On this day in 1975, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye make their debut at CBGB.

On this day in 1975, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye make their debut at CBGB.

On this day in 1859, two factions of the Dead Rabbits gang brawled outside of 27 Mulberry Street

On this day in 1859, two factions of the Dead Rabbits gang brawled outside of 27 Mulberry Street. Thomas "Fatty" Welch, leader of one of the factions, was shot in the neck, but survived.

Welch was considered to be one of the primary instigators in the bloody three-day Five Points riot of 1857, where he was shot in the leg.

Read the NY Times report here (.PDF): http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf…

On this day in 1791, Peter Cooper was born

On this day in 1791, inventor, philanthropist and Cooper Union founder Peter Cooper was born.

In 1816, Cooper purchased six lots along Boston Post Road (The Bowery) at today's Astor Place, and opened a grocery store. On that site, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art was erected between 1853 and 1859.

Ever wonder how the term "East Village" came about?

It started when the Third Avenue Elevated Train line -- which ran from Chatham Square to The Bronx up Bowery and 3rd Avenue -- was demolished in the late 1950s. By 1960, savvy real estate companies and building owners began promoting the district as the "Village East" or "East Village," capitalizing on its proximity to the more fashionable Greenwich Village.

Though traditionally part of the greater Lower East Side, the term "East Village" stuck, and is today, considered by many, to be a separate neighborhood.

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.