEFIT OF WPA ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

THE MOVE NORTH

AFTER THE CLOSING OF GOLDWATER THE SIX LAMPS WERE STORED IN THE BACK YARD OF COLER. FROM WHEN I STARTED WORKING AS A VOLUNTEER AT COLER, I TRIED TO HAVE ADMINISTRATION, CLEAN UP AREA, FIND A NEW HOME AND PROTECT THE LAMPS. ONE LAMP WAS ALREADY BROKEN AND THE OTHERS JUST SAT IN SEMI-OPEN VIEW.

ON DECEMBER 26TH, FOUR WERE HAULED OFF. A TRUCK ARRIVED AND IN 20 MINUTES THE LAMPS WERE GONE.
A POLICE REPORT HAS BEEN FILED, BUT SURELY THESE VALUABLE LAMPS WERE AT A SCRAP DEALER THE NEXT DAY.
ONE LAMP AND ONE BROKEN ONE REMAIN.

MAYBE WE WILL RESCUE THE BROKEN LAMP AND PLACE IT NEXT TO OUR OTHER ARTIFACTS BY THE KIOSK.

SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO:
ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM

This is probably one of the most heartbreaking episodes in my years on the island. To see valuable historic artifacts being stolen, destroyed, ignored by so many is tragic.

What of our history be gone next?
What landmark will be ignored?
What building or site will not be maintained?
Look around and see how our treasures are being ignored (start at the Chapel bell).
Maybe 2024 will wake up RIOC and others to our fragile history.

Judith Berdy

Life Jacket Theatre Company | THE GORGEOUS

NOTHINGS

MON.FEBRUARY 12 AT 7PM

Venue: The Theater at New York Live Arts

LAST YEAR I ATTENDED A READING OF THIS DRAMA ABOUT THE GAY PRISONERS WHO WERE INCARCERATED AT THE PENITENTIARY ON WELFARE ISLAND. THIS PRODUCTION IS BASED ON TRUE STORIES, FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS, ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND TELLS STORIES OF THOSE WHO WERE ON OUR ISLAND IN THE 1930’S.

WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

VIEW OF THE WORKHOUSE, LOCATED WHERE 2-4 RIVER ROAD
NOW STANDS

CREDITS