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Jul

14

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 – Dedicated Nurses at Sea View Hospita

By admin

The Forgotten Black Nurses
Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis
in NYC

In 1929, Sea View Hospital was in crisis. The now-partially abandoned Staten Island medical facility was experiencing a mass exodus of white nurses while simultaneously handling an overwhelming amount of tuberculosis patients. To remedy the situation, New York City officials began recruiting Black female nurses from the South, offering freedom from the oppression of Jim Crow and the benefits of good pay, education, housing, and employment. The stories of these trailblazing nurses have gone largely untold for nearly a century, but now, author Maria Smilios sheds light on their achievements in her new booThe Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis.

You can learn more about The Black Angels in a virtual talk with the author and Untapped New York’s Chief Experience Officer, Justin Rivers, now in our on-demand video archive!

In the early half of the 20th century, tuberculosis killed over 5.6 million Americans. The disease was especially devastating to cities like New York, where it ran rampant through crowded tenement houses and spread rapidly among poor communities. Those suffering from the disease were sent to various healthcare facilities around the edge of the city in hopes of containing the spread and giving patients clean, fresh air.

Tuberculosis patients filled the rooms of healthcare facilities such as the now-demolished Neponsit Beach Hospital in the Rockaways and Sea Breeze Hospital in Coney Island as well as a tuberculosis pavilion on North Brother Island. Some were even quarantined on ferry barges converted into floating wards run by Bellevue Hospital. One of the most famous tuberculosis sanitoriums, and the largest at one point, was Sea View Hospital in Staten Island

Sea View Hospital in an abandoned state

Sea View Hospital opened in 1913 and was comprised of thirty-seven buildings. The sprawling complex sat at the second-highest point on Staten Island, once the site of a grand hilltop estate called “Ocean View.” By the 1920s, when the 2,000-bed hospital was running out of nurses, it was called a “pest house” and a place where “no one left alive.” The Black Angels changed that.

Over the course of twenty years, women like Edna Sutton, Missouria Louvinia Meadows-Walker, Clemmie Philips, Janie Shirley, and Virginia Allen, bravely marched to the front lines of the epidemic and cared for patients who others turned their backs on. Not only did these women work grueling hours day in and day out and put themselves at risk to care for New York’s sick, but they did so while also fighting racism and discrimination.

Photo Courtesy of NYCHHC Sea View Archives

At the time, most of New York City’s more than two dozen municipal hospitals discriminated against Black nurses in some way, whether that meant they simply were not allowed to be hired or there were quotas that limited the number of Black nurses who could be employed. While the medical breakthroughs of white, male doctors and researchers at Sea View who found a cure for tuberculosis have long been celebrated worldwide, the contributions of the Black nurses – who were among the first to administer the groundbreaking drug, isoniazid – have largely been kept alive in the memories of their families, friends, and local communities.

Photo Courtesy of James Williams

Using first-hand interviews and never-before-accessed archives, Smilios brings the stories of the Black Angels to center stage, highlighting how their efforts helped to desegregate the New York City hospital system, stop discriminatory practices in medical education and medical research, and ultimately save countless lives. Learn more about The Black Angels from the author in our virtual talk, and get your own copy of The Black Angels, out now!


UNTAPPED  NEW YORK

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Published in: EventsSecrets of NYCAbandonedbook talkhealthcarehospitalInsidersnursesea view hospitalstaten islanduntapped new york insiders

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jul

8

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 -Pomona’s Home Gets a Fresh Look! Come See!

By admin

The  Fabulous New 64-seat
Pedestrian Plaza on
Fifth Avenue

Photograph: Courtesy Fifth Avenue Association© Timeout US

One of Manhattan’s busiest and most iconic corridors has been redesigned into a fabulous new pedestrian space. The Fifth Avenue Association, in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation and landscape architecture firm Field Operations, has officially unveiled a vibrant 7,500-square-foot pedestrian plaza at Grand Army Plaza South. Located right near the entrance to Central Park and the historic Plaza Hotel, this completely revitalized space transforms what was once a congested traffic lane into a world-class public sanctuary.

Photograph: Courtesy Fifth Avenue AssociationFifth Avenue pedestrian space© Timeout US

Despite seeing millions of shoppers, tourists and commuters every year, this stretch of Fifth Avenue has historically lacked places for people to actually slow down. The new plaza completely changes the game, offering custom tables, chairs and benches that comfortably seat up to 64 people. Framed by lush, rotating seasonal planters that will bloom year-round, the formerly chaotic zone is now a scenic spot for a rest.

This public-private transformation serves as a stunning preview of the “Future of Fifth” initiative—the first large-scale redesign in the avenue’s 200-year history. This massive upcoming redevelopment plans to permanently transform the corridor from Bryant Park to Central Park by widening sidewalks, adding lush greenery and prioritizing a pedestrian-first experience. It follows the recent reveal of a major renovation of Grand Army Plaza South, including a restoration of the Pulitzer Fountain.

While the Angelina Paris pop-up is a summer treat, the beautiful public seating and vibrant planters are here to stay year-round. So next time you’re hustling down Fifth Avenue, set aside some time to take a break and marvel at the transformation.

TIME OUT NEW YORK

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jul

7

Tuesday, July 7, 2026 – A wonderful Twice saved from Demolition

By admin

Cass Gilbert’s West Street Building

Singer Building (middle) with West Street Building (right) from the Hudson, 1908.

Our favorite NYC skyscraper, the Woolworth Building has two younger siblings, the Broadway Chambers Building (1900), and 90 West Street (1907). Both buildings were designed by Woolworth Building architect Cass Gilbert, but Woolworth’s gothic influence is truly seen in 90 West, which is clad head to toe in ornamental terra cotta.
 

The New York Times described the building when it was first proposed, “It is to be twenty-three stories high and finished on the uppermost stories in beautiful colored terra cotta, harmonizing with the copper sheathed mansard roof. Its unobstructed frontage on the river will make it one of the landmarks to those who use the North River ferries.”


Blocks away from the office buildings on Broadway, the West Street building was located on the banks of the Hudson directly across the street from the docks to serve the adjacent shipping and railway industries. Gilbert and structural engineer Gunvald Aus designed the building to be completely fireproof using state of the art methods including double layer terra cotta on the facade making it more than a foot thick. Steel columns and stairwells were encased in thick tiles and each floor was separated by foot-thick arched tiles to prevent the spread of fire with granite at the base as wide as six feet. After completing the West Street building in 1907 Gilbert would go on to design the Woolworth Building, the tallest skyscraper the world when it opened in 1913.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In the 1970s the building was saved from demolition, with the World Trade Center urban renewal border stopping across the street from the terra-cotta tower. In the shadow of the 110-story Twin Towers, the West Street Building was no longer on the banks of the Hudson; the newly created Battery Park City would add 92 acres of landfill to the west of the ornamental skyscraper.

On 9/11 the building suffered severe damaged and burned for three days. Yet, the building’s fireproofing saved it from complete devastation leaving much of the structure intact. Following 9/11 the skyscraper was restored, with the Boston Terra Cotta Company fabricating 7,853 new pieces of terra-cotta and over 100 replacement gargoyles and grotesques including seven contemporary faces – the building’s owners, contractors, and project manager. 75 percent of the north facade’s granite would be replaced during the restoration. During this time the building was converted from offices to house 410 rental apartments.

National Constitution Center
National Archives
*Both websites have extensive information on this letter

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jul

6

Monday, July 6, 2026 – A Letter from George Washington in Response to an Earlier Correspondence

By admin

Washington’s Letter

to the Jews

Summary

On August 21, 1790, President George Washington composed a letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, and to its leader, Moses Seixas.  Seixas had written a letter to Washington four days earlier.  In this letter, Seixas described the benefits that his community received under the new Constitution and expressed his “deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty” for “a Government . . . erected by the Majesty of the People,” committed to the “liberty of conscience,” and “deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine.”  Washington responded with a brief but powerful letter, expressing America’s enduring commitment to the principle of tolerance and the freedom of conscience.


Gentlemen.

While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and a happy people.

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.

Go: Washington

CREDITS
National Constitution Center
National Archives
*Both websites have extensive information on this letter

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jul

3

Friday, July 3, 2026 – Enjoy Ships Passing By at a Shaded Spot

By admin

CLASS B SHIPS

PASS BY THE ISLAND

Judith Berdy

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jul

1

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Don’t Miss the Tall Ships Parade This Friday!

By admin

The Class B Ships Sail by

one the West Channel

of the

East River

on FRIDAY, JULY 3

1 TO 3 P.M. (APPROX.)

S/Y Vela is the sister ship to S/Y Argo. She is a two-masted staysail schooner that measures 112-ft overall and accommodates twenty six students and seven professional crew on ocean voyages around the globe. She is certified and inspected by the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a Category “0” vessel, allowing her unrestricted operation in the world’s oceans. Sailing under the Sea, mester flag, Vela will circumnavigates the globe offering students the chance to cross oceans while furthering their educational and personal goals in a highly experiential college-level academic setting.

Specifications

  • Draft: 10′
  • Beam: 25′
  • Rig Height: 102′
  • Freeboard: 6′
  • Sail Area: 4,700
  • Tons: 130
  • Hull: Steel

Facts

  • Who Sails: High School, College
  • Program Type: Sail Training, Marine Science, Accredited Semesters, Deep Sea Voyages, Study Abroad, Gap Year, Adventure Travel, Other: Experiential education semesters for high school graduates and college students; accredited academics with sail and scuba training, service projects and adventure travel
  • Normal Cruising Waters:
    • Winter: Worldwide
    • Summer: Worldwide
  • Sailing Season: Year-round
  • Year Launched: 2018
  • Number of Crew: 7
  • Name of Contact: Sea|mester Programs
  • Phone: 941.924.2900
  • Website: https://seamester.com/

A fleet of U.S. and international Class B tall ships will participate in the America 250 Parade of Sail, showcasing a diverse array of training and historic vessels along the East River and other U.S. ports.

Overview of Class B Ships

The Class B tall ships are smaller than the Class A vessels but are equally impressive, often used for sail training, education, and cultural exchange. During the America 250 celebrations, these ships will sail down the East River from the head of the river to Gravesend Bay, Brooklyn, providing spectators with a rare opportunity to see them in motion america250.org. The event is part of the larger Sail4th 250 program, which is the New York segment of the nationwide Sail250 celebrations sail4th.org+1.

Participating Ships and Origins

While a complete list of all Class B ships has not been fully published, the fleet includes a mix of U.S. and international vessels, complementing the larger Class A ships such as the USCG Barque Eagle and other foreign naval training ships sail4th.org+1. These Class B ships typically include schooners, brigs, and smaller full-rigged ships operated by universities, maritime academies, and sail training organizations. Examples of vessels in the broader Sail250 program include:

  • STV Vela – a 112-foot gaff-rigged schooner operated by Sea|mester, homeported in the British Virgin Islands, carrying a crew of about 30 including students sail4th.org.
  • Other Class B ships are expected to represent U.S. maritime academies and international sail training programs, providing hands-on training for cadets and students.

Event Highlights

  • Parade of Sail: Class B ships will lead a parade along the East River on July 3, 2026, preceding the larger Class A vessels on July 4 sail4th.org.
  • Public Engagement: Many ships will offer educational programs, tours, and demonstrations for visitors, highlighting maritime history and seamanship america250.org+1.
  • Global Participation: The fleet includes ships from multiple nations, emphasizing international goodwill and cultural exchange alongside the U.S. vessels sail4th.org+1.

Summary

The Class B ships at America 250 represent a diverse and educational fleet, smaller than the Class A tall ships but integral to the Parade of Sail and maritime celebrations. They provide a unique opportunity for the public to witness traditional sailing vessels in action, while also supporting cadet training and international maritime cooperation. For the most up-to-date list of participating Class B ships, visitors can check the official Sail4th 250 website or the America250 event page 

america250.org

america250.org+1.

Sail USA 250
Judith Berdy

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jun

29

Monday, June 29, 2026 – A One Hundred Year Old Flagpole

By admin

This controversial Union Square flagpole was created to

honor America’s 150th birthday in 1926

EPHEMERAL NEW YORK

Monday, June 29, 2026


ISSUE # 1705

The 1876 Centennial was an all-out party in Gotham—fireworks, military parades, musical performances, and thousands of American flags and bunting draped over the windows of city buildings, houses, and hotels.
But the Sesquicentennial, or America’s 150th birthday? By comparison, it was much more low-key.The big national celebration took place at Philadelphia’s Sesquicentennial International Exposition. In New York City, smaller events focused on patriotic education and the creation of historical markers.Yet the 1926 celebration did bring a new addition to Union Square: the Independence Flagstaff, one of the tallest flagpoles in New York state, according to NYCParks. You’ll find this towering monument in the center of the park

“The intricate bas-reliefs and plaques were completed in 1926 by sculptor Anthony De Francisci, and feature a procession of allegorical figures representing democracy and tyranny, the text of the Declaration of Independence, and emblems from the original 13 colonies,” states NYC Parks.

The problem was that the flagstaff was gifted to the city by the Tammany Society. This infamous political machine long associated with corruption and scandal had their headquarters near the park on East 14th Street.

The flagstaff was supposed to be dedicated to Charles Murphy, a recently deceased Tammany president. But controversy arose, as the dedication was considered an insult to America’s founding fathers.

“Public sentiment prevented honoring a symbol of Tammany corruption in a manner commensurate with Lincoln and Washington at Union Square Park, and by the time the Murphy Flagpole was dedicated on July 4, 1930, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it was referred to as the Independence Flagstaff.”

That quote in the second photo chiseled into the base comes from Thomas Jefferson: “How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of and which no other people on earth enjoy.” 

EPHEMERAL NEW YORK

[Top image: Alamy; second image: NYCParks; third image: Angelo Rizzuto (1940s)]

Tags: How NYC celebrated America’s 150th birthdayIndependence Flagstaff Union SquareTammany Hall Charles Murphy FlagstaffUnion Square FlagpoleUnion Square FlagstaffUnion Square NYC Monuments
Posted in PoliticsUnion Square | 1 Comment »

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jun

27

Weekend, June 27-28, 2026 – Discover Serene River Views on Your Next Walk

By admin

OUR PROMENADE
RETURNS

Harbor Festival 1977
Lititzia Pitigliani. (c)

Walking home from the subway today, I tried out the newly expanded
and repaved the walk to the Rivercross Lawn. 
Having a new wide angle visit ot the river, the wonderful Kwanzan cherry trees and even some rose bushes.

All of this had been hidden behind a hedge for years and now are in full view.

The steps are repaired and no need to sidestep puddles on the path.

No squeezing past other pedestrians

Hopefully “soon” Eleanor’s Pier will be repaired and the sitting area restored.)

The Kwansan Trees are fully visible now

The commemorative plaque is now visible

The Island Organizations celebrated historic events, thanks Lynne Shinozaki

LITIZIA PITIGLIANI 
JUDITH BERDY

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jun

26

Friday, June 26, 2026 – TIME TO WATCH THE PARADE ON JULY 3rd

By admin

SHIPS PASS BY ISLAND ON JULY 3RD

SPEND THE AFTERNOON

ON OUR WATERFRONT

WATCHING THE CLASS B SHIPS

PASS BY
THE BROADSHEET

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026


ISSUE # 1704

Get Ready For Sail4th 250

For Semiquincentennial Armada, Lower Manhattan is the Berthplace of Liberty

Photo courtesy of OpSail 2000

As America marks its quarter-millennium, the waters and skies surrounding Lower Manhattan next week will be the epicenter of naval and aeronautic spectacles that may not be equaled until the nation’s 500th birthday. Starting on Friday, July 3, the largest international group of tall ships and military vessels ever assembled in New York Harbor will gather on the East and Hudson Rivers. Herewith, the Broadsheet’s Baedeker for the Sail4th 250 flotilla.

Please note that the best free viewing locations for events on the East River will be at the South Street Seaport and the Battery. Prime spectator spots for Hudson River events will be the Battery, Battery Park City (in Wagner and Rockefeller Parks, the Pier A deck, and Belvedere Plaza, which has been temporarily reopened), and the Hudson River Park. Large crowds are expected at all free venues. Ticketed viewing opportunities are available on Governors Island (prices start at $200) and aboard tour boats.

The festivities begin with the arrival of an international fleet of two dozen Class B tall ships. Owned by foundations and individuals, rather than governments, these traditionally rigged vessels measure under 40 meters (131 feet). The boats will sail down the East River from Long Island Sound, pausing at the South Street Seaport before proceeding to an anchorage at Gravesend Bay, Brooklyn, on the other side of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Participating Class B vessels include the Belle Poule (a 1930s vessel used as a training ship by the French naval academy in World War Two), INS Sudarshini (India), and Picton Castle (a Canadian vessel that in May 1945 accidentally liberated Norway from Nazi occupation by sailing into the port of Bergen hours after the Germans had retreated), among others. Meanwhile, more than 30 Class A tall ships (defined as square-rigged vessels, such as barques or brigantines, longer than 40 meters) from 20-plus nations will gather in preparation for Saturday’s Parade of Sail.

SATURDAY, JULY 4

International Naval Review

7:30am-12pm

The day begins with a rare International Naval Review, as the U.S. Navy hosts and leads a parade of dozens of military ships from around the world. At the front of the pack will be the flagship vessel USS Farragut—a 509-foot Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, named for Civil War admiral David Farragut, who is remembered for his immortal words at the Battle of Mobile Bay: “Damn the torpedoes … full speed ahead!” The ships will proceed north on the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge. The event, which showcases maritime cooperation and naval tradition, marks only the seventh international naval review hosted in U.S. history and the fourth held in New York Harbor (following smaller reviews in 1976, 1986, and 2000).

International Aerial Review

10:15am-11:30am

More than 150 U.S. and allied military aircraft led by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels (piloting their signature F-18 Super Hornets in “tight diamond” formation) will fly up the Hudson River over the parading ships.

Parade of Sail

9:30am-2:30pm

More than 30 majestic Class A Tall Ships (most ranging in size from 340 to 371 feet in length) that are used as naval training vessels and goodwill ambassadors by the nations they represent will participate. Joined by the Class Bs (see above), they will enter New York Harbor under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, sail past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge, before turning to navigate back to their respective berthing locations.

SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JULY 5-8

Public Ship Tours

Following the Parade of Sail and the International Naval Review, ships will dock around New York City. Lower Manhattan will host three tall ships, all at East River docks. Pier 17, at South Street Seaport, will accommodate two: the U.S. Coast Guard’s 295-foot barque Eagle (captured from the German Navy at the close of World War Two, and one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in the United States military today) and the Oosterschelde (a 160-foot, three-masted topsail schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918). For more information, click here. Nearby, at Pier 15, visitors can board the Pride of Baltimore II, a 1988 topsail schooner built in the style of 19th-century Baltimore Clippers. For tickets, click here.

Elsewhere around the city, the tall ships will be docked at the Intrepid (access at West 46th Street and 12th Avenue), Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the USS Sullivans Pier at Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island.

Brooklyn Bridge Park (learn more and make reservations here)

Pier 1

Sagres (Portugal)

Sundarshini (India)

Pier 3

Gorch Fock (Germany) – open July 6-7 only

Pier 5

Mircea (Romania)

Intrepid Museum (tours of ships at the Intrepid piers may be reserved here)

Pier 86

Amerigo Vespucci (Italy)

Capitan Miranda (Uruguay)

Gladan (Sweden) – open July 6-7 only

Pier 90

Juan-Sebastian de Elcano (Spain) 

Pier 91

Belle Poule (France) – open July 5-6 only

Bowdoin (Maine)

Dar Mlodziezy (Poland) 

Guayas (Ecuador) 

Juan Bautista Cambiaso (Dominican Republic) 

Lady Maryland (Maryland)

Libertad (Argentina) 

Lynx (Massachusetts) 

Tabor Boy (Massachusetts) 

When & If (Maryland)

Stapleton Waterfront Park (1.5 miles south of the St. George Staten Island Ferry terminal) 

USS the Sullivans Pier

Arc Gloria (Colombia) 

BAP Union (Peru) 

Esmeralda (Chile) – open July 6-7 only

Tours are free, but making reservations in advance is strongly recommended. General information on Sail4th 250 can be found here and on ship tours here.

THE BROADSHEET

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com

Jun

24

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane on Queens Blvd.

By admin

NOT QUITE A MADELEINE

OLD STRUCTURES ENGINEERING


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026


ISSUE # 1703

Max Hubacher, April 9, 1954, has me reliving my childhood with “(Queens, N.Y.) Subway and Manhattan’s skyline.”

That was the 7 train in 1954 and still is today, the IRT line running from (then) Times Square to Flushing. All of the line but the far west end is in Queens; all of the line but the Manhattan portion, the first two Queens stations, and the Flushing terminus is elevated. A chunk of the western part of the Queens portion runs over Queens Boulevard on a fancyish viaduct of concrete-encased steel. That stretch of the street is straight, and you see the result here: a wide street in two portions – eastbound and westbound – separated by the train. East of the straight run, the tracks curve a bit to follow Roosevelt Avenue; west of it, they curve to follow the boulevard to Queens Plaza, and then a big S curve into the tunnel heading to Manhattan.

From Queens Plaza to Flushing, the line has three tracks, and express trains run on the center track only in the direction of the rush. We’re looking at an express heading to Flushing, so this is the afternoon.

The old subway cars had narrow cabins for the drivers: you see the driver’s window to the left of the “7” sign, and the whole cabin was the width from the left side of the car to the door frame. That mean that the window in the center door faced the inside of the car and anyone – but most often a child – could stand there and watch the trip with the same view as the driver. I have no idea how many times I did that between 1970 (when I was tall enough to see through the window) and 1982 (when I moved out of Flushing). Several hundred, maybe? I wouldn’t be amazed to find out it was over a thousand: I commuted to school for six years on the 7 train, and watched out that window on the way home a lot.

In other words, this fairly anonymous photo is, for me, as familiar as home can be. The thing of it is that for any of the photos in the Hubacher collection at the NYPL, or any similar collection, there’s someone with similar memories. It’s not that I particularly love that viaduct, just that it’s permanently engrained in my head. When people involved in preservation talk about community and the built environment, this is part of what we mean: we learn the appearance of a place, the feel of it, and notice when it changes. Living in New York, you get used to the built environment changing, but not all of it, not all at once. If – and this is not going to happen in this century, so it’s a good hypothetical – the MTA were to tear down the elevated 7 train and replace it with a four-track subway, it would be an all around improvement: more capacity, better service, less above-ground blight. But a small part of me would mourn the loss of a piece of my past.

Re the title: I’m no Proust.

Do you remember the Breyer’s Ice Cream Factory on Queens Blvd? I am pretty sure the outline of the leaf may still be on the roof of the building.

OLD STRUCTURES ENGINEERING

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com