Hell's Kitchen
From The Peopling of NYC
Group Members: Greg Soybelman, Mark Zhuravsky, William Nava, Xavier Matos
Hell's Kitchen - A Brief Introduction
After the Civil War, one area of New York City flourished in the night with greed, grime, and ghastly corruption like no other. This area was aptly named "Hell's Kitchen" and spanned from 14th to 52nd streets and from the west side docks to 8th avenue. Gangs roamed the streets of Hell's Kitchen wreaking chaos amidst the tenements, slaughterhouses, saloons, and railroad yards.
Yet even the wildest of animals is eventually tamed; Hell's Kitchen is no exception to the rule. As the railroads of 11th "Death" avenue were moved to a safer location and the dilapidated tenements were dismantled, a new crowd was attracted to the area once known for its crime and vice. Actors flocked to the area, among other respectful residents and transformed the neighborhood. Eventually, the area changed to the present day boundaries of the Hudson River to 8th avenue and 59th to 34th streets. A new more tame moniker was given to this area: Clinton (after former mayor DeWitt Clinton), and is now interchangeable with Hell's Kitchen, which is still commonly used as it reminds visitors and residents of its past life of vice.
The primary reason Hell's Kitchen has been considered a much tamer neighborhood in the past decades is the gentrification that it has undergone. Starting in the 1980s, higher rent prices have shoved out minorities to make way for wealthier families. This has changed the face of the neighborhood, including its historically low-rise architecture and its characteristic light industry. Areas of the neighborhood struggle to maintain some of its historical values associated with residents of the past.
Hell's Kitchen - The Name
There are many stories behind Hell's Kitchen's striking name, none of which are confirmed. Popular lore tells a story about a veteran cop, and his rookie partner. They were watching a riot take place by 39th street and 10th avenue, when the rookie said, "This place is Hell itself." The veteran policeman responded: "Hell's a mild climate. This is Hell's Kitchen." The exchange most likely never took place, but it is the most popular explanation.
Many claim that the name "Hell's Kitchen" first applied to a particularly infamous tenement building, though sources disagree on which: some say it referred to a building on 39th, between 9th and 10th, while others claim it referred to the tenement on 54th. In both cases, it is said that the name spread to the surrounding neighborhood after originally applying to a single building within it.
Whatever the explanation, for many years the name applied to the neighborhood. Anything west of 8th avenue was once considered too dangerous to venture into. Today, however, the neighborhood is much tamer and the name is somewhat ironic. For that reason, realtors have applied the names Clinton and Midtown West to the neighborhood, to dissociate it from its infamous past. Most residents, however, still refer to their hometown as Hell's Kitchen.
Famous Residents of Hell's Kitchen
The Architecture of Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen Landmarks