NYC:Manhattan hoods-Murray Hill

Heading back out towards the river brings into the hood known as Murray Hill. It goes from 23rd to 42nd Sts between 5th Ave and the East River with an exception at 40th St and Second Ave. This hood is mostly residential, though it does have some commercial property in it. This land wasn't known until a Dutch farmer known as Jacobus Kip settled durring the 17th century. His farm is what is now 35th St between 2nd Ave and the East River. It was named Kips Bay after the bay that was there at the time. In 1753, Robert Murray, a Quaker Merchant, came to live here. He rented the land in 1762 from the city for his farm, which expanded across what is now 33rd to 39th Sts around Lexington Ave. He built a great house on what's now 36th St and Park Ave. Durring the Revolutionary War, the Americans had lost a battle to the British in this area. Lindley Murray, his oldest son and a lawyer, was forced into exile after the war ended due to his loyalism to the British. He got the last laugh when his textbooks became very popular and were even excepted greatly by the US despite his treachery. In 1848, the Church of the Transfiguration was founded at 48 E 24th St until it would move to 1 E 29th St, and would add on to its existance. In 1850, Sniffen Ct was laid out as an alley to have carriage brick homes that would be blocked off by an iron gate, and got its name after John Sniffen. JP Morgan purchased the great house that Murray family once owned and made it into his mansion. At this time the area was starting to flourish after the 2nd/3rd Ave els. In 1879, the first Madison Sq Garden was built has a home for the NY Knickerbockers, a baseball team at that time. In 1890, McKime and White built a newer one to replace the older one. Metropolitain Life Insurance made its headquarters here by building its location in 1893. In 1902, Ralph S Townsend built the George S Bowdin Stable, but sold it five years later to JP Morgan. Around that same time James F D Lanier House was finished for both him and his wife. Also, the NYS Appellate Court was built around Madison Sq at this time as well. In 1909, Murray Hill got its first skyscraper when Met Life built the Met Life Ins Tower, which gave it the WTB until the Woolworth Bldg was completed. In 1920, the stables at Sniffen Ct were converted into apartments and townhouses. In 1926, the current church was errected and was known as the Little Church Around the Corner. NY Life decided to relocate from downtown onto the site where MSG was located as Cass Gilbert built over it. The Chanin Bldg was built as the headquaters for developer Irwin S Chanin in 1927. The NY Daily News began to locate here with its own building as well. Around the time of the Great Depression, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel was built as an underground passageway to get into Queens. In the 1960's Andy Warhol bought a former Con Ed factory and turnned it into his studio, which was his last place of residence. In 1970, Touro College was charted as an officiall college for NYC. In 1974, a major apartment complex known as Waterside Plaza was completed and allowed for a garage for its residents. Murray Hill got other apartments such as The Corinithian and other places in the 1980's. A recent project known as 425 5th Ave was built by Adam Graves to resemble the ESB's structure. Even now there is a construction project known as 325 5th Ave to add on. Much of Murray has become residential, but it is known for having a lot of shops. The JP Morgan Library is currently undergoing an expansion, but it will reopen as soon as its done. The Polish Consulate can be found here. You can get here by taking the subway to either 23rd St-Lexington Ave (6), 28th St-Lexington Ave (6), 33rd St-Lexington Ave (6), 42nd St-GCT (4, 5, 6, 7, S), and 42nd St-5th Ave (7). Here is what you will find in Murray Hill.

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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