Is Penn Station Do-Over Doable?

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LOL, W!

While the emotional part of me says, "Yes!", the practical parts says, "Delays, higher commuting costs, years and years of annoying construction noise, debris, detours, etc. So I am torn.

That being said, if they DO decide to do this, they should get someone in there who knows a thing or two about design, architecture, accessibility (to people with disabilties), sound systems, and so forth. I am old enought to remember the last revamp and my reaction was, "Why red brick? It looks like an oven in here." Red, while a nice color for clothing, would not be a color I'd choose to provide a soothing environment.

When I can make Miss M. laugh, the day is off to a good start.

I am similarly torn. However, the current Penn Station is so god-awful miserable and ill-befitting of the frickin' shining city on a hill at the center of the goddam world, I can't help but think the need to do something about it is desperate enough to risk the almost certain screwing up of the task by our leaders and the special interests involved.

New York may indeed be the "city on a hill" of America in philosphical terms, walleroo.

But it is not at all the Puritan center of rectitude dreamed of and summed up by John Winthrop in his famous phrasing. It's not even much situated on a hill (save around Columbia, which was the site of the Revolutionary War battle of Harlem Heights), and Grand Central if memory serves me is in fact in the area termed "Manhattan Valley."

In lieu of a new statio this project has been initiated.

MB: While it's a nice idea, I'd rather see them spend the money to make the trains cleaner and more efficient.

Good, I look forward to the 8:15 pulling into the women's loo.

MM,

You ever see the line out of the door down at the LIRR ladies room?

Good Lord, what a queue!

Since the entire station is basically an open sewer, perhaps there is no need to build new restrooms..

Ugh! The restroom at Penn Station (8th avenue entrance) have turned me into a camel. I can wait for hours rather than go there.

LOL Walleroo!

"You ever see the line out of the door down at the LIRR ladies room?

"Good Lord, what a queue!"

Same thing in Port Authority, depending on the time of day. The restrooms aren't beautiful but they are functional and there always seems to be an attendant on duty. Not like in the "old days" where you had all kinds of vagrants hanging out there.

But again, I'd take trains/buses running on time, that don't break down, etc. over new restrooms any day.

Why don't you get one of those tubes the astronauts use, Liz. It all runs into a sac you strap to your ankle. You'll be able to go weeks! But please, no skirts.

.. actually, the sack straps to your thigh ..

That's disgusting, Mellon. What are you some kind of prevert?

Charles Follen McKimm, one of the designers of the old Penn Station, as well as the Post Office across the street, grew up in Baristaville. When he was a boy, it took almost the same amount of time, with the stage coach and ferry service, to go to Manhattan as it does today. (considering today's traffic) The McKimm-Nichols Cottage is locally known as the Underground Railroad House, because of it ample hidden spaces, and use as a safe house. Fortunately, this private house has never sustained modifications, except for the door handles put onto the secret pannels.

Frank,
Where is the McKimm-Nichols Cottage? I was in a house on Beach Street near Elm St in Bloomfield in the historic district many years ago and the owners daughter showed us rooms in the attic that were used to hide runaway slaves as part of the underground railroad. I was wondering if this might be the house, and if not, might you know anything about the house on Beach Street. It's a very large piece of property with what seems like a barn in the back. Thanks!

Hi Pete: The McKimm-Nichols Cottage is one of the oldest houses in Llewellyn Park. It was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, the grandson of Deacon Davis (his wife was Anna Crane) Deacon Davis founded the First Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield. The 1670 (thats OLD!) Davis Homestead (that has existing hidden tunnel structures) is presently Bloomfield Steakhouse. The Davises donated the "Green" to Bloomfield. This property was once on the Morris Canal. (now the site of GSP). Underground Railroad historians have never documented our area. I have identified at least thirteen structures that are very similar to what you are describing in Bloomfield. These thirteen structures seem to be along a precise east - west and north - south axis's. Thank you for mentioning this site on Beach Street. I have heard of a similar one on Washington Street. Hopefully soon, a group will conduct a "Wellman Scale" Survey on these locations. The Wellman Scale, is a methodology developed to document Underground Railroad activity. On old maps, there is a very large Howe property, a dairy farm (now around the Colgate Field area in WO near to the McKimm-Nichols Cottage. I could go on and on...

...I will certainly inquire about the Beach Street property and will touch base again on this thread, as soon as I have more info....

"I could go on and on..." and I hope you do. I'll make sure to bookmark and check back.

Thanks Frank!

Fred Branch, historian of the Bloomfield Historical Society, located in the Bloomfield Public Library, showed me some maps and documents that probably pertain to the house that you mention, Pete. The house is probably the Ward House. There was an older house with a large barn, the Beach House on the corner of Elm but that was demolished in the 1930s. The Ward property was that whole block on the 1865 map and the older house still is standing on the Green. The Ward property once extended from the Green, all the way east to the Morris Canal (an underground railroad element) I see the house (on a property across from the Elm Street corner) that you are referring to on a later map and it shows a large barn. Then in Bloomfield newspapers from 1872, there is mention of the first "Colored Sunday School" 1820 and the teacher is Emiline Ward. (page 20 - Excerpts from Early Bloomfield Newspapers 1872 - 95) Thank you Pete for this great lead!

thank you frank!