On this day in 1831, John Morrissey was born

John Morrissey was born on this day in 1831. The pro-boxing champion and Dead Rabbit gang leader went on to become State Senator, US Congressman, casino operator and co-founder of Saratoga Spring Racetrack.

On this day in 1821, Elizabeth Blackwell was born

Elizabeth Blackwell, first female doctor in the US, was born on this day in 1821. She founded a women & child dispensary at 207 E. 7th Street in 1853 -- which evolved into New York Downtown Hospital.

More about Dr. Blackwell: http://69.8.250.210/dr-blackwell-our-founder

Photos from this evening's San Gennaro Feast

Photos from this evening's San Gennaro Feast: The mass at Most Precious Blood Church and the procession down Mulberry Street.

See all the photos here: https://www.facebook.com/leshp/posts/846924222006918

LESHP founder, Eric Ferrara

Eric Ferrara is an award-winning American author, researcher, movie & television consultant and personality based in New York City. Writing about lesser-known and previously unknown New York City History, his books and articles are popular for their unique historical research.

Ferrara is founder and director of the Lower East Side History Project, an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to researching, documenting and preserving the history of the greater Lower East Side of New York City. Ferrara is also founder of the former "Museum of the American Gangster" and "East Village Visitor Center" in New York City.

More at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Ferrara

Eric Ferrara being interviewed about Richard Kuklinski for Discovery Channel

Eric Ferrara filming a documentary about
the former Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy

Eric Ferrara with Seth Abrams at premiere of Great Gatsby at Lincoln Center.

Eric Ferrara w/ Meyer Lansky II and Phil Genovese
(Grandsons of Meyer Lansky and Vito Genovese)

Eric Ferrara with the cast of AMC's "Making of the Mob: New York"

Eric Ferrara dining with the nieces of Meyer Lansky at Sparks Steakhouse

Eric Ferrara with Great Gatsby director Baz Luhrmann

Eric Ferrara with friends at the Goodfellas 20th Anniversary event

Eric Ferrara lecturing at the New York Historical Society

Eric Ferrara on location with actor Vinny Vella in Little Italy

Eric Ferrara signing books at the Tenement Museum

Bowery loses another staple: King Glassware closes

King Glassware restaurant supply company closed after 81 years.

Dating back to 1933, King Glassware may have been the oldest surviving restaurant supply store on The Bowery. Just last week, neighborhood archivist Adam Woodward came across this 81 year old mainstay at 112 Bowery shuttered with "FOR RENT" signs hanging on the gates.

King's phone number is disconnected and its website down, leading us to believe the decades-old business is gone for good and not simply relocating.

Surviving two world wars, the Great Depression, recessions in the 1980s and 2000s, as well as an abundance of competition from the dozens of restaurant supply stores along the thoroughfare is no small feat. Back in 1995, co-owner Fred LaMay told the New York Times about competition from the rise of similar stores opening on The Bowery, and the pressure to sell out.

"There are 30 percent more restaurant suppliers than there were 10 or 15 years ago," LaMay said.

At a time when shop owners were enticed to sell their buildings at 30% or more above market rate, LaMay turned down all offers.

"We tell them we're not interested," he said. "We'll sell when we retire."

We've reached out to the building owners for an interview but have yet to hear back. If we get any more information in the future we'll update this article.

LESHP and PS 126/Manhattan Academy of Technology partnership

Lower East Side History Project is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Public School 126/Manhattan Academy of Technology, located at 80 Catherine Street in Lower Manhattan.

The pilot project, launched in September of 2013, attempts to bring history to life through hands-on experiences and researched based learning. The goal is to get students excited about the extensive, influential, multicultural history in their own back yard and inspire future community involvement.

Eric Ferrara addresses the class.

Over the next several months, students will be reading, writing, discussing and learning about how the Lower East Side has evolved over the centuries, highlighting the contributions of various ethnic groups and cultures that called the district home.

Special programming includes walking tours of the neighborhood, in-class guest lecturers and interactive experiences intended to nurture a first hand understanding of our neighborhood's rich history.

Alfonso Guerriero

The school-year long program will culminate in May, 2014 with a gallery exhibition showcasing what the students have learned through a series of photographs and art installations created throughout the year. 

The program was written by 8th grade history educators, Alfonso Guerriero and Christopher Piccigallo in collaboration with Lower East Side History Project. Both Mr. Guerriero and Mr. Piccigallo were born within blocks of PS 126, which makes this project extra special for the veteran teachers.

Christopher Piccigallo

"We are so excited about creating a partnership with LESHP and through their support, start our pilot program that teaches 8th grade American history through the school's Lower East Side community," says Alfonso Guerriero. "The young historians of PS 126/Manhattan Academy of Technology are deeply invested in exploring and understanding the history of our community."   

LESHP director Eric Ferrara suggests, "This is an awesome opportunity to get kids interested in not only history but other cultures these students may encounter on a daily basis. They get to learn about our shared and individual histories which I believe helps create stronger community relationships and inspires involvement in future preservation efforts."

Guest speaker Adam Woodward
shows the class a Revolutionary War
era relic he uncovered locally.

"I'm really impressed by the curiosity shown by the students and the passion that Al and Chris bring to the table," Ferrara said. "These guys worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure that this program is historically accurate and inclusive enough to reach each child in the classroom, regardless of their individual backgrounds."

This unique program has already gained an overwhelming amount of support from parents, educators and administrators, as well as the students themselves. For many, this is the first time that they are fully exposed to the history of their own ancestry, let alone the neighborhood they live in.

LESHP is very excited about this project and we look forward to a successful school year.

To learn more about Lower East Side History Project, visit leshp.org. For more information about PS 126, visit ps126mat.com.

A project that 8th grade students of PS 126 are working on, depicting Native American life in Lower Manhattan.

Another look at the Native American project.

Exclusive: Inside 50-52 Bowery

FOR MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE

Inside the former Atlantic Gardens beer hall at 50-52 Bowery.

The structure, which is currently slated for demolition, sits on what is believed to be the footprint of a historic tavern and livestock market dating back to the 18th century.

Acting on a hunch, preservationist Adam Woodward toured the site and discovered a cellar which very well could be the foundation of the Revolutionary War era Bull's Head Tavern.

If so, this will be one of the most important archaeological discoveries on Manhattan Island in recent history.

FOR ONGOING NEWS COVERAGE VISIT: http://www.thelodownny.com


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Video: The roots of Hollywood on NYC's Lower East Side

This original LESHP documentary explores the important role that many Lower East Siders played during the early days of the motion picture industry.

Video: Alphabet City in the 1980s

Footage of the Lower East Side in 1986 from the documentary, "There's No Place Like Home: Housing Crisis, USA." Produced by Fiona Boneham and Pamela Hoelscher/Deep Dish TV.

See the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fddtv_4_theres_no_place_like_home

Eric Ferrara featured in new book, "ITALIANS: Un Tricolore a Stelle e Strisce"

LESHP director Eric Ferrara is featured in a new book called, ITALIANS: Un Tricolore a Stelle e Strisce

Authors Giovanni Pellerito and Peter Zullo highlight the contributions of Italian-Americans currently living and working in Little Italy districts across the nation. Check it out here:

http://www.benvenutaitalia.com/en/1519/presentazione-in-anteprima-di-italians-un-tricolore-a-stelle-e-strisce/

Video: Bowery 1930, "Street of Forgotten Men"

Here is a video of The Bowery from 1930 that we've only recently come across. Some great shots here, which were supposedly taken from a hidden camera.

LESHP & The Great Gatsby

LESHP mentioned in the closing credits of The Great Gatsby, taken from the movie premiere on 5/1/13.

Last year, Lower East Side History Project's Eric Ferrara and Seth Abrams had the pleasure of consulting the new Warner Brothers' film, The Great Gatsby. Eric and Seth got to meet and work directly with director Baz Luhrmann, writer Craig Pearce and actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby Maguire, Joel Edgerton and Carrie Mulligan.

Last night was the premiere of The Great Gatsby at Lincoln Center and we are proud to say that Eric & Seth's work can be seen throughout the film.

We won't spoil the movie and give away any details but LESHP was brought in to help give a realistic sense of gangsterism in 1920s NYC and inspire ideas about how characters like Jay Gatsby and Meyer Wolfshiem made money beyond bootlegging.

Though we played a small part in this truly extravagant production, this is the biggest project that LESHP has worked on thus far and very honored to be part of it. Thank you Baz Luhrmann and Warner Brothers for the opportunity.

See some photos: