Local Architect Determines that Kahn Design for FDR Park Included Two Sculptures

Roosevelt Island resident Marc Diamond, an architect himself, in a letter to the RIOC Board of Directors points out that the original Louis Kahn design for the FDR Four Freedoms Park was to include a second sculpture which in the FERI design has been omitted.

Mr. Diamond in his letter passionately points out the design of the sculpture was not the focus for Kahn but that he did include two. He reasons that RIOC has as much vested in the design of the park [presumably as the prospective party charged with the care and upkeep of the park] as does FERI and if FERI chose to ignore an original facet of the Kahn design then RIOC has the ability to request that it be reinstated with the shape of the [2nd] sculpture to be determined.

Mr. Diamond points to a April 25, 1974 NY Times article where it clearly states that the original design left by Kahn included a second sculpture evidenced further by the graphics presented in the article and represented with this blog post.

Interesting stuff.

flickr: Deserted Roosevelt Island Structures

The above image links to two flickr photo sets of buildings abandoned on Roosevelt Island prior to their demolition. The first being Sacred Heart a Catholic Church and second the old Central Nurses' Residence that sat where Riverwalk (465 and 475 Main) now stands. [Correction made].

Double Click Map for Full Map - Nurses Residence at #7

R.I. Historical Society Exhibition: One Family's Photos from 1914-1919

Like many of us no one thinks that families were living on Roosevelt Island during the early 1900's. We all know about the prison, the alms and work houses, the hospitals and the lunatic asylum but few think of the island at that time as a home for a family as we do today. Yet the Effler family did just that and their family photos are on exhibition now at the Octagon through January 31, 2008.

I can truly say the photos will surprise you, make you smile and laugh. I know as I scanned them all for the Historical Society (the benefit or burden of living in the same building as the society's president). I am being good and not running any photos other than those in the press release.

Per the news release there is an opening reception this Sunday with special events including the following:

12 PM - Children’s Tour of Exhibit
1 PM - General Tour
2 PM - Dog Look-Alike Contest
3-6 PM - Reception and Refreshments

The Octagon, is an apartment building, located at 888 Main Street. DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Take the Octagon Local red bus for 25¢ or walk 20-minutes north on Main Street.

Direct Bus Access from [Roosevelt] Island to Manhattan ?

It was proposed that [Roosevelt] Island residents and employees be afforded direct bus service to and from Manhattan. Of course the proposal was made in 1957 by the entity that operated the last trolley line across the Queensboro Bridge with the goal of such service replacing their trolley operation with buses to then Welfare Island. This last trolley operated solely between 59th Street and Second Avenue to Queens Plaza in Long Island City

The above and below images accompanied a March 20, 1957 NY Times article discussing the proposal. According to the article 80 to 85 percent of the trolley’s riders were City employees either getting off or on the trolley at the mod point of the Queensboro Bridge to take the then elevator down to Welfare Island where they were employed at either Coler or Goldwater Hospitals. Under the proposal to switch to direct service, the trolley-goers were to be afforded door to door bus service to and from each hospital.

I am unsure if this is how the last trolley came to its end but I am guessing the full story can be found in the Queensboro Bridge Images of America book now being sold by the RI and Astoria Historical Societies.

Update: 5:32pm

On April 7, 1957, the last trolley, Car 602, rattled across the Queensboro Bridge, making one last stop mid point across the bridge at Welfare Island and proceeded across to Queens Plaza. According to the NY Times article of that day, riders were not afforded direct bus access prospectively to Welfare Island but were able to take the Q101 from Second Avenue in Manhattan to Queens Plaza, as you can still do stoday, and transfer to the Q102 onto Welfare Island.

For pictures of what happened to those last trolley cars (Car 601 etc) link HERE.

Roosevelt Island Bridge – Status of Current Pedestrian Access ?

Based on the above photos taken earlier this week on Dec. 26th, it appears that the pedestrian walkway has not yet been closed forcing the movement of pedestrian traffic onto the temporary walkway on the roadbed. It is unclear from these pictures what the status is of the temporary walkway. As of a few weeks ago the temporary walkway had cement walls protecting pedestrians from traffic but the roadbed was still the grated base it has been for years. Pictures from December 6th can be seen HERE.

I am guessing with all the ongoing construction preparation that there will be no test openings of the bridge for some time to come. That is good news considering the recent occasions when the bridge would not completely close snarling traffic and preventing individuals and motorists use of the bridge.

The above photos were taken by “vty_nyc” and can be found individually on Fickr within the photographer’s Welfare Island set.

The Little Red (Roosevelt Island) Lighthouse It Is Not

The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse does not have a children’s book about it, as does the Little Red Lighthouse, nor an annual festival in its honor hosted by the NYC Parks Department (the 15th Annual Festival was held yesterday 9/15/07), bringing it eternal love from children worldwide but it does have a real kooky story about asylum patients and inmates who built a fort at its location prior to its commission. Sounds like a really cool movie just waiting to be made starring a much younger Robin Williams.

You can read the whole story at the Lighthouse web page of the Roosevelt Island Historical Walk. The story related by the RI Walk has been picked up by other sources only adding to the mystery.

The picture above is the stone referred to in each of the histories as giving credit for the lighthouse construction to John McCarthy.

NYC24: Roosevelt Island - Beyond Manhattan Series

The video and slide show linked here were produced and are copyrighted by NYC24, part of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. After linking through to the Roosevelt Island webpage (linked via the lower image) click on the Multimedia image section duplicated by the lower image. A video titled "The Ruins of Roosevelt Island" and a slide show of the Island can be seen from this site.

The upper image links to the overall NYC24 Beyond Manhattan webpage.