Hi! My name is Anastasia and I am currently a freshman at the Macaulay Honors College in Baruch. I plan to major in Psychology and pursue it as a lifelong career. I was born in Odessa, Ukraine and moved to the United States at a very young age. I currently live in Brooklyn, but I plan to travel the world for as long as time permits. I currently don’t have any concrete study abroad plans, but I always dreamed of traveling to Northern Europe. 

We are almost done with the website tasks. However, for those groups who did not complete all assigned tasks today in class, here is a summary of what you need to do by Monday the 14th (at the very latest):

1. Incorporate the feedback you received on your transit points.
2. Write intro pages for each group. At the bottom of the intro pages, you should include the links to all the transit points you’ve done (clearly labeled).
3. Each individual transit point should have a “back” button (a link that says “back” is fine) to enable visitors to return to the main intro page for the group.
4. Make sure to properly caption and cite (with links) your photos. None of your photos should lack an explanatory caption.
5. Jill is going to post instructions for how to use a function that allows visitors to jump down a page (so that groups with long posts won’t have to create numerous subpages). Once she has posted the tutorial, those groups whose pages are lengthy should incorporate this function into their transfer points.
6. Test all links in your pages.
7. Keep an eye on this post. If I’ve forgotten something and Joanna G or Jill reminds me of it, I will include it here.

Individual tasks to be completed by Monday:
1. Everyone in the class should also create a bio (make sure to title it “[Your name] bio” so that it doesn’t get mixed up with your commute page).
2. Everyone who has not yet incorporated your classmates’ feedback into your commute page should do so. Make sure to caption and cite all photos.

Any questions? Email me about content (charlotte.brooks@baruch.cuny.edu) and Jill about tech stuff (jill.belli@baruch.cuny.edu).

The early and mid 1900’s saw the greater development of New York City and its surrounding boroughs.  With extended subway lines reaching to the City’s then undeveloped areas, people began migrating away from New York City’s urban core to its more residential neighborhoods. The area in which I grew up, Co-op City, was built between 1966 and 1973. It stands as one of the largest housing cooperative developments in the world; located in the most northeastern section of the Bronx. However, before this area had been constructed into a housing complex, it was home to Freedom Land- a 205-acre national theme park.

Freedom Land officially opened its doors on June 19, 1960 offering its first 65,000 visitors a chance to explore the history of their homeland, U.S.A. Designer and constructor Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood, who in previous years helped in the planning of Disneyland, created the amusement park in the shape of the United States with each section of the park taking its visitors back to significant historical events in that part of the country. This advertisement from the park’s opening makes note of the site’s main attractions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vpWcFZ-_LqU

The entire park cost 65 billion to build and included 8 miles of navigable waterways, 10,000 newly planted trees, 18 restaurants and snack bars and parking for up to 72,000 cars. Freedom Land was easily accessible by car unlike Coney Island, which at the time was suffering from an ongoing decline.

Despite the park’s unifying theme and family appeal, it approached its downfall not long after its opening at the end of 1964. Two main issues leading to the close of Freedom Land were the park’s foundation and its accessibility. The northeastern region of the Bronx on which this park was built was partially filled swampland that had previously been use as a landfill.  This caused a rampant mosquito problem for the park during its months of operation in the summer. Aside from this, Freedom Land also experienced issues of accessibility. Although the theme park could be easily reached by car, it was out of the way of the subway lines that serviced the Bronx and required a connecting bus that would reach the outskirts of the borough. In comparison, four different subway lines could reach Coney Island. These among other reasons made Cornelius Wood’s dream of a historical national theme park short-lived.

After the close of Freedom Land in 1964, construction on a new housing community soon began. From May 1966 to 1973 Co-op City was constructed and allowed residents to move in as early as the winter of 1968. In its early days, Co-op City was home to a largely Italian, Jewish and Irish community. However, as these populations began to move away in later decades, the neighborhood began to reflect the primarily Black and Hispanic population of the Bronx as a whole. The entire housing complex is split into 5 sections, which collectively contains 15,372 units. Only a fifth of the region was developed leaving space for parks and green areas. Co-op can be considered a city within itself. It has three grade schools, two middle schools and a high school with a planetarium. It also boasts a firehouse, three shopping centers, a power plant and a 4-story air conditioning generator. Although Co-op City revitalized this far off region of the Bronx, it has also dealt with setbacks.

Co-op City’s foundation being swamp ground causes the land surrounding the neighborhoods structures to sink a fraction of an inch per year requiring constant maintenance of sidewalks and building entrances. Despite the maintenance issues that have plagued this area of the Bronx since its fruition, it has a surprising legacy as a theme park and a current standing  as a well developed housing community.

LaGuardia Airport offers so much more than noises of airplanes whistled through during another quiet day at Queens borough or outgoing local flights from the city for those seeking the way out of the busy city or inbound trips for wide-eyed “outsiders” coming in for a taste of the Big Apple. LaGuardia stood the test of time as one of 12 Work Progress Administration Projects devised by the US government during the Great Depression that still exist until today (howstuffworks.com).

LaGuardia Airport as we know of it today, sits on the original site of the Gala Amusement Park that was owned by the Steinway family (La Guardia and Wagner Archives). Gala Amusement Park was transformed in 1929 into a 105-acre private flying field that was named Glenn H. Curtiss Airport and later North Beach Airport. The story of how LaGuardia Airport came to existence revolves around the arrival of then mayor Fiorello La Guardia at Newark, NJ after his vacation. Since his plane ticket said “New York” yet he was taken to the only commercial airport serving New York City at the time in New Jersey, La Guardia demanded to be flown to Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. Enraged by the lack of air access in New York City, the mayor gave an impromptu press conference after his arrival, urging New Yorkers to support a new airport in New York City.

American Airlines worked together with La Guardia to run a pilot program of scheduled flights to Floyd Bennett that failed because of Newark’s proximity to Manhattan. La Guardia tried to preserve the program by offering private security services to airport rides, yet the program ceased to exist after a short while.

The Big Apple’s desire for a city would have only remained a dream until September 1937, when the Work Progress Administration joined with the city to build a new airport. La Guardia and American Airlines executives found an alternative to Floyd Bennett in Queens, where it could capitalize on the new Queens-Midtown Tunnel to Manhattan. The new location, North Beach Airport on the shore of Flushing Bay, was much too small for the sort of airport that was being planned. Building required moving landfill from Rikers Island onto a metal reinforcing framework that sometime still causes magnetic interference on the compasses of outgoing aircraft; numerous signs on the airfield warn pilots about the problem (Steinke).

The construction of the new airport, New York Municipal Airport, was said by the WPA “partly to create new jobs during the Depression and partly because it wanted to develop America’s commercial transportation system.”

New York Municipal Airport featured innovative terminal design that kept arriving and departing passengers separated on two levels for greater efficiency, terminals adorned with Art Deco details and fine restaurants and a rooftop viewing promenade as well as many technological details that made flying safer and less expensive (qgazette.com). New York Municipal Airport opened in October 15 1939, being the largest, most advanced commercial airport in the world to date.

The public was fascinated by the very idea of air travel, and thousands traveled to the airport, paid the dime fee, and watched the airliners take off and land. Two years later these fees and their associated parking provided huge financial success for the airport.

Newark Airport began renovations in 1940 but could not keep up with the new fledging Queens airport, which the Time magazine dubbed “the most pretentious land and seaplane base in the world.” A smaller airport located in adjacent Jackson Heights, Holmes Airport, was unable to prevent the expansion of the larger airport and had to close in 1940.

The new airport was rechristened LaGuardia Airport after the mayor, who had been a bomber pilot in World War I and whose interest in aviation lasted throughout his lifetime, almost a month after it opened.

Through the 1940’s and 50’s, the American aviation industry grew and expanded at a rapid pace and LaGuardia suffered from the same problem it has been suffered ever since its inception: its limited surrounding land available for expansion. By the late 40’s, LaGuardia became the world’s busiest airport and was too small for the new burdening amount of air traffic. Although after having expanded 2,000 fts to each runway and taxiway on steel piers extending into Flushing Bay, LaGuardia has the shortest runways of any American commercial airport.

Today, LaGuardia, JFK International, and Newark Liberty International airports combine to create the largest airport system in the United States, second in the world in terms of passenger traffic, and first in the world in terms of total flight operations. LaGuardia was leased to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a lease with the City of New York since June 1, 1947 and until today only deliver local flights into and out of New York City. LaGuardia Airport, besides its amazing history and track record, will remain one of the WPA’s foremost contribution to New York City.

Works cited:

International, the Editors of Publications, and  Ltd.. “HowStuffWorks “12 WPA Projects that Still Exist”.” HowStuffWorks “Business & Money”. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://money.howstuffworks.com/12-wpa-projects-that-still-exist1.htm>.

Stoff, Joshua. “‘LaGuardia Airport’ Traces Aviation History  | www.qgazette.com | Queens Gazette.” Front Page | www.qgazette.com | Queens Gazette. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.qgazette.com/news/2009-02-04/features/027.html>.

“The Bowery Boys:  New York City History: PODCAST: LaGuardia Airport.” The Bowery Boys:  New York City History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2008/06/podcast-laguardia-airport_07.html>.

“The Plane Truth.” Queens Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.queenstribune.com/guides/2006_GuideToQueens/business/airports.htm>.

“Transport: LaGuardia’s Coup – TIME.” Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews – TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760199,00.html>.

With its modest terracotta facades and distinct yet decaying elements of the Romanesque style, Webster Hall is a space that was both preserved and manipulated by time. Designed by a rather obscure architect named Charles Rentz in 1886, the Hall served many purposes throughout its 126 years of existence. “The space has hosted everything from debutante balls and society dinners to wrestling matches, political rallies, union meetings, and bohemian costume dances” (GVSHP). To this day it remains a symbol of the unique artistic culture of the Lower East Side.

One of the entrances into Webster Hall.

This distinct East Village landmark underwent numerous transformations throughout the years, both on the inside and outside. What we now recognize as Webster Hall is in fact a seamless blending of two facades, both designed by Rentz in 1886 and later, 1892. The building also had an elaborately designed roof at some point, which was presumably lost in one of the many fires that the building suffered. With five major fires occurring in the Hall in only the first half of the 20^th century, the building still survived and earned itself a an almost humorous reputation of indestructability, as evidenced in the many Webster Hall obituaries that the New York Times published. Other than the loss of the original roof, the building still looks very much like it did all those years ago. There was only one major restoration in 1927 during which an arched entrance with the engraved initials “WH” was added. Inside, however, the building has always and will most likely continue to change. From its early days, Webster Hall was a “hall for hire”, meaning that groups could either rent rooms or the whole building for their intents and purposes. According to the New York Times, the Hall “began by seeing red-cheeked debutantes introduced to society and ended—if ended it has—by seeing red-nosed bohemians thumbing defiance at society (Webster Hall).” In other words, its initial uses were supposedly more socially acceptable than its later ones in 1938, when the article was written.

Historic Image of Webster Hall (date unknown) taken by Percy Loomis Speer. From the collection of the New York Public Library.

However, even this can be disputed. According to the article from GVSHP (The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation), “[the New York Times’] notion seems to be colored by nostalgia, as even in the hall’s early years, it was rented by socialists, a saloon keepers alliance, a clothing cutters union, and other groups that were outside of the conventions of upper middle class society.”

For many decades, a variety of mostly working-class groups used Webster Hall for political rallies, official meetings, and for pleasure.  To focus more specifically on the Hall’s significance during the Great Depression, in 1930 the space was used by anti-Fascists. It was here that they adopted a resolution condemning Mussolini. I can’t seem to find any substantial information about that, although it sounds fascinating—and radical. Even before the 1930s and during the era of Prohibition, the Hall was notorious for its radical reputation. According to Webster Hall’s official website, “it was the birth of the modern nightclub…the balls moved from the social and political trends of the past to the hedonistic attitude of the “speak”… the police [would] turn a blind eye to the merrymakers who attended despite, or perhaps because of, whispers that the venue was owned by the infamous mobster Al Capone”. In fact, Prohibition’s repeal was the cause for one of Webster Hall’s most legendary and outlandish celebrations, “The Return of John Barleycorn.” Webster Hall also hosted several Drag Balls during the 1920s. The events were very successful in shaping the culture of the Village and creating a gay enclave in the neighborhood; it was one of the few times when transvestites were allowed to openly dress in drag. These festivities continued until the Great Depression (Montgomery). George Chauncey also made reference to the gay culture in Webster Hall in “Building Neighborhood Enclaves: the Village and Harlem”, and actually asserted that the culture was still strong even in the early years of the Depression.

A drag ball in Webster Hall. Date Unknown. Source: http://aphdigital.org

A poster advertising a costume ball, Source: http://ephemeralnewyork.files.wordpress.com

What actually went on in the Hall during the Depression is limited to the fires, obituaries, and political (anti-fascist) rallies that I’ve touched upon earlier.   The Great Depression and World War II essentially put an end to the lavish parties and costume balls of the 1920s. The events that followed were mostly political, until Webster Hall re-emerged in 1980 as The Ritz Nightclub (which was actually later relocated). It became a leading venue for rock shows, and boasted performers such as Madonna, Prince, Guns N’ Roses, Sting, and KISS. In 1990, under new ownership, the Hall was renamed Webster Hall again and became known for its dance club and nightlife scene; it still has this reputation to this day.

However, Webster Hall is more than just a nightclub with a colorful history of political rallies and Bohemian culture. According to Webster Hall’s website, it is known as the place of the “ultimate party”, and while this may just be a marketing tactic used by the Hall’s promoters, there is some truth in that. Indeed, Webster Hall is both a nightclub and a concert venue, which still boasts an impressive repertoire of performers such as Gotye and Of Montreal. It has a solid reputation in the East Village and the Bowery District. The Bowery “was all flophouses, whiskey joints, and legendary bums. The flophouses survive, but now they’re surrounded by celebrity lounges and multi-million-dollar lofts (Gross).” Webster Hall is a huge part of the Bowery District and is probably the main cause for the District’s popularity. To this day, the Hall is used for many purposes but prides itself in being the main space for the ultimate entertainment experience. The forms of entertainment have changed from costume balls to dance parties and mosh pits, and the people attending these events have changed as well. It is almost inevitable that the Hall will continue to change with time, especially in a location so known for its social and political responsiveness.

Some of Webster Hall's current venues.

Webster Hall Now.

Inside Webster Hall. Source: http://images2.citysearch.net

Sources:

“Webster Hall,” The New York Times, 1938, accessed on March 28, 2012, http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F12FF3D5C1B7A93C1AB1789D85F4C8385F9&scp=2&sq=&st=p

Matt Gross, “The Bowery”, New York Magazine, July 26, 2005, accessed on March 28, 2012, http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/neighborhoods/maps/10117/

“Webster Hall History and Significance,” Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, July 20, 2007, accessed on March 28, 2012, http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/preservation/webster_hall/doc/WebsterHallLPCSubmission.pdf

Eric Montgomery, “Drag Ball in Webster Hall-1920s,” accessed on March 28, 2012, http://aphdigital.org/GVH/items/show/947

George Chauncey, Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940, Chapter 9, “Building Gay Neighborhood Enclaves: The Village and Harlem”

“History,” http://www.websterhall.com/2007_websterhall/about/01_about_02.php

My name is Quan Vu and I hope to major in Finance and minor in French and Math. I want to be an investment banker, the most hated job in the world right now but I still want to do it for the love of finance and the economy. I have various interests, including singing, dancing (breakdancing, popping, douggie-ing, you name it), and playing my violin (I have learned it for half a year now). I am an international student from Vietnam; I have picked up English here for 3 years and now I am fluent in it. I currently reside on Roosevelt Island, which is, shockingly to many people, part of Manhattan. It’s a peaceful place in the midst of the craziest, most crowded place in the world. You should all check it out sometime, it is a city landmark with a lot of playgrounds, trees, water, and places to hangout in general. I’m very hype to get to know everybody in the class and I hope to enjoy my next semester with you all.