Derek Strahan

Aside from running the Lost New England blog, Derek Strahan is the author of two books: Lost Springfield, Massachusetts and New England Then and Now, along with being the host of the Western Mass History podcast. Derek is a graduate of Westfield State University, with degrees in English and Regional Planning, and he currently works as a land use and environment planner in Western Massachusetts. Derek also serves on the board of directors of the Springfield Preservation Trust, and he lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife Melissa and their two sons.

Metropolitan Opera House, New York City

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The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, around 1905. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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The scene in 2014:

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Located diagonally across from the Casino Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera House was opened in 1883, along Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets.  It closed in 1966, and was replaced by the current office building.  Notice the New York Times Building a few blocks away – it’s still there, but is completely overshadowed by the buildings around it, as well as by its own billboards, which cover almost the entire facade.

Mott Street, New York City

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Mott Street in Chinatown, around 1905. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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The street in 2014:

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From this angle, not much has changed on Mott Street, looking north from Chatham Square.  Almost all of the buildings on the left (west) side are still there, including probably the oldest building in the photo, the Church of the Transfiguration, which was built in 1801 and has served as the building for a variety of different denominations for a variety of immigrant groups.  Today, it is a Roman Catholic church with a predominantly Chinese congregation.

Salvation Army at Herald Square, New York City

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A Salvation Army collections bucket at Herald Square, around 1903. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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The view in 2014:

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I don’t know if the Salvation Army still puts kettles in Herald Square during the Christmas season, but the sight of Salvation Army volunteers ringing a bell next to a kettle hung from a tripod stand is certainly recognizable to modern eyes.  The same can’t necessarily be said for Herald Square, though, which looks significantly different from 110 years ago.  Probably the most obvious change is the lack of the Sixth Avenue El, which was taken down in 1939 and replaced with the IRT Sixth Avenue subway line.

Herald Square, New York City

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Looking north along Broadway at Herald Square, around 1905. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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Herald Square in 2014:

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Although the New York Herald went out of existence in 1924, the square at Broadway and Sixth Avenue retains its name.  The newspaper’s headquarters was in the building on the right-hand side of the photo; it was built in 1895 and was demolished in 1921, 3 years before the newspaper was acquired by the New York Tribune to create the Herald-Tribune, which went out of business in 1966.  Another, much larger newspaper building is also visible in the first photo – the New York Times Building in the distance.  It is still there today, although overshadowed by the rest of the Midtown development.

Santa Claus at Herald Square, New York City

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Santa Claus at Herald Square, around 1903. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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The view in 2014:

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Apparently this was before Santa put on some weight. I suppose 110 years of milk and cookies will do that to a guy. In any case, both photos show the scene looking north along Broadway at Herald Square.  The Macy’s building is on the left in both photos, and the New York Herald building is partially visible on the far right. The Santa in the picture is collecting money for Ballington and Maude Booth’s Volunteers of America organization.  The sign indicates that they are looking to raise funds to give clothing and shoes to 5,000 poor for Christmas.

Casino Theatre, New York City (1)

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A group of people waiting outside the Casino Theatre for matinee tickets, between 1900 and 1910. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

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The same location in 2014:

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Located at the corner of Broadway and West 39th Street, the Casino Theatre was built in 1882 and demolished in 1930. It was home to a number of plays and musicals, but over time the Broadway theater district drifted northward, and the Garment District expanded into this area, leading to its 1930 closure. In this photo, a group of people wait outside for matinee tickets on a Saturday.