By Rob Garber for the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Welcome to the West Side Rag’s new biweekly history challenge! In each column, we’ll present an historical photo taken somewhere in our neighborhood, and ask readers to figure out where and when it was taken, and what it shows. We’ve selected each week’s photo to be challenging, but look closely; each image will include clues to help you identify the scene, if you’re a dedicated UWS history sleuth.
And even if you don’t recognize a picture—not to worry! Come back in two weeks and we’ll decode it, show you the clues that help identify it, and—best of all—tell you a story that the image unlocks, because this column isn’t just a test of your neighborhood knowledge; it’s also a rolling celebration of the people, buildings and events that wove the tapestry of the Upper West Side.
Ready? The first week’s photo is above. If you think you know where and when it was taken and what it shows, post your answer as a comment on this column, and check back in two weeks to see if you’re right.
Rob Garber has lived on the Upper West Side since the late 20th century and has an abiding interest in its history. He is a member of the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group.
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109th and Amsterdam, looking NE towards Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
That’s what I immediately thought too, but wasn’t there an elevated track that went right north of that empty lot? It not being there seems to indicate maybe the mid 1940s if I’m remembering correctly when it was removed
The El was on Columbus Avenue.
Yes, Lisa and the others are correct. But I don’t know enough about old cars to venture the date taken. But my own building’s photo with a similar standard (greyed out here) was dated, if I remember correction, 1943
The first Volkswagen Beetle (officially Type 1) arrived in the United States in January 1949. Specifically, a small batch was shipped to New York City. While only two were sold that first year, the Beetle’s arrival marked the beginning of Volkswagen’s presence in the American market.
So at least 1950, if that is indeed a Volkswagen Beetle
zoom in. it’s definitely not a VW.
other US made cars that look similar came out in the late 1930s. a 1939 Nash has a similar silhouette.
I agree with Lisa. 109th and Amsterdam ave. The building in the photo, behind the cop, with the asymmetrical shaped roof line is now ConEd 110 Street Substation.
Near the Cathedral of St. John the Divine?
Amsterdam 109-110th Street?
Stables just south of the Dakota. W. 72nd Street.
The other Emma. Location of the current 72nd Street subway station with Dakota in the background.
I’m going to guess 110 & Amsterdam with St John the Divine in the background.
Amsterdam and 110?
No idea when! 1935?
Morningside Drive near St J the D & the hospital?
Is that the hostel on 891 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025?
Is that St. John the Divine Cathedral in the background? The car is a 1930’s model.
I think it’s 110th and Amsterdam and taken around 1936?
110 and Amsterdam. St. John’s Cathedral in the background. The car looks like one we had in the 1950s so around then?
I’ll guess that’s Amsterdam Avenue and 109th Street, and that the large structure in the upper-right background is Woman’s Hospital. The automobile looks as if it could be around 1940.
It’s my backyard here on West End Avenue.
Whoops! It’s the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on the left anyway. I am quite sure.
I think it’s the intersection of Amsterdam and 110th Street, with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at the far left. I’d guess, by the cars, that it’s the 1930s or 1940s.
Great new feature!
111th and Amsterdam. St. John the Divine. And some old cop. 1950.
It West 110th Street closer to Amsterdam Ave. I believe that maybe St John’s the Divine to the left in the corner back ground..
110th and Amsterdam, 1938
110 street and Amsterdam. Across from Women’s Hospital, where I was born.
I agree with Lisa…. 109 and Amsterdam. You can see St John the Divine in the back.
I’m guessing it’s a carriage house. Taken…hummm…in the 1950’s?
St John the Divine and Cathedral School, Amsterdam Ave and 110-111
110th and Amsterdam around 1938 or so?
110th NE at Amsterdam? Looks like Synod House & St. John’s in the distance but Parkway is built on. ???
I believe that is 71 st st and Central Park west with the Dakota in the background on the right. Perhaps that structure is a stable for horses in the front Love the uniform on the police officer. This looks like around the 1940’s from the looks of the car in the picture.
I agree with the reader who id’d it as south of the Dakota. West 71st St and CPW, for sure!
Amsterdam just south of 110. St. John the Divine on left, early St Luke’s hospital on right. Volkswagen Beetle was not introduced until 1940s. Photo is sometime in the late 40s.
Women’s Hospital at W 109 & Amsterdam, later incorporated with St Luke’s Hospital. Its retaining wall survives and can be seen as you walk along Cathedral Parkway towards Columbus Ave . The VW bug suggests a date in the 1950s or early 60s.
That’s NOT a Volkswagon. It’s too long.
shouldn’t it be hillier ? pretty steep slope down from amsterdam and 110
I have no idea but this is a very cool new feature.
It’s definitely the Cathedral of St John in the background at about 109th st.
St. John the Divine is to the left; to the right (with its name blurred by WSR) is the National Academy Art School. The thin rectangle in the foreground (also blurred) is a marker for the set of NYC tax photos taken between 1939 and 1941.
Unblurred, the portable tax-photo placard reads “1864 -1 M,” that is, block 1864, lot 1, Manhattan.
i think it’s Pomander Walk on West 97th street. don’t know dates
I’ll add that I live nearby, and that my telephone exchange is ACademy-2.
I echo the others with Amsterdam and 110ish in the 1940’s
I believe this is a building on West 110th St., just south of St. John the Divine, which is in the background on the left.
110th and Amsterdam looking Northeast towards St John the Divine
Absolute Bagels.
107 and Broadway.
Looking NE from the SW corner of 109th and Amsterdam. Stables, with the 1912 Synod House and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine a block up on the east side of Amsterdam beyond it. This space was razed and currently the ConEdison West 110th Street Substation (1001) was built in its place. The blurred portable ID placard looks like the photo is probably from the photo census of all New York City streetscapes that the city commissioned in 1940.
St John’s Cathedral and the ministers house
I also think that this the 110 and Amsterdam. The cathedral is on the left side of the photo.
I believe the building in the background on the right is The Dakota, so my guess is that the building in the foreground sat at the Northwest corner of 71st and CPW. The building looks like horse stables (maybe for the residents of the Dakota?) and I totally guess the photo is from the 1930’s.
Is that the Natural History museum? So Columbus and 76th looking north. 1950s?
Amsterdam & 110th, looking at St Luke’s Hospital to the north and St John the Divine to the west… I think. The angle doesn’t look quite right, but that’s clearly the Cathedral.
The Dakota, 72nd street
110th St and Amsterdam Ave
Still existing police substation and stables located on the 79th transverse in Central Park
A block south of St. John the Divine, the year is 1939
Looks like St. John the Divine. The building in front is gone. I recall those traffic lights from the sixties, though this pic is much earlier.
Amsterdam Avenue and 110th Street with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine located at 113th Street in the background. I do not know the name of the building depicted.
this is so cool; thank you for doing it!
West 110th/Cathedral Parkway and Amsterdam
I agree with Rachel: Amsterdam Ave. and Cathedral Parkway; year: 1936
110 th street and Amsterdam Ave looking north toward St. John the Divine