Hey all, welcome back to another edition of Where & When. I have a pretty easy one for you this time, one with a view you’ve possibly seen before. Imagining the scale of this edifice is to imagine a vast repository of natural effects; or at least the end game for the run-off…
This reminds me of one of my favorite towns that I lived in when I was growing up. I’m making a gallery of pictures I took on a trip up there this summer, in fact; anyone whose interested should just click on my screen name for updates. In the meantime, why don’t you dive into this challenge and seek out the name of this structure, the year it was built and when it was taken down (for whatever stands in it’s place today). Knowing that much will give you a good idea of the actual size of this structure. Bonus if you know of a similar structure that currently resides within city limits and can provide a link to a picture.
A truckload of Old Colony for the first person with the right answers and a Spring Grove for the rest of us who follow. Leave your answers and recollections in the comments and we’ll talk again in the afternoon. Happy Trails!
[Photo credit: syscosteve]
The Croton Reservoir.
It was built in 1843. It was demolished in 1901. Your picture is from 1898, I think.
Fifth Ave. at 42nd St., now occupied by the NYPL (and Bryant Park, I guess).
More later.
Wow...that was fast. It's not a similar structure, per se, but the old Central Park Reservoir aka the Jackie Kennedy Reservoir, is still around. Of course. De-commissioned, but still around. It's a much, much different type of reservoir, though. So it's probably not what Chyll was looking for. Investigating...
Reservoir greetings to all from this Croton native. The reservoir structure in the photo plays a dramatic role in Caleb Carr's "The Alienist," and parts of the original masonry are still to be seen in the bowels of the library.
Looks like the old Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx is still around. Drained and decommissioned. But the pictures I've seen of the structure aren't as impressive as the old Croton Reservoir.
Day-um. that was quick [1]. New employee/coworker today, so not much time to look for this.
http://forgotten-ny.com/2002/01/theres-no-stoppin-the-croton-from-hoppin-remnants-of-the-croton-aqueduct-old-and-new/
Picture says to be around 1900, but as it was torn down in 1899, I'm guessing the photo was from the 1890s.
you guys amaze me with your knowledge of all this history. i don't ever post on this series, 'coz i haven't a clue about any of it.
but i was at Bryant Park and Grand Central Station this weekend and mentioned these pictures and posts to my brother. very cool.
OK, you guys can go back to being smart now. sorry to have polluted your post!
[6] You should definitely be playing this game, especially with your personal NY history. It's mainly about research and intuition, though personal knowledge and experience is definitely an advantage; I discover a lot about NY's past just researching new challenges, and in turn I've become more curious about a lot of other things NY had and has to offer. Did you go to the new Shake Shack at Grand Central? Now that's better than standing on line for two hours at Madison Square Park.
[1],[2],[5] I know, right? Quick Draw McRI! Old Colony must have been good stuff in its day, and/or this was 3rd grade history compared to other challenges.
The view is nearly the same as the view of the NY Public Library view of the early 1900's posted not long ago. I have a tendency to visualize the 1800's in sepia, B/W or poster colors, while anything before that is like a painting. It does occur to me that the sky and atmosphere then would be little different than today (sans industrial pollutants), but my thoughts want to romanticize those scenes in various ways. It's jarring looking at colorized versions of old photos. I think that's why reenactments never quite seem to acquire a sense of realism in my mind.
[7] no time to research! my brother really wanted to go to the shake shack, but the line was long, the kids were hungry, and we didn't have a ton of time...
[9] Aw man, that's terrible. You'll have to sneak back up here some time and get on line; you won't regret the plane ticket :D