A View from 1911

Sad to see local photo store Ben Ness go. It was a good place to get passport phots done and was staffed with a nice bunch of guys. It will be interesting to see if the space goes to a local business or to a chain. Pinkberry perhaps?

From The Villagher:

Union Square Park has new and improved free Wi-Fi. The service can accommodate up to 250 people simultaneously using wireless devices, from laptop computers to iPhones and other P.D.A.’s. Two Altai A8 antennas are situated on rooftops at the park’s north and south ends, providing coverage to users in the park, as well as the surrounding area There’s also a local community portal Web page with event listings and recommendations on places to dine and shop.

This view shows the east side of 5th Ave. at 13th St. in 1911. In other words, it’s where the New School now has its main entrance. Down the block on 13th St. you can see the tallish building that is now apartments. Ah, the good old days. Note that even in 1911, those elegant brownstones had seen better days. Since then, three large buildings have stood on this block, so that’s one reinvention about every 35 years.

Credit: New York Public Library Digital Collection.

Another roundup of the latest activity in the Union Square.

restaurant scene.

This is Union Square West in the ’40s. The reason all these buildings are so narrow is that the lots originally held townhouses.

Here are the details.