In the sweltering summer of 1901, the bustling intersection of West 110th Street and 7th Avenue in Harlem was a hive of activity.
The air was thick with dust and anticipation as workers toiled tirelessly to bring New York City’s first subway line to life.
In 1901, the scene was a stark contrast of old and new. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clopped till they dropped along the unpaved streets, with old course a old well-dressed gent right behind the carriage, skirting around the massive construction site that had transformed the neighborhood and residents looked on.
Curious onlookers gathered at the edges of the excavation, peering down into the cavernous tunnels that would soon carry thousands of New Yorkers beneath the city streets
The construction was a marvel of engineering for its time. Workers, their faces streaked with sweat and grime, wielded pickaxes and shovels, carving out the earth to make way for the underground railway.
Steam-powered cranes creaked and groaned as they lifted heavy loads of rock and soil from the depths of the tunnels
We imagine the Harlem residents on the right discussing how long the project in detail, and more, the project was both a source of excitement and disruption. The promise of rapid transit held the potential to transform their lives, connecting them to the rest of the city like never before.
Yet, the constant noise, dust, and commotion tested their patience daily.
As the sun began to set on that August day, casting long shadows across the construction site, the workers began to pack up their tools.
They knew that their efforts were part of something greater – a transportation revolution that would shape the future of New York City for generations to come.
Little did they know that in just over three years, in 1904, the fruits of their labor would come to life with the opening of the 110th Street-Central Park North station.
The subway would forever change the face of Harlem and New York City, ushering in a new era of urban mobility and growth.
Photo credit: 1901 W. 110 St & 7 Avenue, Harlem Subway NYC. By Photo.
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