Artifact: FRENCH MANAGEMENT Letter

Welcome back to the ongoing saga of Elizabeth McLoud and Apartment 1430 in No. 5. Since she was only taking the flat for seven months, there were a few basic items she needed. 

First, there is a letter from the management stating that some furnishings have been added to her apartment, with an addendum attached. 

The three items attached ‒ a coffee table and two lamps ‒ are charged at $1.50 per month. This is for an additional rental; apparently a similar charge was made earlier.

And thus Miss McLoud's story ends, living the rest of her life offstage.

Artifact: APARTMENT LEASE, 1942

Herewith, a rare copy of a lease for a studio apartment in No. 5, issued to Elizabeth McLoud. It was a short rental, from March 1 to September 30, 1942.

The lease is a long document, but thanks to adept editing, double-sided printing and a teeny tiny font, it fits on a single page. A big page ‒ 28 inches long ‒ but still one page. Most of the copy deals with legal matters, and there was a section called Rules and Regulations. It was quite to the point.

No garbage cans, coal holder, wood box, supplies, ice, milk bottles, or any other articles shall be placed in the halls or on the staircase landings, nor shall anything be hung from from the windows, or balconies, or placed upon the window sills.

The laundry and drying apparatus, if any, shall be used in such manner and at such times as the superintendent may direct. If the Landlord provides clothes dryers in other parts of the premises, the Tenant shall not dry or air clothes on the roof.

No baby carriages, velocipedes, or bicycles shall be allowed in passenger elevators, if a service elevator is provided.

No sign, advertisement, notice or other lettering shall be exhibited, inscribed, painted or affixed by any tenant on any part of the outside or inside of the demised premises or building without the prior written consent of the Landlord.

No servants or employees of the Landlord shall be sent out of the building by any Tenant at any time for any purpose.

Here is the end result of the deal ‒ four signatures was all it took.

Along with the lease, there was a copy of a letter to Miss McLoud stating that because she had paid the first installment in advance, she was given access to the apartment on February 13th.

To be continued. . .

MISCELLANY Deluxe

 Some odds and ends. . .

First is this latest addition to No. 5, an example of heraldry that replaced the original terra cotta figure which lasted nearly 100 years. 

The East River is home to a rainbow, in a photo taken from No. 25 by Sally Hill. Thanks, Sally!

This colony artwork was published in 1939, the first year of the New York World's Fair, and reflected city optimism. Other images were used to illustrate a brochure and menu covers.  

An early example of fake Tudor City, The Tudor Shoppe had a name that somehow convinced people it was affiliated with the community. It wasn't, and it didn't last, but at least it got mentioned in a New Yorker story.

A rarely seen photograph of cartoonist Will Eisner in his Tudor City office, a one bedroom apartment in No. 5. Eisner created his masterpiece, The Spirit, here. However, his fame came years later, for The Spirit never ran in New York. It was not until 1965, with the publication of The Great Comic Book Heros, that this forgotten strip became legendary. More on Eisner here.

DEAD ENDS

This recently discovered photograph is a simple one ‒ a Dead End sign ‒ but is notable because of where it was. A clue lays right behind it, another sign stating the HOTEL TUDOR was ONE BLOCK away. The picture is taken from the Tudor City bridge, looking east. 

For further understanding, see this photo showing the Murray Hill Diner on the southwest corner of 1st and 42nd. The Hotel Tudor sign is at upper right in shadow. 

At the 41st Street cul-de-sac, there are plenty of signs today.  

There's also a sign at the southern border of Tudor City Place.

No Dead End signage has ever been posted at the 43rd Street cul-de-sac. Instead, we remember the fashion shoot that launched the swinging sixties here ‒ featuring Jean Shrimpton and a Curb Your Dog sign, above. More about that, here.

  

Even More MISCELLANY

Time again to clear off the desk and share some miscellaneous items.   

                           First is the shedding of the leaves of the London Plane trees along Tudor City Place, an annual occurrence that inaugurates the winter season. Mauricio Cegueda captures this colorful event on the Tudor City Facebook page, above.

A landscape made in early 1927, featuring no. 45, all by itself in a hazy fog. 

Dutch colonist David De Voor arrived in 1677 to oversee farm land that included Prospect Hill. No. 25 commemorated him with this stained glass window, one of the few windows bearing a name. Thanks to Sally Hill for the photo.

One of the tax record series, this depicts 39th Street and 2nd Avenue, looking north. The Woodstock takes top billing, backed up by No. 25, lurking in the shadows.

Last but not least is this Spiderman ad featuring the lead taking a brief nap, presumably dreaming about Tudor City. This too came via Sally Hill, nothing gets by her. Thanks Sally!

Dueling Billboards

The other day, a very intriguing photograph came our way:

It was a overhead shot of 43rd to 41st Streets, bordered by 1st Avenue and the East River, probably taken from a hallway window of No. 45. Of particular interest to us are the two billboards at center right.

The top banner urges the public to vote Democratic, a slate headed by its candidate for mayor, William O'Dwyer. Below this, an advertisement for 7up with the tagline "Here's What Guests Like." And, finally proof that the building rented out signs not only on their south wall, but the north one as well.

Skelly's Beer & Ale and Sutton Motors are the signs of the south wall at 42nd and 1st.

THEN AND NOW: 326 East 43rd St

 

1940

It was not until recently that we became aware there was another rowhouse ‒ 326 East 43rd Street ‒ pressing up against the western wall of The Hermitage. No. 326 looks like its fellow survivors up the street (Nos. 336, 338, and 340) and all were most likely built in 1870 by architect John Sexton.        

  2025

Finally yielding in 1963, No. 326 is bought and demolished to make way for the new Ford Foundation headquarters in 1967. Today, The Hermitage and the Ford Foundation have some kind of Tudor-Revival-meets-Brutalist look.

For more about Nos. 336, 338, and 340, see here.

1st Ave between 43rd & 44th Sts

This week, a look at the west side of 1st Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets, made in 1940 by a collaboration between the Works Progress Administration and the New York City Tax Department to compile a photographic record of all the buildings of the five boroughs.

We begin our investigation with the building that stands on the northwest corner of 43rd and 1st. It's still standing today, although its southern views have been limited by the addition of the Sharansky Steps.   

Now, let us take a look at the stores pictured here. On the corner is Shorgan's, a bar/cafe, as well a sign on the second floor reading Headquarters, Employees Council Union of N.Y. The next building is fronted by United Cafeteria and a butcher shop.     

The most striking building on the block belonged to Tegetmeier and Riepe Co., proudly bearing the words Motor New York Trucks above their roofline. Their business was focused on the repair and repainting of cars and trucks.   

At street level, a welter of signs regarding auto parts. Plus a familiar face on the corner of 44th street. . .

Yes, it's the unofficial Tudor Lunch Bar, discussed earlier. 

AD CAMPAIGN, 1940

A look at an advertising campaign from 1940 in which bachelors fed up with doing their own housework, executives worn out with tedious commuting, business couples weary of hit-and-run housekeeping, newlyweds anxious to keep within the budget, and families tired of living away from city activities all find the answer to their problems is Tudor City.

January 14, 1940

January 21, 1940

January 28, 1940

February 11, 1940

February 15, 1940

The INQUIRING FOTOGRAPHER Is Back

Once again, we return to the Inquiring Fotographer, the long-running question/ answer/photograph column that ran in the Daily News. It was edited by Jimmy Jemail, from 1921 t0 1973; we are only interested in responses from Tudor Citizens.  

August 28, 1941

⸻⸻⸻

December 13, 1941

⸻⸻⸻

November 12, 1955

⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺

February 9, 1969

⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺

For further reading on the subject, see here.

More Miscellany

Another grab bag of miscellanea, do with it what you may.

 

An addition to the North Park is this new library, a celebration of technology both old (stained-glass door) and new (integrated solar lighting.) It was made and donated by Charlie Jackson; thanks to Tudor City Greens for the picture.    

The Second Avenue El is being disassembled in this 1942 photograph by Percy Loomis Sperr. Rising above it all, The Woodstock.     

The Terrace had a gimmick ‒ it was the closest bar/restaurant to the United Nations ‒ and for a time in the 50s and 60s, it hosted a happening after work scene. Its matchbook depicted both buildings.   

A photograph from 1929 rendered as a postcard. The community was not yet complete; Hotel Tudor was soon to follow in 1930, and in 1956, Tudor Gardens opened. Thanks to David Reiff for the tip.

This last photo depicts the rowhouses on 43rd Street, and there are parts of The Woodstock and The Hermitage rising above them. But the real surprise is the lamp post in the park, below, famed as the oldest piece of park furniture still standing. More about it here.