The Routes Not Taken Read online

  16. Ibid.

  17. Brooklyn Eagle, June 1, 1940.

  18. Merrick Boulevard has always been the main trunk route for the surface transit system in southeastern Queens. This was the only time it had been considered part of the route for a subway line by a public transit agency.

  19. New York City Transit Authority, Preliminary Proposal for Rapid Transit: Borough of Queens, February 1963.

  20. A Hagstrom’s subway map from 1939–40 shows the proposed line being built out to Cross Bay Boulevard, with stations in Queens at 75th and 85th Streets and Cross Bay Boulevard.

  21. The Eagle ceased publication in 1955 (ironically, since that was the year of Brooklyn’s greatest moment, as any baseball fan will tell you); the Star-Journal ceased publication in 1968; the Press ceased publication in 1977. Their demise (along with the end of other papers such as the Bronx Home News) left a void in news coverage in New York City that has never been filled.

  22. The underground portion of this connection still exists.

  23. Brooklyn Eagle, September 19, 1945.

  7. TO THE CITY LIMITS AND BEYOND

  1. Metro-North is the latter-day incarnation of the New York Central and New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroads, and parts of the Erie Lackawanna Railway.

  2. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 4, 1910.

  3. Father of the novelist.

  4. William Gibbs McAdoo, Crowded Years: The Reminiscences of William G. McAdoo (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1931), 71.

  5. The Public Be Pleased: William G. McAdoo and the Hudson Tubes, Electric Railroad Association Newsletter, June 1964.

  6. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 26, 1908.

  7. New York Times, November 19, 1910.

  8. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 19, 1910.

  9. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 25, 1910.

  10. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 26, 1910.

  11. Ibid.

  12. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 13, 1910.

  13. New York Times, December 4, 1910.

  14. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 15, 1910.

  15. The Subway Problem: An Address Delivered at the Sixth Annual Dinner under the Auspices of the Board of Trustees of Plymouth Church Brooklyn … January 19, 1911, 22.

  16. New York Times, February 29, 1920.

  17. While in the cabinet, he would also marry one of President Wilson’s daughters.

  18. McAdoo and New York Governor Alfred E. Smith were the two presidential candidates who battled for ballot after ballot at the 1924 Democratic National Convention before a third candidate, James W. Davis, won the nomination on the 103rd ballot. In 1932, McAdoo gained a measure of revenge on Smith when he provided the votes Franklin Delano Roosevelt needed to break a deadlock and win the nomination.

  19. Rapid Transit Parkway Line for Queens Borough, New York State Transit Commission, 1923, p. 8.

  20. See Chapter 4.

  21. New York Times, September 30, 1923.

  22. Rapid Transit Parkway Line for Queens Borough, 14.

  23. Electric Railway Journal 56, no. 22 (November 27, 1920). Reprinted by the New York City Subway Resources website, http://www.nycsubway.org/.

  24. New York Times, November 18, 1920.

  25. New York Times, May 25, 1922.

  26. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 27, 1924.

  27. Ibid.

  28. Second Ad Interim Report of the Westchester County Transit Commission to the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, December 1925, p. 16.

  29. New York Evening Post, July 11, 1925.

  30. North Jersey Transit Commission, North Jersey Transit Problem, January 15, 1926, pp. 22–23.

  31. Ibid., 29.

  32. New York Times, June 5, 1924.

  33. New York Times, January 10, 1927.

  34. New York Times, January 13, 1927.

  35. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 7, 1926.

  36. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 17, 1925.

  37. New York Times, December 16, 1925.

  38. New York Times, February 5, 1926.

  39. New York Times, April 27, 1926.

  40. New York Times, May 3, 1926.

  41. New York Times, January 27, 1927.

  42. New York Times, June 11, 1928.

  43. New York Times, January 25, 1928.

  44. See Chapter 5.

  45. Jersey Journal, February 1, 1928.

  46. Jersey Journal, February 6, 1928.

  47. Port of New York Authority, Tentative Report of Bridge Engineer of Hudson River Bridge at New York Between Fort Washington and Fort Lee, February 25, 1926, pp. 13, 15.

  48. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 29, 1929.

  49. New York Times, May 7, 1928.

  50. New York Times, April 5, 1930.

  51. New York Times, May 16, 1930.

  52. New York Times, March 7, 1937.

  53. New York Times, March 10, 1931.

  54. New York Times, March 5, 1932.

  55. New York Times, March 1, 1937.

  56. New York Times, June 17, 1938.

  57. New York Times, May 23, 1957.

  58. New York Times, January 28, 1961.

  8. THE BATTLE OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX, PART 2

  1. Bronx Home News, January 13, 1938.

  2. Bronx Home News, February 6, 1938.

  3. New York Times, February 7, 1938.

  4. Ibid.

  5. New York Times, February 20, 1938.

  6. Bronx Home News, February 12, 1938.

  7. New York Times, February 12, 1938.

  8. New York Times, February 20, 1938.

  9. Bronx Home News, March 1, 1938.

  10. Ibid.

  11. New York Times, April 16, 1938.

  12. Ibid.

  13. Letter from New York State Senator Pliny W. Williamson to Governor Herbert H. Lehman, July 9, 1938. From The Public Papers of Governor Herbert H. Lehman (Albany, N.Y.: Williams Press, 1942).

  14. Letter from Governor Herbert H. Lehman to New York State Senator Pliny H. Williamson, July 19, 1938. From ibid.

  15. Letter from Robert Moses to Judge Edwin L. Garvin, June 12, 1938. From the Robert Moses Archive at the New York Public Library, Box 97.

  16. Bronx Home News, July 2, 1938.

  17. Bronx Home News, July 12, 1938.

  18. Ibid.

  19. Letter from Robert Moses to Fiorello La Guardia, July 22, 1938. From the Robert Moses Archive at the New York Public Library, Box 97.

  20. New York Herald Tribune, December 2, 1938.

  21. Bronx Home News, April 1, 1938.

  22. Bronx Home News, November 2, 1938.

  23. Bronx Home News, November 3, 1938.

  24. Bronx Home News, November 15, 1938.

  25. Ibid.

  26. Bronx Home News, November 17, 1938.

  27. Ibid.

  28. New York Herald Tribune, November 17, 1938.

  29. Ibid.

  30. Bronx Home News, November 17, 1938.

  31. New York Herald Tribune, November 17, 1938.

  32. Ibid.

  33. Ibid.

  34. Bronx Home News, November 17, 1938.

  35. Ibid.

  36. Ibid.

  37. Bronx Home News, November 17, 1938.

  38. Brooklyn Eagle, November 16, 1938.

  39. Bronx Home News, November 17, 1938.

  40. Which became the City Council in 1937.

  41. Bronx Home News, November 23, 1938.

  42. Ibid.

  43. Ibid.

  44. Bronx Home News, November 30, 1938.

  45. Ibid.

  46. New York Times, December 1, 1938.

  47. New York Herald Tribune, December 1, 1938.

  48. Bronx Home News, December 1, 1938.

  49. Ibid.

  50. New York Times, December 3, 1938.

  51. New York Times, December 1, 1938.

  52. Letter from Robert Moses to Fiorello La Guardia, December 21, 1938. From the Robert Moses Archives in the New York Public Library, Box 97.

  53. Bronx Home News, J
anuary 1, 1939.

  54. Bronx Home News, January 12, 1939.

  55. Bronx Home News, January 14, 1939.

  56. Ibid.

  57. Ibid.

  58. Ibid.

  59. Bronx Home News, February 13, 1939.

  60. Bronx Home News, February 16, 1939.

  61. Bronx Home News, February 18, 1939.

  62. Bronx Home News, February 23, 1939.

  63. Bronx Home News, February 28, 1939.

  64. See Chapter 4.

  65. From the Ritchie Committee report, as published in the Bronx Home News, March 31, 1939.

  66. New York Times, March 31, 1939.

  67. Ibid.

  68. Letter from Robert Moses to Herbert H. Lehman, March 28, 1939. From the New York City Municipal Archives.

  69. Bronx Home News, April 7, 1939.

  70. Ibid.

  71. New York Times, June 19, 1939.

  72. Bronx Home News, June 27, 1939.

  73. Bronx Home News, June 28, 1939.

  74. Ibid.

  75. Ibid.

  76. Letter from George F. Mand to Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, June 28, 1939. From the New York City Municipal Archives.

  77. Bronx Home News, August 23, 1939.

  78. Ibid.

  79. Letter from Robert Moses to John Delaney, August 30, 1939. From the Robert Moses Archive at the New York Public Library, Box 97.

  80. Letter from John H. Delaney to Robert Moses, September 1, 1939. From ibid.

  81. Ibid.

  82. Ibid.

  83. Telegram from the Burke Avenue Property Owners and Business Men’s Association to New York City Council President A. Newbold Morris, September 13, 1939. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  84. Bronx Home News, September 15, 1939.

  85. Letter from Council Member Joseph E. Kinsley to Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, September 21, 1939. From the New York City Municipal Archives.

  86. Bronx Home News, October 10, 1939.

  87. Ibid.

  88. Telegram from the Burke Avenue Property Owners and Business Men’s Association to New York City Council President A. Newbold Morris, October 26, 1939. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  89. Telegram from the Emile J. Cavanaugh to A. Newbold Morris, October 26, 1939. From ibid.

  90. Telegram from the Herman W. Johnston A. Newbold Morris, October 26, 1939. From ibid.

  91. Letter from Paul Trapani to A. Newbold Morris, October 28, 1939. From ibid.

  92. Letter from A. Newbold Morris to Paul Trapani, October 30, 1939. From ibid.

  93. Bronx Home News, October 26, 1939.

  94. Bronx Home News, October 31, 1939.

  95. Ibid.

  96. Bronx Home News, November 2, 1937.

  97. Ibid.

  98. Mount Vernon Daily Argus, November 2, 1939.

  99. Ibid.

  100. Ibid.

  101. Letter from Paul Trapani to A. Newbold Morris, November 14, 1939. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  102. Bronx Home News, November 19, 1939.

  103. Telegram from Paul Trapani to A. Newbold Morris, November 24, 1939. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  104. Bronx Home News, November 23, 1939.

  105. Bronx Home News, November 26, 1939.

  106. Bronx Home News, December 1, 1939.

  107. Bronx Home News, December 12, 1939.

  108. New York Times, January 13, 1940.

  109. Letter from Herman W. Johnston to A. Newbold Morris, January 17, 1940. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  110. Report on Route No. 124 to the Board of Estimate by the New York City Board of Transportation, February 6, 1940. From the New York City Transit Archives.

  111. Bronx Home News, February 1, 1940.

  112. Ibid.

  113. Letter from Paul Trapani to Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, March 4, 1940. From the La Guardia and Wagner Archives at Fiorello H. La Guardia Community College.

  114. Bronx Home News, March 8, 1940.

  115. Ibid.

  116. New York Times, March 23, 1940.

  117. Bronx Home News, November 15, 1940.

  118. Bronx Home News, February 4, 1941.

  119. Mount Vernon Daily Argus, April 25, 1939.

  120. Mount Vernon Daily Argus, May 16, 1941.

  121. Ibid.

  122. North Side News, May 16, 1941.

  123. Letter from John H. Delaney to Rexford Guy Tugwell, June 17, 1941. From the New York City Municipal Archives.

  124. Bronx Home News, November 1, 1941.

  125. In 2011 dollars, $10.3 billion, according MeasuringWorth.com. See Chapter 10.

  126. Bronx Home News, May 14, 1942.

  127. Bronx Home News, September 3, 1942.

  128. Bronx Home News, September 8, 1943.

  129. Bronx Home News, December 4, 1944.

  130. North Side News, November 20, 1943.

  131. Bronx Home News, January 1, 1944.

  9. BUILDING THE LINE THAT ALMOST NEVER WAS

  1. Now St. James Place.

  2. New York Times, December 20, 1904.

  3. Brian J. Cudahy, Under the Sidewalks of New York (1979; Lexington, Mass.: Stephen Greene Press, 1988).

  4. Report of the Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners, 1904, p. 24.

  5. Ibid.

  6. The space left for track ramps are still visible on either side of the Nevins Street station, as is a third platform built under the existing outbound platform at that station. In effect, Nevins Street would have played the same role as a transfer station that DeKalb Avenue would for the BMT.

  7. See Chapter 3.

  8. New York Times, July 16, 1910. The extension of the H&M from 33rd Street and 6th Avenue to the Grand Central Terminal was never built.

  9. The original IRT line consisted of the Lexington Avenue line south of 42nd Street, what is now the 42nd Street Shuttle, and the Broadway–7th Avenue line north of 42nd Street. By adding the northern extension of the Lexington Avenue line and the 7th Avenue line’s southern extension, the PSC created a system in Manhattan that looked like an “H,” and newspapers referred to it as such.

  10. Office of the Transit Construction Commission, A Report of the Chief Engineer Submitting for Consideration: A Comprehensive Rapid Transit Plan Covering All Boroughs of the City of New York, July 29, 1920.

  11. They would be put to use, but not for seven decades. Right now, they are used to allow for a connection with the 63rd Street line when needed; 2nd Avenue line trains will use them on a full-time basis when that line is put into service.

  12. See Chapter 7.

  13. New York Times, August 6, 1923.

  14. The Bloomingdale family had a history of supporting transit construction. His father, Lyman, had led efforts to support the RTC plans for the East Side two decades earlier.

  15. New York Times, December 20, 1924.

  16. Ibid.

  17. New York Times, June 12, 1925.

  18. New York Times, January 17, 1927.

  19. New York Times, April 6, 1929.

  20. New York Times, August 30 and 31, 1929.

  21. New York Times, October 6, 1929.

  22. New York Times, January 12, 1930.

  23. New York Times, April 5, 1931.

  24. New York Times, May 7, 1931.

  25. First Avenue Association Bulletin, no. 58, October 1932.

  26. Stopping at the Court Street station, then part of a shuttle line running between there and Hoyt–Schermerhorn. The station closed in 1946 and later became the home of the New York Transit Museum.

  27. Bronx Home News, September 28, 1930.

  28. Most of it, anyway. Almost sixty years later, when the New York City Department of Transportation rebuilt 6th Avenue’s roadway, they found that the footings of the 6th Avenue Elevated were s
till there. The structural columns had been removed in a way not dissimilar to cutting down a tree.

  29. Bronx Home News, October 27, 1939.

  30. Bronx Home News, October 28, 1939.

  31. New York Times, February 23, 1940.

  32. New York Times, May 29, 1942.

  33. Ibid.

  34. Brooklyn Eagle, June 6, 1940.

  35. New York Times, June 7, 1940.

  36. New York Herald Tribune, June 7, 1940.

  37. Long Island Daily Press, May 29, 1942.

  38. Air and Space Magazine, November 1, 2001. According to this article, when a Hellcat would land on an aircraft carrier, support crews would announce, “Here comes another piece of the Second Avenue El!”

  39. From The Third Rail Online, July 2, 2001, available at http://www.thethirdrail.net/.

  40. Bronx Home News, February 6, 1945.

  41. New York Times, January 6, 1944.

  42. See Appendix A.

  43. Two years later, O’Dwyer would appoint Bingham to serve as BOT chairman.

  44. A truncated version of this connection opened in 1968, connecting the lines running over the bridges with the 6th Avenue line.

  45. New York Herald Tribune, December 16, 1947.

  46. William A. Reid’s career in the New York City government began during John Purroy Mitchel’s administration and ended in that of Robert F. Wagner. He worked in the office of Comptroller William Prendergast in 1913 and served in a number of financial positions in the city government. He was the fiscal adviser to Fiorello H. La Guardia when he was appointed to the Board of Transportation. William O’Dwyer appointed Reid chairman of the BOT after Charles P. Gross resigned. He became deputy mayor of New York after Mayor O’Dwyer’s reelection in 1949. He subsequently was the chairman of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad and then served as the chairman of the New York City Housing Authority from 1958 through 1965. A Housing Authority development in Brooklyn is named after him.

  47. New York Times, December 29, 1948.

  48. New York Times, August 30, 1950.

  49. New York Times, August 18, 1952.

  50. The other stations closed for this reason during this period were City Hall, Worth Street, and 17th Street on the Lexington Avenue line and 91st Street on the Broadway–7th Avenue line.

  51. New York Times, April 24, 1952.

  52. In 2011 dollars, $12.2 million.

  53. New York Post, January 26, 1954.

  54. New York Post, June 3, 1954.

  55. Memorandum to the New York City Transit Authority: Demolition of Third Avenue Elevated Line South of 149th Street, report to the TA Board by Colonel Sidney H. Bingham, July 1954.