Last year being the 100th anniversary of the New York City Subway, I attended an "author's talk" at the Central Library last night. Two guys, Stan Fischler and John Henderson have written an enormous book (568 pages and 400 photos!): The Subway And The city and the talk was accompanied by a slide show with some wonderful photos of early subway construction and the like. I found it very interesting to know that our subway, begun in 1904, was the first urban rapid transit system in the world. The technology was invented on the fly.
New York in 1904 was somewhat of a small town compared to the metropolis of today. Brooklyn, Queens and the other outer boroughs still contained vast areas of trees and fields. It was the subway that, as it was built, invited development along and beyond its tracks. As the subway was built, so too was the city that we know today.
The book, which Mr. Fischler signed, contains hundreds of unique photos and has chapters on, what was an institution for millions of New Yorkers: boarding the subway for a trip to the Coney Island beach or to the city's ball parks. Fischler is the soul of the book as he describes how the subway shaped the people of our city. His counterpart, John Henderson is techie of the duo. His contribution describes the technology that was invented and refined to make the New York City subway a reality.
During the talk, both alluded to the beauty and diversity of our city and its unique subway system. It was (and is), they said, the great unifier that allowed people (New Yorkers)of all classes, races, nationalities and backgrounds to mix it up by riding together under the streets of our city. But both also told of a subway whose great promise, development and expansion was cut short through lack of financing and support from political leaders such as Robert Moses who were in the thrall of the oil, automotive, tire and highway lobbies which competed with mass transit for financing and domination of our cities. We know who won that battle. It was no contest.
Stan Fischler, signing a copy of his book. The author grew up on Marcy Avenue and remembers in 1935 the construction of the subway in front of his house.
John Henderson expounds while Stan Fischler autographs, after the Author's Talk at the Central Library.
IRT Subway construction in 1904 using the cut and cover technique.
Flyer, advertising the meeting at the Central Library.
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