Lower East Side 6-9-10
June 9, 2010
Our third day of walking tours – I’m finally working out those age-old kinks! I’m buffing up and will be in prime condition for shorts for the remainder of the summer. I think I have crisscrossed New York City about a million times. Today was light walking in comparison to previous days – thank G! We toured China Town which has consumed most of Little Italy – in fact I’ve saw no evidence of Little Italy. In the 1880s the Lower East Side was filled with Italian and Jewish immigrants. In the 1920s the Immigrant Exclusion Act limited the numbers of immigrant flow and particular neighborhoods developed their own ethnic personalities. In 1965 American borders were again open to immigrants. On example of the changes that had taken place in the area is the school Alfred Smith attended. He is best known for giving money to those who needed assistance with no questions asked – fire etc. You can see by the picture, that even today, different languages are spoken: Chinese, Spanish, and English. We passed a cemetery in China Town where Jews and Revolutionary soldiers are buried.
I saw some of the strangest foods on the trip; different roots and spices sold in Chinese markets, the strangest however, was Jackfruit; a large spiny green puff ball. Speaking of food, I purchased the largest salami sandwich I have ever seen at Katz’s restaurant; it had enough salami on it for 10 sandwiches!
We visited the Tenement Museum before departing for the day. We saw refurbished tenement rooms. Each apartment had 3 rooms in 325 square feet; the apartments were built in 1863; store fronts were on the bottom level until the 1930s. Toilettes didn’t appear until 1905; so outhouses were used prior to that time. The area was once the Garment District and the clothing was produced in the tenement apartments. I can see myself using these as examples of how elements of different ethnic groups, coming together, change the personality of a region: languages, foods, religions, customs, and celebrations.
Alfred Smith's School
Jackfruit
Business on the Lower Level
Chris,
I completely argree with you with the fact that I did not see any evidence of Italian influence. I wonder if people who live in New York City even know that China Town used to be mostly Italian? I know that many students out in Pueblo West do not realize that there is a huge population of Italians in the city. Could it be that Pueblo is starting to lose its Italian influence, or are these kids just not aware that Pueblo has this type of history? Do you see it any different in the city compared to PW?