Herald Square

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

The view in 2014:

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.

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

Herald Square in 2014:

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

The view in 2014:

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.