West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

Search the site

No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

AVAILABLE NOW!


HERE

YE OLDE COBBLESTONES UNCOVERED DURING UWS REPAVING

July 14, 2015 | 10:55 PM
in HISTORY, NEWS
17

cobblestones

The repaving of Amsterdam Avenue from 67th to 73rd street has wreaked havoc on double-decker buses, but it’s also uncovered something more quaint — actual cobblestones on 73rd and Amsterdam. The photo above was taken by Robert Tuchman.

Yes, cobblestones can be a pain to maintain, and to bike on. But they do have charm, don’t they? It’s nice to know they’re still down there.

Share this article:
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

17 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lucien Desar
Lucien Desar
7 years ago

I saw some cobblestone on Broadway the other day as well (before it was repaved). I also spotted what looked like remains of rail for cable cars. Were there cable cars on Broadway?

0
Reply
Richard Brennan
Richard Brennan
7 years ago
Reply to  Lucien Desar

Broadway had trolley cars until around 1950. The catenary connection was in a slot in the road bed, unlike trolley cars in Brooklyn which had overhead wires.

0
Reply
manhattan mark
manhattan mark
7 years ago
Reply to  Lucien Desar

There were Trolly Cars on Broadway which turned around
at Columbus Circle. They could be run from either end of
the car. they ran on tracks which are next to the median of
Broadway both north and south, which were just paved over
when the city switched to busses. As a child I never had more fun than riding on the Trolly.

0
Reply
D.R.
D.R.
7 years ago
Reply to  manhattan mark

As a child, I remember being fascinated by the open trolleys in Montreal, and very particularly, the straw seats.

Those seats had not entirely disappeared from subway cars when I started my first job in NYC.

0
Reply
Lucien Desar
Lucien Desar
7 years ago
Reply to  Lucien Desar

Answered my own question – yes. http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2010/07/cable-cars-trolleys-and-monorails.html

0
Reply
D.R.
D.R.
7 years ago
Reply to  Lucien Desar

Fascinating to watch the trolley move through the streets of Brooklyn.
Thank you for this link!

0
Reply
Kenneth
Kenneth
7 years ago

When they completely ripped up and replaced Columbus Ave in the late 1990’s there were trolley tracks and “cobblestones” there too, which were removed. These stones are actually called “Belgian block” – cobblestones are something different – but everybody still calls them cobblestones anyway!

0
Reply
AC
AC
7 years ago

Back in the early 90’s, when they were installing new water mains along Columbus Avenue, they had no choice but to tear up the Avenue and remove steel foundation supports, which were used to support the elevated subway line that ran along Columbus & 9th avenue. They were abandoned upon the demolition of the El (circa 1940).

0
Reply
Ruth sharp
Ruth sharp
7 years ago

Monk use to hang out in front of the health food store on 98 and Broadway he moved to the 79th street area several years ago. He is a pathetic, mentally ill gentleman who needs real care not ridicule or abuse. His condition has clearly grown worse recently. It is a terrible commentary on our system that we allow such a needy person to be left on his own.

0
Reply
Noreaster
Noreaster
7 years ago

Ever notice how slowly cars drive on the cobblestone (Belgian block, whatever) streets in SoHo? Have you also ever noticed how fast cars drive on smoothly paved streets and highways? Want cars to drive more slowly and safely on city streets? Bring back cobblestones.

0
Reply
AC
AC
7 years ago
Reply to  Noreaster

While some might be believe your comment to be ridiculous. You bring up a valid and good point. Most central American countries use such means for speed control. Very inexpensive and very effective!

0
Reply
karen
karen
7 years ago

Oh this is so lovely. I wish we could preserve the cobblestones in full view hazardous though they may be.
Thanks for the photo

0
Reply
jsf
jsf
7 years ago

How about: Those cobblestones were in use for over 120+ years – no re-paving, no pot holes, no traffic jams due to digging for repaving.
The positive side: low speed travel because the danger of skidding on slippery, wet, or icy streets. And the trolley cars managed very nicely to carry passengers when the city contained 8 million people – not the measly 7.5 million folk we now have.
Have we really progressed? What do YOU think?

0
Reply
2 handicap
2 handicap
7 years ago
Reply to  jsf

Great idea but from a practical standpoint, those streets probably wouldn’t be plowed after a snow storm. The the WSR commentariat would complain their streets weren’t plowed and blame the rich people.

0
Reply
JFM
JFM
7 years ago

They’re pretty rough on the ankles too.

0
Reply
S. Louie
S. Louie
7 years ago

Now if Cobblestone has that kind of longevity??? …you know what I’m thinking….

Didn’t they pave Amsterdam like 8 years ago?
Science hasn’t come up with a material that can last longer?

I still see the Easter Island statues, the pyramids and the colleseum is still standing….and they’ve been weathered for 2000 years…

Gee I wonder what those are made of???

0
Reply
Michael McNamara
Michael McNamara
7 years ago

They had to rip it up because they’ve thrown so many quickie layers of asphalt over Amsterdam Avenue in the last ten year that the street is almost up to the curb level in some areas. Keep going like that and soon it would be higher than the sidewalk.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Take the Central Park Drives Survey
NEWS

Take the Central Park Drives Survey

March 21, 2023 | 11:46 AM
Stormy Daniels Gets More Yuks Than Yucks at Local Comedy Club
ABSURDITY

From Our Archives: WSR’s Coverage of Stormy Daniels’ 2019 UWS Standup Debut

March 20, 2023 | 12:59 PM
Previous Post

MULTIPLE BUSES BLOW TIRES ON AMSTERDAM AVENUE DURING REPAVING: WITNESS

Next Post

TWO UWS BANKS ROBBED, BOTH IN SLIGHTLY BIZARRE FASHION

this week's events image

Explore Your Favorite Subject

20th precinct 24th precinct american museum of natural history animals art bicycling bulletin central park closings columns community board 7 coronavirus crash crime development dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants retail riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

Brick Underground
City Limits
Eater
Gothamist
NY Daily News
NY Post
NY Times

LOCAL RESOURCES

Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Central Park Conservancy
CB7
Community Education Council 3
Assembly District 67
The New York Historical Society
Riverside Park
West End Preservation

UWS Blogs

Bloomingdale History Central Park Blogger
North River Notes

Next Post
TWO UWS BANKS ROBBED, BOTH IN SLIGHTLY BIZARRE FASHION

TWO UWS BANKS ROBBED, BOTH IN SLIGHTLY BIZARRE FASHION

MORE FREE SHAKESPEARE, IN A LOVELY UWS GARDEN

MORE FREE SHAKESPEARE, IN A LOVELY UWS GARDEN

MAN SHOT IN THE HEAD AT CITY DINER

MAN SHOT IN THE HEAD AT CITY DINER

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.