The Bowery Boys: New York City History

#293 Secret Places of Upper Manhattan

Jun 28, 2019
In this engaging discussion, historian Eric Washington reveals the rich history of Trinity Cemetery, a final resting place for notable New Yorkers, highlighting intriguing burials and its unique layout. Meredith Horsford takes us through the Dyckman Farmhouse, Manhattan's oldest farmhouse, sharing captivating stories of its Revolutionary roots and the Dyckman family's legacy. They explore the fascinating High Bridge aqueduct and its importance, along with the Little Red Lighthouse's iconic status, linking urban life with hidden historical treasures in Upper Manhattan.
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INSIGHT

High Bridge As Infrastructure And Monument

  • The High Bridge was built as a Roman-style aqueduct to carry Croton water across the Harlem River rather than move people.
  • Engineers chose a high arched structure to preserve river navigation and growing commerce on the waterways.
INSIGHT

From Aqueduct To Park Amenity

  • The High Bridge stopped carrying water in 1917 once a larger Croton system and underground pipes took over.
  • It later converted surrounding reservoirs into public amenities like a Robert Moses swimming pool and reopened to pedestrians in 2015.
INSIGHT

A Longstanding Christmas Procession

  • The Church of the Intercession leads an annual procession to Clement Clarke Moore's grave that predates the Rockefeller Center tree lighting.
  • The tradition combines a poem reading, procession across Broadway, wreath-laying, and reception.
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