By Rob Garber for the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Welcome to another installment in the Rag’s Historical Photo Challenge. The image above was taken somewhere on the Upper West Side, sometime in the past. Can you figure out where, when, and what it shows? Look closely; this week’s challenge photo, like the others in the series, includes clues that will help you identify the scene, if you’re a dedicated UWS history sleuth. And even if you don’t recognize the picture—not to worry! Come back in two weeks and I’ll decode it, show you the clues that help identify it, and—best of all—tell you a story 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? If you think you know where and when the photo was taken and what it shows, post your answer as a comment on this column.
Solution to Historical Photo Challenge #19
Subject: George Tomlinson’s dirigible at Hudson-Fulton Centennial Celebration
Location: Union Theological Seminary, Claremont Avenue near 120th Street
Date: September 30th, 1909
Image Source: Boston Globe
Clues: Did you identify the building as Riverside Church? Reasonable, but construction didn’t begin on Riverside until 1926, and I don’t think you’d have seen a dirigible this primitive in the late 1920s. If you walk up to Morningside Heights to see where dirigibles were being set aloft in 1909, the tower you’re looking for isn’t the big one—that’s the 392-foot carillon tower of Riverside. Nor is it the next-tallest on the block: That’s the Brown Memorial Tower of Union Theological Seminary, on the northwest corner of Broadway and 120th Street. The tower in the 1909 dirigible photo is James Tower, mid-block and facing Claremont, not Broadway. Note how the windows of James Tower match those in the dirigible photo, unlike those of Brown Tower.
The rest of the story: Why was there a dirigible in the air over Morningside Heights in 1909? It was part of what was arguably Manhattan’s biggest party ever, the Hudson-Fulton Centennial Celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton inventing (well, improving) the steamboat, and the 300ish anniversary of Hendrik Hudson “discovering” New York Harbor. The city and several river towns up the Hudson celebrated with a blow-out event that ran for two weeks in September-October 1909. Airplanes were very much still newfangled contraptions—most New Yorkers had never seen a plane in 1909, and The World newspaper offered prizes for both powered and dirigible feats. Orville Wright’s daring 35-minute flight from Governor’s Island to Grant’s Tomb and back was a sensation watched by thousands. The race by two dirigibles to Albany—not so much. Launched from an “aerodrome” on Claremont Avenue—basically some tents where the dirigibles were inflated–neither machine made it past White Plains. The headlines said it all.
Shoutout to Readers: Chiara Di Lello came the closest: she recognized that the building was part of Union Theological, not Riverside Church.
…and that’s the story behind the mystery image. Now scroll back to the top of the column and take on your next challenge, Sherlockians! If you’ve missed any pictures in this series, here is the complete collection.
About the author: Rob Garber has lived on the Upper West Side since the late 20th century and is a member of the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group. To learn more, visit their website at upperwestsidehistory.org. All photos in Upper West Side Historical Photo Challenge are used by permission.
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Emaciated horse, Claremont Stables, 175 West 89th Street?
I took lessons there in 1953.
Yes that poor horse. I don’t like this one.
No idea where this was taken, but I’m 90% sure that’s Chico Marx pulling the reluctant horse.
Me too! I did a youtube search on that.. No luck
Day at the Races?
Yes! Chico Marx
You can make out an address: 617. If on Amsterdam (between 89th and 90th), it meshes with the stables around the corner on 89th next to Ballet Hispanico.
Makes sense
Guess: Sharkeys Athletic Club where boxing was still legal-until it wasn’t around 1920’s in NY and maybe the first idea for the infamous “Saloon” at 67th and Columbus. My grandmother’s first husband was a boxer and died in the ring-in Brooklyn. I like someone else’s comment that it was Chico Marx. Because it looks like him! Poor horse.
I may have a hunch. The building is addressed 67 rather than 617. It is 67 West 66th Street, which was right next to the horse stables/riding ring on the north side of 66th Street. The big column-free stables/riding ring, was perfect for conversion into a TV studio, which is exactly what ABC did at the dawn of television. Good Morning Americas was produced there for years. The original building was torn down and the ABC headquarters tower was built in its place. So the comment about Sharkeys’s being near Columbus in the mid-60s seems correct. As we all know, this block is going through major change now that ABC has moved downtown.
I wonder whether or not this starved, abused-looking horse was rescued, rather than mocked in a movie. Clearly it’s resisting what appears to be Chico Marx yanking the bit.
THE HORSE LOOKED SCRAWNY, I was concerned. Not an issue today – too long gone No horse carriages allowed on the 59th st bridge ( though they tore that sign down, last renovation, a sign that perplexed me as a teen – how could a horse beat the traffic, our VW was struggling, to flushing, QNS nyc
All I can say is, that poor horse looks starved. What an upsetting photo. I don’t think it’s Claremont Stables — I rode there for years and they took good care of their horses.
I wish I hadn’t seen this photo. 😭
The doorway nearby – can’t quite make it out — Stanley Athletic Club? Can’t find that anywhere. But it doesn’t look like Clairmont Stables. The entrance, as I knew it a million years ago, was on W 87th Street. Mostly residential. There were also the police stables in various places in the City.
This does not look like a horse from a Marx Brothers movie. Movie horses look healthy and well fed. The horse is not attached to any conveyance nor is it wearing a saddle, so what is it doing on a city street? My guess is that somehow it got loose and the individual in the picture is trying to control it. So what does Chico Marx have to do with this? My guess is that it is not Chico Marx.