That’s the date on the postmark. But judging by the fact that there are no cars on the road yet—only horses, wagons, and elevated tracks—I’d say this postcard image was taken earlier.
Tags: Bowery elevated tracks, Cooper Square, Cooper Square postcard, Cooper Union, New York City in 1912, New York street, Peter Cooper, the East Village in 1912
Ephemeral New York 
February 7, 2011 at 10:05 am |
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bullet Creative, Cooper Type. Cooper Type said: Postcard of Cooper Union from 1912 http://bit.ly/dZ645u […]
February 7, 2011 at 10:06 am |
A little grassy park area…except by the early 60s there were no benches or seats and the grass had been paved over with concrete, which certainly didn’t look very inviting. I never saw anyone there except for a few wino’s fallen by the fence.
February 7, 2011 at 11:43 am |
Great photo! I guess that’s the Third Avenue El, torn down in 1955 or so.
The old grassy triangle is paved and fenced along the streets, but it’s still very green, bordered with tall trees, open to the public, and there are some benches.
February 7, 2011 at 11:51 am |
Haven’t been there in over 25 years, was concretized and very brutal from what I remember. Plus the drunken Bowery was a few blocks south and not like it is now.
February 7, 2011 at 6:23 pm |
[…] Cooper Square amidst a sea change toward the high end, let’s take a collective look at the area circa 1912 [Ephemeral NY; […]
February 7, 2011 at 10:23 pm |
Just walked past this very spot and there are ten trees growing there — bare of leaves at this time of year, of course — but there’s still a lot of room for improvement on the site.
February 8, 2011 at 7:31 pm |
Must be 1910 or earlier. By winter of 1910-1911, Tompkins Market Armory (rightmost building in the shot) was being razed. Must be 1903 or later. Third Ave el was electrified April, 1903.
February 8, 2011 at 7:54 pm |
Thanks TJ for identifying the building on the right. Wish it was still there.
February 10, 2011 at 10:27 pm |
When I attended Cooper Union, we would always be confronted by large numbers of mice (not rats) in the Triangle Park. Someone mentioned to me once that underneath the park is an abandoned basement of possibly a bath house and that all the mice have made it their home.
February 10, 2011 at 10:33 pm |
I’d love to know if there really is an abandoned bathhouse there. That would be a fun Ephemeral field trip!
June 29, 2011 at 3:49 am |
Look closer…there is a single car on the left side of the photo.
June 2, 2016 at 6:36 am |
[…] is a moonlit Cooper Square under a starry sky looking north around […]