‘‘Twas a balmy summer day on the East River…Look, there’s Washburn!
Posted: November 8, 2021 Filed under: Angela's picture galleries, Architecture, But Not Forgotten!, East Harlem, Gone, Italian Americans, Italian East Harlem, New York City, NEW YORK ITALIANS, Pleasant Avenue, Vintage Photography | Tags: East Harlem, East River, factory, forgotten new york city, Gone, History, Italian American, Italian East Harlemites, Italian Harlem, Italian Immigrants, Journey to Italian Harlem, Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, Nostalgia, nyc, old building, Pleasant Avenue, Urban History, urban landscape, vacant, vintage photographs, Washburn Wire 8 CommentsOn a warm summer day, well over 30 years ago, I was out boating with my cousin, Guy. As we were passing East Harlem, heading North up the East River, I saw the vacant Washburn Wire Factory. It was located between East 117th and 118th Street, at the end of the 500 block, off Pleasant Avenue, by the East River Drive.
My family lived right up the block from that once active factory- back in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. At the time of this actual photo, I had a feeling that Washburn had outlived its welcome, and that it would be just a “matter of time” before it would be (ultimately) demolished & replaced. So…with that thought in mind, as we were drawing closer to the vacant factory, I quickly reached for my film camera and took this photo!
Behold a moment in time- captured on a hazy & humid summer day- on the often tumultuous East River! Thankfully, the river was very calm when this photo was taken!
AIEH
Italian Harlem 
Recent Comments