New York City Archives - Page 12 of 19

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, New York City

November 3, 2016May 30, 2014 by Derek Strahan

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, between 1909 and 1915. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same building in 2014:

Completed in 1909, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower was the tallest building in the world until the completion of the Woolworth Building in 1913. It was the company’s headquarters until 2005, and the tower portion is now being converted into a hotel. At the base of the tower in the first photo, to the right, is the original office building, which built in 1893 and replaced by the current one in the 1950s.

Madison Square Garden, New York City

November 3, 2016May 30, 2014 by Derek Strahan

The second Madison Square Garden, between 1900 and 1910. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The view from the same angle in 2014:

Once upon a time, Madison Square Garden was actually located at Madison Square. The building in the first photo was actually the second Madison Square Garden – the first was built in 1879 as an open-air arena, and was replaced in 1890 by the one in the photo. This one lasted until 1925, and was used for a variety of concerts, circuses, sporting events, and even the 1924 Democratic National Convention. The Democrats lost the presidential election that year to Calvin Coolidge, and the building didn’t fare much better – it closed in 1925 and was demolished. Its replacement, the New York Life Building, which was completed in 1928 and still stands today. As far as I can tell, nothing in the first photo still exists today, except for Madison Square itself.

Flatiron Building, New York City

November 3, 2016May 30, 2014 by Derek Strahan

The view of the Flatiron Building around 1902. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same scene in 2014:

Another view of the Flatiron Building, looking south with Broadway on the left and Fifth Avenue on the right. Besides the Flatiron Building, a few other ones still exist from the 1902 photo, including the building with the gold dome to the right, and the short, yellow brick building just beyond the Flatiron Building along Broadway. Notice the horse-drawn cabs along the side of Broadway – this photo was taken from almost the same location as this one, except in the road instead of along the sidewalk.

Flatiron Building from Madison Square Park, New York City

November 3, 2016May 6, 2014 by Derek Strahan

View of the Flatiron Building around 1903. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same view in 2014:

Built in 1902 on a triangular plot of land between Broadway and Fifth Avenue at Madison Square, the Flatiron Building remains one of New York’s most distinctive skyscraper. At the time of its completion, it was one of the first skyscrapers outside of the downtown area, and the first north of 14th Street, which set the stage for subsequent skyscrapers that now dominate the midtown skyline.

Cab Stand, Madison Square Park, New York City

November 3, 2016May 6, 2014 by Derek Strahan

Looking south on Fifth Avenue, with Madison Square Park on the left and waiting cabs on the right, around 1900. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same scene in 2014:

I was hoping to be able to get some cabs in the present-day photo, but this section of Broadway at Madison Square is closed to vehicular traffic. Still, there are a couple cabs visible in the difference, which contrast with the line of horse-drawn cabs of over a century ago. Otherwise, though, the scene doesn’t seem all that different; Madison Square is still a busy intersection, although internal combustion engines have replaced draft animals, and fashion styles have changed a bit. Some of the buildings are still there, including the red-brick building just beyond the building on the far-right of the 2014 photo, although the Flatiron Building (barely visible, obscured by trees in the 2014 photo) didn’t exist yet, if the 1900 date for the first one is accurate. It doesn’t appear to be visible in the photo, but the trees could hide some of the construction work.

Cafe Martin, New York City

November 3, 2016May 6, 2014 by Derek Strahan

Cafe Martin, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 26th Street, New York City, around 1908. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The scene in 2014:

The building in the first photo was the site of the famed Delmonico’s restaurant from 1876 until 1899. Located directly across Madison Square from Madison Square Garden, it was one of several locations owned by the Delmonico family, and was considered one of the best fine dining restaurants in the country. This building was sold in 1901, and became the Hotel Martin. I don’t know what became of this business, but the building obviously no longer exists; based on the architecture of the current building, this was probably sometime by the 1920s. However, most of the surrounding buildings in the 1908 photo still exist, including the building immediately to the left, which looks looks out of place in the first photo, but blends in well in the present-day photo, now that it is no longer three stories taller than its neighbors.