Photo From Jim Powells Personal Collection
Hayden Planetarium - located in Central Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5FtuThZGwQ
PARK NEW YORK CITY - THE FIRST AMERICAN PARK
A tree is born every day and is rooted in our world; just like people we are rooted in the world build from the fruits of our labors and ancestors.
While reflection upon thoughts about my ancestors, which commenced equally from my parents side, the foundation for my New York started with my mother, who was born in Manhatten New York, in 1923 and reared by her parents who worked full time jobs. Her father worked for the Edison Company the whole of his adult life, he started for Edison as a young lad, lighting the gas street lights in the city and retired as an executive with the company. Her mother was a manager of a large downtown bank, which during those days was extraordinary for a woman. They retained a very active social life and went out almost every night, which was New York in the 1920, fun, fun and more fun. As a result, my mothers’ grandmother lived with the family, cooked all the meals and nurtured my mother and her brother. My father also born in 1923, grew up with his parent’s and lived in Brooklyn New York, which during this era was considered living on the ‘other side of the tracks’, my grandfather on my dad’s side arrived from Palermo Italy when he was a very young boy. My grandfather arrived here from a family history of fishermen. He joined the military as a young man, traveled around the south and was stationed in Alabama, he was a member of the Calvary and spent his time roaming with the troops on a horse. When he, was at long last released from military duty he spent his time selling olive oil; in large tin cans, he would fill the gallon tins with mostly water and top it with olive oil until he was caught and was ran out of town. He met a woman in Alabama named Mable, who would become my grandmother.
Through the long line of family history and stories, I unearthed a family member, who's family owns the Sabella’s restaurant on the Wharf in San Francisco! What a small world to discover this famous Sea Food establishment.
 |
| http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=950592062329183685&postID=4316406927959564114 |
So imagine this family already rich with such history and strength that their arrival in the port of Ellis Island from their long journey was met with exhilaration of seeing America for the first time, being a component of the pioneer spirit and seeing this impressive country with the opportunities they dreamt about.
You can see how my parent’s where not a perfect match…both sides of the family heavily objected to the mix of Irish and Italian, which is why when my parents married they moved from New York to California, and I was estranged from my relatives dudring my childhood years, until I met them all in my early thirties.
Contemplate the building of this famous city, New York was builte one brick at a time, the magnificent scheme took centuries, the city was separated by ethnic groups, neighborhoods of countries, with each cultures restaurants, stores, and shops to fit the desires of each individual to craft a feeling of security in a strange land. There existed these bounders’ which can still be seen today. The majestic buildings grow taller and taller as each empire building firm tried to surpass each other, the bustle of the city is hectic; the city decided to have a contest which incorporated an open space from Manhattan to; what nowadays in known as Harlem. The year was 1853, the land included a swampy area which would need tons of dirt to fill in, and this terrain totaled 843 acres located in the center of Manhattan and was to become the first American park.
This land purchase at the time was far away from civilization and inhabited sheds, pig farms, quarries, and colonists. In 1857 New York hosted this competition, this contest was open to anyone from far and wide, this would become a social experiment to celebrate a design where common folks would mix with the wealthier populace which was taboo during this era, a place where one and all could go to escape the confines of city life. Designers from as far as Paris and London also participated. The winner was Frederic Law Olmsted his grand plan was dubbed by him, “The Greensward Plan.” Throughout Central Park would be lakes, many playgrounds, hills, an English garden, statues, open meadow, nonetheless to me, the smartest part of this plan was the trees, the plan surrounded the entire perimeter of the park with trees that would grow tall enough to hide the city from view; forest areas with open meadows, very cleaver was this plan. On week-ends no cars, or buggy’s at that time, where allowed into the park, which would give way to everyone walking, playing with the children and leaving the city life behind them, if only for a day.
 |
| http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/2524863929/sizes/z/in/photostream/ |
Each pathway would wind and turn into a breathtaking landscape, to fill in the swamps it took three million tons of soil, they constructed bridges and a large reservoir, it took fifteen years and 20,000 workers and now attracts millions of visitors each year. As the years grew, a large Zoo was added, and an Ice Skating rink. Then around 1960 the park became dangerous due to criminal activities, which kept tourist and locals alike away from going into the park. New York was getting a bad reputation from this influence and so in 1980 a large scale renovation went full gear into action.
Thanks to a group of citizens’ called the "Central Park Conservancy", along with the city of New York, they poured 50 million dollars to salvage this beautiful and Trend Setting Park. Three full time employees were hired to remove the graffiti, it took them three years of pain staking work, and then a significant police force was added to reduce the crime.
 |
| http://www.flickr.com/photos/vivnsect/5688443527/sizes/l/in/photostream/ |
Formerly, the park has 20 million visitors a year. My great-grandparents and their children were all part of this tribute to New York City and every time I pay a visit to New York City I fancy spending time and taking pleasure in walking in the park, it never fails to transport me back in time. Also, located in Central Park was my favorite restaurant, “The Tavern on the Green.” Now gone, however I still hold the memory of a lunch date with a friend. A time when life was simple, innocent, and the American Dream was alive and well…Somehow we all must join hands in our own cities and towns in America. Say God Bless America, fly our flags high, Place your hand over your heart and say the Plague a Legends to the American Flag, and pray for our great country that offered so much now and to those that came before us.
http://darlenesabella.blogspot.com/
The copyright to this article is owned by Darlene Sabella. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing. (You can, however, freely use the opening introduction and photo with a link to the article here on My Smashing Magazine or RedGage to read the remainder of the article.) I am also a member of Copyscape, they hold all my articles and will show if anyone should copy my works...
No comments:
Post a Comment