NYC:Manhattan hoods-Midtown South

Heading up north brings us into the hood known as Midtown South. It goes from 30th to 42nd St between 5th Ave and the Hudson River. This hood is mostly commericial, though it does have some residential space in it. Originally, this area wasn't home to much except for small houses that were along the dirt streets and wilderness in what is now Bryant Pk. Thomas Deagan, the colonial governor, designated the wilderness as a public space in 1686. Durring the Battle of LI, George Washington and his troops crossed through here. In 1823, it was made into a potters field for unkown soildies until 1840. In 1835, James Gordon Bennet founded the NY Hearld and the area the office building was in was called Herald Sq. In 1842, the dam for the Croton Distrubiting Reservoir was built and it removed the cemetery. The former field was renamed Reservoir Sq in 1847. In 1853, the Crystal Palace was built for a special exhibition, but it burnned down in 1858 just like its predecessor did in London. Unfortunately, Reservoir Sq became a victim to draft riots that took place durring the US Civil War when fires started around this area. As the els were being constructed, the area started to flourish and lost its rural feel. Irish immigrants began to live on the eastern end referrign to it as Hell's Kitchen. In 1871, St John the Baptist Church was built on 31st St to use the feel of the brownstone in churches. In 1884, Reservoir Sq was renamed Bryant Pk, its current name, after NY Evening Post editor William Cullen Bryant. In 1902, Rossland Hussey Macy decided to build his flagship store at where it stands right now today, and it was the largest department store at the time. In 1910, Penn RR wanted to have a station in NYC, and had Stanford White build Penn Station, which would also use the LIRR and Hudson Tubes, now PATH. In 1911, millionare James Lennox founded the NY Public Library, and built it over the reservoir. William Mitchell Kendall built the Farley Post Office Bldg across the street, in 1912, to complement Penn Station. In 1925, the Gimbel Brothers Department Store was built to rival with Macy's, but failed later on. Around this time, a number of artists began to move up here from downtown, so places like the Film Center were built. The Lincoln Tunnel was built to connect it to NJ. The idea of skyscrapers started to rise up. As a result the ground was broken for building such as McGraw Hill Bldg, Nelson Tower, Ameican Radiator Bldg, and New Yorker Hotel. In 1931, Steve Lamb built the ESB, which grabbed the title of the WTB for nearly 40 years until 1 WTC was built to surpass it. Howevever, the Great Depression made it difficult for people to have jobs, and the ESB only had two tennants for the entire building. To save it, the top was made into an observation deck at both the 86th and 102nd floors with an opening for blimps at the top. The ESB became common in many NYC movies especially in King Kong with him climbing it. In 1945, a B-25 bomber hit into the 80th floor of the ESB and killed some people in the elevator, but it was cleared and was reopened two days later. In 1950, the current PA Bus Terminal was built at where it stands right now. In 1965, the city lost an important part of its history when the terminal building for Penn Station was demolished and replaced by the current MSG, which was to be built for games of the NY Knickerbockers (Knicks) and NY Rangers, and later on the NY Liberty. In 1970, the Knicks made their current home a forgivable place when the beat the LA Lakers in Game 7 in front their hometown fans to win the NBA Finals. In 1972, 1 Penn Plaza was built to finish the Penn Plaza complex, and was the tallest international style building in NYC, only second to the WTC. Meanwhile, the underground station was rennovated to become a major subway hub and include shops as well. While the people were unable to save Penn Station from being demolished, the event did lead to forming the Landmarks Preservation Act, which allowed for other historic places to be preserved. In 1986, the Jacob K Javits Convention Ctr was built to host events on this 18 acre site by the Hudson River. Even more building projects come to this area today like the NY Times Tower. The Garment Dist is known for some of its prestigous shops, while the Flower Dist sits near the ESB. Also, in the shadow of the ESB is Little Korea, though a bigger one can be seen in Flushing. You can get here by taking the subway to 34th St-Penn Station (1, 2, 3, A, C, E), 34th St-Herald Sq (B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, W), 42nd St-5th Ave (7), 42nd St-6th Ave (B, D, F, V), 42nd St-Times Sq (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W), and 42nd St-PA Bus Terminal (A, C, E). Also, by going to Penn Station by LIRR, NJ Transit, PATH, and Amtrack, and to Hearld Sq by PATH. Here's what you will find in Midtown South.











































































































































































































































































































































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