Road trip! ~ Who paved the way for the American tradition?

15 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Adventure, Nonfiction

Tags

Bud, bull-terrier, Elizabeth Fais, Fun Facts, History, Horatio Nelson Jackson, Jack Kerouac, motoring goggles, New York City, Nonfiction, On the Road, road trip, Route 66, San Francisco, Sewall Crocker, Summer, touring car, University Club, Winton

Summer and road trips are synonymous, with millions of Americans taking to the road in the spirit of unbridled adventure. Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel, On the Road, fueled a generation with the romance of the open road.

But HOW did it all start?

WHO was the first to pave the way for this American tradition, WHEN, and WHY?

A Bet, Two Men, and a Dog in Goggles

On May 19, 1903, a heated debate at the exclusive University Club in San Francisco resulted in a $50.00 wager taken by Horatio Nelson Jackson. Horses and carriages were the main mode of transportation, and many thought the horseless carriage was a passing fancy of the well-to-do. Certainly not reliable enough to withstand a dangerous cross-country journey. Jackson had a grander vision and recruited Sewall Crocker to prove the automobile nay-sayers wrong.

On May 23, 1903 they set out to complete the trip from San Francisco to New York City in less than 90 days. [Horatio Nelson Jackson in the Vermont]

They packed a second-hand 20 horsepower, cherry red, Winton touring car (dubbed the Vermont) with sleeping bags, cooking gear, and supplies, then started on their daring journey. Crocker was a former bicycle racer and gasoline engine mechanic, skills they would need in the days ahead. At the time there were fewer than 150 miles of paved roads nationwide, no road signs, or gas stations. With the rigorous terrain, automobiles often breakdown. The Vermont was no different.

The Winton crossed streams and traversed winding mountain roads better suited for mules than man. They suffered mechanical failures early and often, and had to rely on stagecoaches to ferry new parts and blacksmiths to make repairs. In short, their trip was one obstacle after another, devoid of the amenities we take for granted on cross-country journeys today.

With mechanical fiasco after fiasco, it took 19 days to reach Idaho. There they met a bull-terrier named Bud, fitted him with motoring goggles to protect his eyes from dust, and hoped the new addition to their party would bring them luck. Bud wore his goggles, navigating from the front seat for the rest of the journey, but luck wasn’t quick to follow. [Bud sporting his motoring goggles]

Throughout bad directions that sent them days out of their way, getting stuck in a swamp, then lost in the Wyoming badlands, the team maintained a spirit of optimism. Possibly, due to the tremendous receptions they received along the way. For many, it was their first encounter with an automobile.

Fanfare swelled to a crescendo as they rolled into Chicago on July 17, and then Cleveland a few days later. In spite of the hoopla the adventure ignited along the way, the epic road trip ended as humbly as it began. The Vermont, and its three passengers, quietly rolled down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, July 26, 1903, at 4:30 am. The 4,500-mile journey had taken 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes. Jackson won the $50.00 bet, but it cost him close to $8,000.00—including the price of the Winton, and all its repairs along the way.

Jackson, Crocker, and the adorable Bud in his motoring goggles became celebrities, pictured in newspapers across the country and featured in Winton advertisements for years to come. They proved a cross-country road trip was an attainable American dream, even if (at the time) it was beyond the means of any but the wealthy.

Route 66 became a reality decades later. After World War II, the American highway infrastructure expanded to support cross-country travel and cars became affordable for the average person. The dream of free spirited independence lived on, becoming a cultural ideal and American tradition.

Classical Disruption ~ Flash mob symphony

22 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Classical, Music, Shakespeare

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Tags

Berkeley College of Music, Berkeley Contemporary Symphony Orchestra, Boston, Central Park, classical disruption, Classical Music, flash mob, Gustav Holst, Julius Caesar, Jupiter, MA, New York City, Prudential Center, Shakespeare, Shakespeare in the Park, The Planets

Classic — Something of lasting worth, judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.

But is being of the highest quality enough for an art form to endure centuries, being woven through the fabric of ever-changing modern cultures? I think not. There also must be a transmutable quality that allows for adaptation again and again, so it can be made new without sacrificing quality or substance.

Disruptive transformation

The only constant is change. Without change, there’s stagnation. Presenting an art form in an incongruous manner infuses it with new life, fueling the appreciation of a broader audience.

Such is the effect of flash mob symphony. It turns a staid perception of traditional classical music on end—same great music with a fresh new image. An impromptu concert in an unexpected public setting makes the music accessible to the general masses in a provocatively inviting way.

Shakespeare’s plays have been known to disrupt classic expectations too. Such as the recent Trump-like Caesar in New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar.

Flash mob symphony

The Berkeley Contemporary Symphony Orchestra took jollity to the streets—the Prudential Center, Boston, MA, to be exact—with a spontaneous performance of Jupiter, from Gustav Holst’s The Planets. As you watch the video, look for the smiles on the faces of the musicians as well as the crowd, delighting in the beauty of the moment.

Secret Ingredients of a Satisfying Ending

03 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in New York City, Story, Writing

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Elizabeth Burke, Elizabeth Fais, endings, FBI, Mozzie, Neil Caffrey, New York City, NYC, Peter Burke, Story, story elements, White Collar, Writing

A great beginning keeps readers turning the pages. A great ending builds a fan base, because readers will be thinking about the book long after turning the last page. We’ve all experienced the satisfaction of a perfect ending to a book, movie, or television series. But what’s the secret?

What makes the ending of one story great, while another story’s ending leaves us unfulfilled?

The finale of the TV series WHITE COLLAR helped solve this mystery for me. The series ending was so perfect, I couldn’t help breaking it down, analyzing the elements that lead up to a culmination of satisfaction.

But first, an overview of the series for those who may not be familiar with the main characters and premise of the series.

White Collar ~ The Series

The third time turns out to be the charm for criminal Neal Caffrey. He has been eluding FBI agent Peter Burke for years, a run that finally comes to an end with his capture. But after the resourceful prisoner escapes from a maximum-security facility, then is nabbed once again by Burke, Caffrey suggests a different end-game: In return for freedom, he’ll help the Feds catch long-sought criminals. Though skeptical, Burke soon realizes that Caffrey’s instincts and insight are a rare commodity. Caffrey’s trusted friend and co-conspirator with ties to the criminal underworld, Mozzie, also becomes a useful source for Burke and the FBI. [Series Synopsis]

The series was well written with engaging characters and story lines, and plot threads with enough twists to keep the most agile guessing. Mozzie, Neil’s sidekick, added a delightful streak of rebellious quirkiness for comic relief.

Ingredients of a Great Ending

*** SPOILER ALERT ***
If you don’t want to know how White Collar ends, STOP now.

Ingredients for a satisfying ending, with examples from White Collar:

The promise of the premise for the story and the genre is paid off. The FBI promised Neil Caffrey his freedom if he was instrumental in helping them solve their toughest ‘white collar’ cases. To satisfy the promise for this genre, justice had to be served to this end. Neil does go free after making the ultimate sacrifice when pulling off a sting on a treacherous ring of international thieves.
The main character’s arc (Neil Caffrey) is completed in a believable fashion. Neil’s loyalty to Peter (as an FBI representative) and his wife Elizabeth becomes true, when he realizes his freedom ultimately threatens the lives of the couple and their unborn child. Neil also shows deep remorse when his actions hurt an innocent young woman he’s forced to befriend to bring down the thieves. For the first time he questions his life and the role he plays with the FBI. The completion of the character arcs for Peter and Elizabeth Burke, and of course, Mozzie, though less dramatic, are equally rewarding. It would take too long to explain them all here in detail. Trust me. Better yet, watch the series.
The main character earns the payoff, internally as well as externally. In the end, Neil overcomes his inability to trust Peter (as an FBI representative), and puts the safety and well-being of his friends before his own. To ensure their safety, Neil secretly masterminds the final phase of the sting. His selfless actions earn him his freedom and happiness.
There’s a significant sacrifice for the pay off. For Neil to earn his freedom (payoff), he made the ultimate sacrifice. He fakes his own death to ensure the lifelong safety of his friends—sparing them from retaliation by the gang members caught in the sting. Neil can never talk to or see the people who mean the most to him again. The ingenious method he uses to fake his death added to the overall satisfaction.
Enough is left to the imagination without leaving unanswered questions. Everything isn’t tied up neatly, leaving “what happens next” up to the audience’s imagination. In the final scenes, Peter Burke discovers clues leading to the storage locker Neil secretly rented during the initial planning of the sting. What Peter finds gives him insights into how Neil faked his death, thus assuaging his remorse over the loss of his friend. In the final shot, we see Neil strolling down a Parisian side street wearing his fedora, a satisfied smile on his face and a carefree spring in his step.

If you have an a Perfect ending Element to add to the list, Please do!

11 Year-Old Busking Violinist ~ Fifth Avenue’s Newest Star

14 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Inspiration, Music, New York City

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Bach Double Violin Concerto, busking, Dylan Hamme, Fifth Avenue, Gene Weingarten, J.S. Bach, Joshua Bell, NBC News, New York City, Stop and Hear the Music, Today Show, Violin, Washington DC, Washington Post

Pint-Size Prodigy Surprised by His Idol on National TV

There’s a new star on New York’s Fifth—Dylan Hamme, an 11 year-old busking violinist. But Dylan isn’t just any ol’ busker. No. He’s a child prodigy on the fast-track to becoming a concert violinist. He’s busking to raise money for conservatory training.

But wait. It gets better.

Dylan has a sign propped up in his open violin case for passerby donations that states he’s following in the footsteps of his idol, Joshua Bell.

So far it’s true…

Joshua Bell started playing the violin at the age of three, the same age Dylan picked up the instrument. Joshua Bell went on to become a world-renowned violin soloist. So far, Dylan is heading in that direction as well. His expert musicianship (along with his sign), caught the attention of NBC News, and they featured him on the Today Show, complete with a surprise visit from his idol. If you don’t cry watching the video clip below, I don’t want to hear about it.

Going out of his way to encourage a young musician is not uncommon for Joshua Bell. He regularly supports projects that teach and encourage young musicians around the world. His philanthropic work with the National YoungArts Foundation over the years has been recognized nationally with high acclaim.

Joshua Bell’s Busking Experiment & Sensational Reprise

Joshua Bell is at home in a concert hall, but he’s no stranger to playing on the street. Or a metro station to be exact. In 2007, Joshua Bell posed as a common busker in a Washington D.C. metro station (during morning rush hour) as part of an experiment initiated by Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post. The purpose of the experiment was to see how many commuters would stop and listen to one of the nation’s greatest violinist in an everyday setting. Only one person recognized him. ONE. You can read the full story here.

You can let a situation define you, or you change the situation to reinvent the definition.

That’s just what Joshua Bell did. On September 30, 2014, Joshua Bell turned the tables on DC’s Union Station and created a the ultimate public experience for classical music.

Joshua Bell played the same music he did as an incognito busker (2007), except this time he held a capacity crowd spellbound. You can read about the performance here, and listen to the entire concert on YouTube Here.

“Better Nate Than Ever” by Tim Federle ~ Hilarious and Heartwarming

30 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Book Reviews, Fiction, MMGM

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Auditions, Better Nate Than Ever, dance, E.T., Elizabeth Fais, Fiction, Manhattan, Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday, Middle Grade, Musicals, New York City, show tunes, Theater, Tim Federle

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday!

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for *seeing* a Broadway show.)

But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.

Now’s his chance to explore the city, wow the casting director, out-sing the competition, and hop the last bus home before anyone notices he’s gone. No big deal, right? But exciting as it is, the Big Apple can be big trouble. And if Nate isn’t careful, he’ll be lucky if he makes it through Times Square, much less the audition. [Synopsis]

Over-The-Top Audacity … in the Best Possible Way!

Let me just say, I love Nate! Oh, and his best friend Libby too. Because without Libby, Nate never would have known about the ET: The Musical casting call, much less attempted a daring escape to New York City for the audition. I know I’m biased, but here’s some relatively impartial insights…

What’s so great about Nate: A voice that’s fresh, funny, with a spot on middle grade. Nate has all the anxieties and self-doubts of any misfit. But what makes him so adorkable is his how he embraces his quirks, and motors right through his fears with improv that’s nothing short of genius. And then there’s Nate and Libby’s swear words, which are as unique as they are endearing. They curse with the titles of (real!) legendary Broadway musical flops, such as Dance of the Vampires. Who knew?

Reality with a dash of wacky: The Plan Libby and Nate concoct to get him into the audition in New York City is realistic and level-headed. The amusing flaws in their scheme spring from a ten-year-old’s naive view of the world. Still, things manage to work out for Nate. Like how he talks his way into purchasing a bus ticket—when he’s obviously under age—using his older brother’s ID. His brother Anthony is 16, at least ten inches taller, and has the face of an international model, which Nate so is not. Admittedly, the coverage of a local stabbing on the television monitor in the ticket booth was a saving distraction for the ticket salesperson, what with the gory graphics, eyewitnesses, and a crying woman holding a baseball bat. Still, Nate’s anxiety driven improv is ultimately what does the trick. From there on out, the wackiness spins into high gear… But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Laugh-out-loud hilarity: The entire book is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. But I have to admit that I was literally reduced to laughing so hard I was sobbing, my head in my hands, by Nate’s audition performance. Nate claims his *special talent* is walking on his knees. So when the casting director asks him to perform his trick, Nate flips into manic mode … and then some…

…I’m circling their table, channeling my Fiddler on the Roof bottle dancing, flying by like we’re at the racetrack, the team’s little greyhound…

I’d share more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy. You’ll need them. I sure did!

Home is where the heart is: They say that comedy has to have an element of pathos to make it funny. In Nate’s story, the pathos comes from his disfunctional family. His parents are on the verge of divorce, his all-star brother hides beer in his closet, and then there’s his mother’s estranged sister. The very aunt who comes to Nate’s rescue (thanks to Libby) as a legal guardian, a requirement to get into the audition. The broken dynamics of Nate’s family, and how his wacky adventure helps put them on the mend, makes you care—and root—for Nate all the more.

I highly recommend Better Nate Than Ever for most all middle grade boys and girls. Though I’d warn them to keep an eye on their parents. Because they’ll be sneaking this book away to read too.

About the Author

Tim Federle is the author of over seven hundred emails. Born in beautiful San Francisco and raised in character building Pittsburgh, Tim discovered show tunes in elementary school, prompting bullies to discover Tim. Armed with only grit (and his father’s credit card), Tim fled to New York City as a teenager. He has since worn a Tina Turner wig at the Super Bowl, a polar bear suit at Radio City, and a big fat grin in five Broadway shows. Better Nate Than Ever is Tim’s first novel. Soon to be followed by the sequel, Five, Six, Seven NATE! You can find Tim on Twitter @TimFederle. [Jacketflap bio]

Moonwalk Mastery … Before Michael Jackson

19 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Dancing, Fun Facts, Moon

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Apollo Theater, Bill Bailey, Billie Jean, Cab Calloway, Dancing, Dick Van Dyke, Elizabeth Fais, Marcel Marceau, Michael Jackson, Moon, Moonwalk, MTV, New York City, tap dancing, The Buzz

There’s a glorious full moon tonight … a marvelous night for a moonwalk. No, not on the surface of the moon … the dance move Michael Jackson made famous in 1983.

For anyone who’s too young to remember Michael Jackson, or is just unfamiliar with the illusive dance technique, the moonwalk — when done well — creates the illusion of the dancer sliding backwards while attempting to walk forward.

But just like the moon in tonight’s sky, the moonwalk was around long before Michael Jackson…

Who invented the Moonwalk?

Proof-positive recordings only go as far back as recording technology. I, however, wouldn’t be surprised if the moonwalk originated centuries before the first film recording. Anyway…

Here’s what we know for sure:

Cab Calloway, the famous jazz singer and bandleader, was recorded moonwalking back as 1932. Calloway is noted to have said that back in the 1930s, the dance move was called “The Buzz”.

Dick Van Dyke performed a moonwalk move in the 1950’s, in his “Mailing A Letter On A Windy Corner” comedy skit. Then in 1955, Bill Bailey, a well-known tap dancer, was recorded moonwalking in a performance at the Apollo Theater in New York. [image: Bill Bailey moonwalking, at the Apollo Theater, NYC, 1955]

Americans weren’t the only ones to incorporate the enigmatic dance move into their routines. The famous French mime, Marcel Marceau, used the moonwalk throughout his career, starting in the 1940s. In Marceau’s famous “Walking Against the Wind” routine, he moonwalked as he pretended to be pushed backwards by a gust of wind, as he tried to walk forward.

There were more contemporary performers, such as David Bowie, who performed the moonwalk before Michael Jackson busted the move on MTV in 1983. Still, there’s no question that Michael Jackson was the one who made the moonwalk famous for our generation, and a few more to come.

Michael Jackson Moonwalk: In Slow-Mo (MTV)

Pretty awesome. The first time I saw that move I thought, “I want to learn how do that!” And now, with the help of YouTube, we CAN!

Here’s How to Moonwalk Like Michael Jackson

Lost History: A Glitzy Central Park Speakeasy, Turned Children’s Playground

12 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Amazing but true!, Central Park, Lost History, New York City

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Calvert Vaux, Casino, Central Park, Central Park Conservacy, Elizabeth Fais, Fiorello La Guardia, Frederick George Richard Roth, Great Depression, Ladies Refreshment Salon, Mary Harriman Rumsey, Mayor James Walker, Mother Goose Sculpture, New York City, Prohibition, Robert Moses, Rumsey Playfield, Rumsey Playground, speakeasy, SummerStage

“Lost History” Blog Series

I did a lot of research in an around New York City’s Central Park for my young adult (YA) novel, and was amazed by the history. The stories I uncovered were all but lost, so I decided to do a blog series on them. They’re not connected to my YA novel, but they’re rich in character and deserve to be remembered. [image: morguefile.com]

The All But Forgotten “Casino”

You’ve got to wonder … not only about the children’s playground that was once the site of an exclusive speakeasy, but also the name given to the glitzy nightclub. You see, the Casino was never a gambling establishment. Go figure. [1920’s postcard]

But I’m getting ahead of myself, and history…

The Ladies Refreshment Salon

The first structure to grace the area near 71 Street and 5th Avenue was a Ladies Refreshment Salon. The two room stone cottage was designed by Calvert Vaux—co-designer of Central Park—in 1864, as a place where women could retire and partake of modestly priced food without a male escort. Those were the times when women didn’t out by themselves, unless it was an establishment specifically for ladies. The following is a sketch of the Ladies Refreshment Salon from the Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of The Central Park, 1864 [copyright expired].

The Ladies Refreshment Salon eventually became popular with men as well as women. Over the decades the structure was expanded to accommodate the increase of customers, and modestly priced food became a thing of the past.

The Casino ~ an Elite Nightclub ~ was Born

In 1928 the Ladies Refreshment Salon was transformed into a high-priced restaurant, that turned into the see-and-be-seen night spot of Mayor James Walker and his friends.

This “new” establishment catered to the rich and famous. Guests dined on elegant French cuisine, and despite Prohibition drank their fill of bootleg liquor, as they danced the night away in a fantastic black-glass ballroom.

This photo shows rows of shiny automobiles are parked outside the glittering Casino, while their owners dance the night away. [photo nycparksgov.org]

Casino waitresses pose in the following photo from the Library of Congress.

You’d think that the stock market crash of 1929 would have put an end to the Casino’s nightly revelry. But no. The parties raged on. It wasn’t until the early 1930’s, as the Depression deepened, that the public outcry at the audacious self-indulgence of the privileged few was finally heard.

Fiorello La Guardia, a political reformer, was the man who stepped up to denounce the Casino as a woopee joint. When he was elected in 1933, the tide had turned against the Casino’s blatant ostentatiousness. Unfortunately, the Casino was torn down in 1935 at the command of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, and an architectural treasure that was an integral part of Olmsted and Vaux’s original design for Central Park was lost.

Next… A Children’s Playground and SummerStage

How do you redeem a site that catered to the wealthiest adult clientele in New York City while most of the country starved? Turn it into a children’s playground, of course!

After the demolition of the Casino, the site was developed into a playground for children and named after Mary Harriman Rumsey. The Mother Goose sculpture, created by Frederick George Richard Roth, was installed in 1938 at the entrance to the Mary Harriman Rumsey Playground. [Image by moi]

The 60-inch granite sculpture consists of the central figure of Mother Goose astride a goose, surrounded by Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, Little Jack Horner, Mother Hubbard, and Mary and her little lamb. You can read more about the sculpture and the artist who created it here.

In later years, the children’s “playground” became a popular site for puppet shows. The stage area soon caught on for all manner of performances, for all age groups.

Today, this area is also referred to as the SummerStage. Music and theater performances are held in this venue throughout the summer months, and many of the concerts are free. To roll with the times and include the extended uses of the space, the Rumsey Playground is now called the Rumsey Playfield.

More Lost History…

In case you missed these posts in my Lost History blog series:

Lost History: Central Park’s First Tavern, That Became a Convent, Then a Hotel

19 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Historic, Lost History, New York's Central Park

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Catherine McGown, Central Park, Civil War, Colonial Assembly, Elizabeth Fais, Harlem, John Dyckman, McGowan's Pass, McGown's Pass, McGown's Pass Tavern, Mount St. Vincent, Mount St. Vincent Hotel, New York City, Patrick McCann, Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul, William H. Vanderbilt

“Lost History” Blog Series

I did quite a bit of research in an around New York City’s Central Park for my young adult (YA) novel. I was amazed by the history there, some of which is all but lost. The stories I uncovered were so fascinating, I’ve decided to do a blog series on them. The Lost History blog series isn’t connected to my YA novel, except for the Central Park location. These are stories rich in character that deserved to be told and remembered. [image: morguefile.com]

Central Park’s First Tavern

There are very few taverns that have been turned into convents. And fewer still that, once they became convents, later returned to their tavern status–also known as hotels in later years. New York City can boast of such a rare site, located in the Northern region of Central Park, no less. In an area that became known as McGown’s Pass (also known as McGowan’s Pass). [Postcard of McGowan’s Pass Tavern, early 1900’s]

Yes, this is the same McGown’s Pass that was taken over by the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. If you missed my recent post on that bit of lost history, you can read about it here.

McGown’s Pass Tavern

Long before Central Park was built, people traveling to and from New York City (which was considerably smaller back then), stopped to rest and partake of refreshment at taverns in the rural vicinity of Harlem. The earliest tavern in the area was built in 1684 around present-day 106th Street. This property was later purchased by John Dyckman, and the Colonial Assembly met there in 1752. In 1759, Dyckman sold the tavern, along with 10 surrounding acres, to Catherine McGown, the window of a Scottish Sea Captain. [image: McGown’s Pass Tavern, circa 1899]

For whatever reason, the nearby pass soon became known as McGown’s Pass, and the name has remained ever since. Catherine and her son operated the tavern until the 1840’s, when it was purchased by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Tavern that Became “Mount St. Vincent”

The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul developed the site into a thriving religious community that they called “Mount St. Vincent.” By the mid 1850’s there were more than 70 sisters living in the convent, operating a boarding academy for young ladies and running a free school for children in the surrounding area.

The New York State Legislature approved the acquisition of the land for Central Park in 1858. Two years later (approximately the date of the photograph above) the sisters were forced to leave The Mount. The buildings were used as offices for park commissioners until the Civil War (1861-1865), when they were used as a military hospital. The sisters returned to help nurse the wounded, but after the war the building were returned to their original use as a tavern (hotel).

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel ran in the old McGown house and convent property (1866-1881), and became the gathering place for politicians and wealthy sportsmen, such as William H. Vanderbilt.

After a fire in 1881 destroyed the wooden Mount St. Vincent buildings, a new and much grander hotel was erected over the same foundation. The new “refreshment house” was rebuilt in the Carpenter Gothic style used throughout Central Park, and continued to operate until 1915. Sometime after 1890, the Mount St. Vincent Hotel was renamed the McGown Pass Tavern, coming full circle back to its original roots. The following photograph is of the rebuilt tavern, circa 1883.

The tavern continued to be a popular destination spot through the turn of the century–open every day of the year, and known for music and dancing that continued into the wee hours of the morning. In 1915 the city took back the property from the lessee, Patrick McCann, and sold all the goods for payments due. In 1917 the tavern was torn down, and a rich piece of Central Park history vanished. [Images courtesy the New York Public Library unless otherwise noted.]

Today

All that remains today of the tavern is the remnant of an old stone foundation that is visible at the Central Park’s composting site (where the tavern once stood). In honor of the Sisters of Charity, a plaque marks the location where their religious community flourished.

Lost History: The Revolutionary War in New York’s Central Park

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Fun Facts, Lost History, New York's Central Park

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Battle of Brooklyn, Blockhouse No. 1, British Army, Central Park, Central Park Conservancy, Fort Clinto, General George Washington, General Henry Knox, Harlem Meer, Kips Bay, McGown's Pass, New York City, Nutter's Battery, Revolutionary War, War of 1812

“Lost History” Blog Series

The Lost History blog series isn’t connected to my YA novel, except for the Central Park location. These are stories rich in character that deserved to be told and remembered. [image: morguefile.com]

The Revolutionary War in Central Park?

It’s hard to think of present-day Manhattan as anything but the leader in finance, theater, art, fashion and other trends for the nation, if not the world. Yet, if you venture into Central Park to the top of the bluffs south of the Harlem Meer, on the winding paths amidst the craggy promontories … you’ll be standing where history was made in America’s Revolutionary War.

The Revolutionary War in Central Park?

I admit, I was somewhat dumbfounded when I first learned this fact. It was as incongruous as dinosaur bones beneath Los Angeles (in tar pits beneath La Brea Avenue).

Before Central Park was built, the land east of the bluffs was marshy and impassable. Travelers on their way to New York City had to follow a narrow gorge through the bluffs. A path that was originally an Indian trail.

This path later became known as McGown’s Pass (sometimes called McGowan’s Pass), after the family that owned a nearby tavern. McGown’s Tavern is another bit of Lost History I’ll share with you in another post.

This 1776 map shows McGown’s Pass and Kingsbridge Road, around the start of the British Occupation. [image: Wikipedia]

McGown’s Pass: Strategic High-Ground

After General George Washington’s defeat at the Battle of Brooklyn (1776), he moved most of his troops north through McGown’s Pass. Then on the morning of September 15, 1776, British troops landed in Kips Bay (near present-day 34th Street), staged for an invasion. Washington, who was headquartered at the Morris Mansion on West 160th Street, lead his troops south through McGown’s Pass to counter the invading forces.

Washington and his troops were outnumbered, and retreated to the west. The British Army held McGown’s Pass and built a fortification there, so as to control the troops that went in and out of the city. When the Revolutionary War ended seven years later, colonial soldiers (under the command of General Henry Knox) marched back through McGown’s Pass, and into Manhattan to liberate the city.

McGown’s Pass circa 1868, image: Wikipedia

The Blockhouse and The War of 1812

Remembering the earlier (British) occupation of McGown’s Pass, Americans claimed it as a lookout point during the War of 1812, in anticipation of another British invasion. A series of fortifications were built at this tme, including Blockhouse No. 1 (remains are still visible on a hill in the North Woods), Fort Clinton, and Nutter’s Battery (remains of these are visible along the north side of the pass). Four-foot high defensive walls (breastworks) made of earth were created to connect the fortifications. However, the British never invaded. [image: Central Park Conservancy]

The Blockhouse stands high on “The Cliff” and is Central Park’s oldest building. At one time, the square stone structure had a sunken wooden roof and mobile cannon. Today the Blockhouse is empty, roofless and securely locked.

The following map shows present-day McGown’s Pass and Blockhouse locations in Central Park. East Drive follows the original path through the McGown’s Pass.

McGown’s Pass is a reminder of the role New York City played in the history of the American Republic.

Happy 4th of July!

Discovering Manhattan: A Pictorial Tour of My Protagonist’s World

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Central Park, New York City, Research, Story, Writing

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Belvedere Castle, Calvert Vaux, Central Park, Central Park Conservancy, Cleopatra's Needle, Elizabeth Fais, Ellen Gregory, Frozen Hot Chocolate, Manhattan, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY13SCBWI, NYC, SCBWI, Serendipity 3, Subway, The Met, The Plaza Hotel, Waldorf Astoria

Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. It’s an intriguing exploration into worlds-yet-unknown, where the story comes to life and becomes real. I had a few final details to research in Manhattan for my project, which was major reason behind my coast hopping to New York City in early February. (pic by moi)

Yes, I went to NYC to attend the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Winter Conference (NY13SCBWI), which was wonderful in all the ways such conferences are. But I had another agenda too… Research.

The Character of Central Park Landmarks…

My project takes place in and around New York City’s Central Park, and a couple of the landmarks played such an important role in the story that they became characters themselves…

Cleopatra’s Needle: The oldest man-made object in Central Park
Image by Central Park Conservancy, the organization responsible for restoring and maintaining Central Park’s historic beauty.

Belvedere Castle: Built in 1869 by Calvert Vaux
Image by Central Park Conservancy

Her Way is the Subway…

Most New Yorkers use public transportation to get around town. My protagonist is no different. She uses the subway, so I followed in her footsteps. There beneath the streets of Manhattan, I discovered the amazing signage from a bygone era (pic by moi)…

Historical Ruins in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is important to my protagonist and her story as well, so I had to experience the collection first-hand. What impressed me most (and I was an art major, so I’ve been to lots of art museums) is that The Met houses reconstructed historical rooms and ruins … not just the typical types of art (pics by moi)…

Serendipity 3: Frozen Hot Chocolate

Like many teenagers, my protagonist loves coffee and chocolate. And what better place to meet her friends than Serendipity 3? While conspiring, they consume coffee drinks and Serendipity’s world-famous Frozen Hot Chocolate. Which is to die for, by the way (pics by moi)…

The Plaza … Of course!

My next stop was The Plaza Hotel, where my protagonist’s grandfather owns a private suite. Yes, on the top floor … one with a turret. Eloise does not have anything to do with my story, but I had to take this picture because nothing says “The Plaza” like Eloise. The photo on the right is of The Palm Court restaurant (pics by moi)…

Hiding Out at The Waldorf Astoria…

Last but not least was a visit to The Waldorf Astoria, where my protagonist is forced to go into hiding. Yeah, I know. Tough break sistah. You might wish you had her financial backing … but you don’t want the problems tied to it. Trust me.

The lobby of The Waldorf Astoria is an architectural marvel…