If you have no idea where Manhattan’s College Place once was, you’re not alone.
This stretch of modern-day West Broadway between Barclay and Murray Streets was given the name in 1831, a likely nod to Columbia University, which once existed nearby.
Columbia moved uptown, and eventually the name fell out of use. A remnant of the old moniker is carved into a red-brick building at Warren Street.
Meet me at the corner of 75th Street and Ninth Avenue? It sounds odd to our ears, but it wasn’t until 1896, when Ninth Avenue was renamed Columbus Avenue.
The tenement building with the address chiseled into it predates the name change.
Tags: College Place West Broadway, Columbia University Chambers Street, Defunct street names New York, forgotten street names NYC, Ninth Avenue Columbus Avenue, Old New York City Street Names, old street names carved into buildings, Vanished street names New York
Ephemeral New York 
June 24, 2013 at 9:39 am |
On the lower West Side acres of blocks have been lost to make room for the World Trade Center. A great book about the area at the time is The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, an awesome read, one of the best in years. http://www.amazon.com/The-Golem-Jinni-LP-Novel/dp/0062253824
June 25, 2013 at 12:42 pm |
There’s one on York Ave on a school – PS 158 – @77th St. Instead of York Ave. it says ‘Ave A’.
June 28, 2013 at 3:21 am |
There’s another set of these great old signs carved into the corner of the public school building on “Ave. A” (today’s York Avenue) and E. 77th Street.
June 28, 2013 at 9:21 am |
[…] makeover [NYDN] · How the DOMA ruling affects real estate for same-sex couples [TRD] · Old signs give hints as to now-defunct city streets, like “College Place” [ENY] · Massive 208-unit rental complex on Broadway in Astoria nears completion [BQ] · […]
June 28, 2013 at 4:54 pm |
That one on York is priceless. I hope it never changes!