A PAST PRESERVED-In the Shadow of the Twin Gas Tanks, on E. 110th St.

Posted: June 15, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Angela's picture galleries, But Not Forgotten!, digital photography, East Harlem, Italian Americans, Italian East Harlem, New York City, NEW YORK ITALIANS, Tenements, Vintage Photography | Tags: , | 8 Comments
I was the type of child who sat at the table with all the adults, while the other children went out to play. I sat there, intently listening to all of the old stories about growing up in East Harlem. What joy I got out of of those wondrous stories! It seemed like such a magical place! A place where people were loving, friendly, giving, and united. A community of like minds, and life experiences. How I wished that I could have been born- back in the day- when my dad was a boy, growing up in “the old neighborhood.” Never once did he, nor his siblings ever complain about the tight housing conditions that they lived in. If anything, they always said how much they missed those “good old days” when they were free of worry, and spent all day outside playing with their friends, and selling fruits and vegetables on their father’s pushcart.
My dad’s family was a large family of 9 people, 7 children and 2 adults, living in a small tenement apartment. My dad’s grandmother, Teresa, owned 2 tenements, one next to the other. They lived at 346 E. 110th, directly across from the HUGE Consolidated Gas Company’s twin gas tanks! The tanks had a capacity of 5 million cubic feet-when full! These tanks supplied the upper portion of New York City, as far south as 79th Street. If they had exploded, I might not be here writing this article. (Lol)
Never once did I hear my dad complain about those gigantic gas tanks stealing the sunshine from their apartment! It really didn’t bother them, as they were used to them being there. I never heard him complain about the noise or the smells from the gas tanks. Surprisingly, he told me that mothers would often walk by the gas tanks, with their sick children, to try to alleviate their respiratory ailments- as the steam had some beneficial effects. Can you imagine? There they were, strolling babies and toddlers in strollers, hoping to receive some health relief for them! Also, my dad shared a personal story about his mischievous ways, and how he would sneak onto the gas company’s property, and climb the ladder to the top of the framing of the gas tank. One day, a company watchman, spotted him at the top of the ladder. He begged and pleaded with my dad to climb back down, and promised not to get him in any trouble. He kept his word. The man was relieved, and happy that my dad made it down without falling, as there were incidents in the past where children fell to their deaths, while trying to climb to the top. The top height, around the top rim of the skeletal framing, loomed at approximated 120 feet! That’s about 12 stories! My dad was just a kid, probably about 9 or 10 years old. Just another neighborhood kid, trying to make the best out of his urban “concrete jungle” environs. The year was circa 1934. What fun, right?
  • My dad and his family, on the roof , at 346 E. 110th St. circa 1932.
  • 1939 NYC Municipal tax photo of 346 E. 110th St.
  • My dad, Albert, with my son, Albert. Empty lot at 346 E. 110th. (2004)
  • The empty lot that once was 346 East 110th Street. A new building stands here today.
  • On the roof of 346 E. 110th St. circa 1932
  • Empty lot of 346 & 344 E. 110th St. April of 2006.
  • New buildings at 346-344 & 342 E. 110th St. 2016
  • East 110th Street, near 1st Ave. (side of building) 2006
  • April of 2006. Near the empty lot where 346 E. 110th once stood.
  • On the roof of 346 E. 110th. circa 1932.
  • The twin gas tanks on East 110th. 1920’s
  • 304 E.110th. (2006) This is the same type of tenement as 346 was.
  • Although this is not located in East Harlem, I thought you would like to see a high-definition example of how huge these gas tanks were! I found this image on shorpy.com
  • The 2 large blue circles depict the twin gas tanks on East 110th, near 1st Ave.
  • East Harlem Aerial-circa 1950’s. Notice the twin gas tanks looming high above the new housing projects in the background.
These are the twin gas tanks of the Consolidated Gas Company, later known as Consolidated Edison. They loomed over the tenements on the 300 block of East 110th Street. 344-46-48 East 110th was directly across the street from the first gas tank. (foreground, on right.) Note the laundry hanging on the lower left. This aerial photo was taken when my grandparents lived there. I see mostly white laundry! They must be drying their bed sheets! Ha ha!