 |
| Third Ave El 1900 |
The essence of St. Paddy’s to me has always been to
celebrate our ancestors. Not just the Irish but anyone from elsewhere in the
world who courageously or otherwise came to this country, worked hard, took
care of what they had, and improved it for their children.
How I best observe St. Patrick’s Day is walking around the
city and renewing my love for New
York.
Thinking of my Irish grandfather, Thomas Pryor, born on the 3rd floor of
a walkup at 50th Street and Third Avenue in 1900. First four years of
his life, dirty steam engines roared past his family’s front windows facing the
Third Avenue El (the tracks were electrified in 1904).
Imagining my Italian
great-grandfather, Antonino Cuccia, making red wine in the cellar of 1403 York Avenue since the fruit stand at
1405 wasn’t enough to support the family of five. Nan told me he was embarrassed he
couldn’t learn English so he always had a puss on his face.
As my family strolls through my head, the buildings I see,
the points, the locations, the way the lights hit the brick, drive me giddy to
distraction. I’m in awe. I walk around and consider my daughter at my age seeing many of
these places years from now, maybe with her children and these buildings, these
spots still delight, reminding her where we and all this comes from and she fondly
recalls her ancestors and their work.
Here are pictures from yesterday’s walkabout and three songs links in the photos captioned:
"Hail, Hail, Rock N' Roll," "Time Tangled Up," & "Waiting For The Man."
 |
| 14th St & 7th Ave Fire Escape Party |
 |
Broadway on left, %th Ave on right ~ Bottom of Flatiron
|
 |
| St. George shuts up Big Mouth |
 |
1900
|
 |
| Hugh O'Neill Building |
 |
If only the city still had more corners such as this one
|
 |
Old Hospital, Mental Ward, Military Prison & Pepsi Cola
|
 |
looking towards Hoboken
|
 |
| Washington Street final blast of sunlight |
 |
Charles Street
|
 |
| Charles Street |
 |
Hudson St on left, 12th St on right
|
 |
| 12th Street |
1 comment:
What a pleasure to walk around the city with you, Tom. I agree, it's a wonderful way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Post a Comment