Forget the network of rail lines bringing thousands of visitors and commuters in and out of the city every day.
Even without them, Grand Central Terminal is a fascinating place.
Opened in 1913, its starry-ceiling, cavernous concourse, marble stairways, and lovely clocks make waiting for a train a more enchanting experience.
And in a lonely corner on the subway concourse is a faded, mostly forgotten bronze tablet that commemorates the men who fought in a war that is officially 100 years old this year.
“In Memory of the Known and Unknown Employees of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice in the World War” it reads.
Thirty-six names are inscribed. We don’t know what these men did for a living, whether they dug tunnels or conducted trains, took tickets or worked in office jobs.
But we do know that their deaths overseas meant something to the long-defunct IRT.
Grand Central played a pivotal role during World War II; part of it was turned into a “Service Men’s Lounge” for soldiers coming and going.
Tags: faded war memorials New York City, IRT history, IRT in Grand Central, secrets of Grand Central Terminal, subway history, War memorial Grand Central Station, World War I Memorials
Ephemeral New York 
May 26, 2014 at 6:07 am |
I am delighted that you are writing about what you are writing about!
It is a miracle! Keep it up!
I adore it!
Penelope
May 26, 2014 at 6:42 am |
Thank you!
May 26, 2014 at 2:25 pm |
Me too. It makes my Sundays out here in oregon
May 27, 2014 at 12:02 am |
Thank you NC!
May 27, 2014 at 4:24 pm |
Excellent content. My compliments to you on what seems a mini term-paper in New York history.
May 27, 2014 at 9:43 pm |
Gracias!
May 30, 2014 at 3:56 pm |
Those interested in learning more about the listed men probably could find their WWI Draft Registration Cards. A look at familysearch.org shows that Abraham Mass, for example, was indeed an IRT ticket agent, Jules Snell was an IRT trainman, Victor Volz was an IRT signal man, and Arthur Rechnitz and William F. Navitski were IRT guards.