If you’ve never looked down and noticed them before, you’ll be surprised by the huge variety of manhole covers out there on city streets.
They’re clues to the industries and ironworks that built the modern city.
The one above, spotted in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, was made by Howell and Saxtan, a foundry on Adams Street. James Howell served two terms as Brooklyn’s mayor.
An 1885 guide called New York’s Great Industries described E. McGuinness & Co. as “a leading house engaged in the manufacture of iron railings, etc.,” established in 1878. This cover was found in the East 70s, not far from where McGuinness’s factory was.
Fassler Iron Works made it at least until 1970, where a Google search turned up some legal documents. A tenement is at the 10th Street address, between Avenues C and D.
This cover comes from the West Village. H. Richter was Herman Richter, an immigrant from Saxony who founded Centennial Iron Works at 190 Elm Street. His son Albert was his partner.
Elm Street—where is it? Apparently it’s been de-mapped. It was the original name for Lafayette Street south of Houston Street, but the name was changed in 1905.
Tags: E. McGuinness Iron Works, Elm Street demapped, Fassler Iron Works, H. Richter & Son, Historic manhole covers NYC, Howell & Saxtan Iron works, Manhole covers in New York City
January 22, 2012 at 1:58 am |
i always seem to photograph these
January 22, 2012 at 2:05 am |
Glad I’m not the only one!
January 22, 2012 at 2:11 am |
They seem so unique to the city – and when looking back at photos, remind me where they were taken
January 22, 2012 at 12:54 pm |
Re Elm Street, there is a little street opposite the Tweed Courthouse named Elk Street. I’ve read that the name was changed in the 1930′s from Elm to Elk in honor of the Elks Club. Looking at a map I can see that Elk (Elm) would have been a continuation of Lafayette, interrupted by the construction of Federal Plaza.
January 23, 2012 at 12:14 am |
Thanks Joe R. You know, I was sure a little section of Elm Street hadn’t been demapped and was looking at old maps for it. Now I see, it’s Elk Street! Makes sense.
January 22, 2012 at 4:34 pm |
Actually, if they’re on a sidewalk, most of those aren’t “manholes”…they’re coal chute covers.
January 23, 2012 at 12:13 am |
Thanks, and great blog by the way. I always thought the coal chute covers were smaller though.
January 22, 2012 at 4:36 pm |
Ooops. That link was borked.
http://www.polybloggimous.com/2010/05/brooklyn-coal-chutes-and-peek-at-some.html
January 23, 2012 at 12:55 am |
Thanks,
As to size, I can’t really tell from your pics — there’s nothing to show scale — but coal chutes are usually about 15″ or so. Big enough to load up, but too small for 19th century burglars to get into. If it’s fairly close to the front wall of a building, just beyond the little front “yard”, it’s probably a coal chute.
January 23, 2012 at 2:54 pm |
re east 76th street: not an address that you’d nowadays associate with iron foundries, but before the FDR went in it was very industrial, here’s one picture of an east river shot tower, i’ve seen others.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=717182&imageID=800196&total=21&num=0&word=East River (N.Y.) — 1800-1899&s=3¬word=&d=&c=&f=2&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=20&pos=2&e=w
August 27, 2012 at 2:48 am |
[...] a hand injury at a pool hall ended his strongman career, he went to work at Fassler Iron Works on East 10th Street and helped build New York’s top skyscrapers. He trained dogs and later [...]