The Book of New York Firsts: Unusual, Arcane, and Fascinating Facts in the Life of New York City (New York State Series) - Softcover

Moscow, Henry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0815603088 ISBN 13: 9780815603085

Publisher: Syracuse University Press, 1995

Synopsis

Everything you wanted to know about the unusual, arcane, and fascinating in the life of New York City.

The term "only in New York" takes on new meaning in page after page of this intriguing survey of firsts in one of the world's greatest cities―from extraordinary people to ghosts and graves, from troubles and aspirations to crimes and disasters.

For six years, the City had a governor who dressed in his wife's clothes and paraded along Broadway until his soldiers dragged him home.

The City's first subway, dug in secret under Broadway in 1870, had elegant cars propelled by wind from a big fan.

The City's first settlers were not Dutchmen, but French-speaking Protestant Belgians in 1624 who were followed by African Blacks in 1625.

The first City Hall had a tavern on the premises to quench the thirst of City Fathers with beer and schnapps.

The City's first bagel was produced in Clinton Street in 1896, but its ancestors date back to fourteenth-century German boar hunts.

About this title

About the Author

Henry Moscow, a veteran journalist, worked as a submarine cable telegrapher, night editor of the New York Telegram, managing editor of the New York Post, and the editor of Life's international editions―a position he held for over twenty-five years.

Edition details

• Publisher: Syracuse University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0815603088
• ISBN 13: 9780815603085
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128