Celebrate Julia Isham Taylor's birthday this Saturday

Julia Isham Taylor, birthday celebration (JITs actual birth date was June 28, 1866 so today would have been her birthday) 
Come help to celebrate the birthday of the woman who initiated the gift of Isham Park in 1911-12 this

Saturday June 30^th, at 1:00pm at the stone memorial terrace in Isham Park* above Broadway.

Memorial area in Isham Park above Broadway and W. 212th

Enter the park at the stone gate across from W. 212th Street and Broadway and take the stairs to the right under the Ginkgo tree at the entrance, then make the first right at the top of the stairs to reach the terrace.

We will share a cake from Inwood's new bakery "The Darling Cafe" and biographical readings about Julia.  

*Please note: In case of rain, meet us at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center.

 

The Historic District Council has produced a walking tour guide for Inwood which was one of their "Six to Celebrate" communities for 2011.

Copies of the walking tour guide will be available at Saturday's event. 

WPA era design in Isham and Inwood Hill Parks

The lecture and tour began at the Nature Center

Yesterday, Sunday June 24th, we held the 4th lecture and walking tour of the 2012 Art Stroll/Centennial series.  Once again beginning at the Nature Center with a slide show, we then went out into first Inwood Hill Park and then Isham Park looking for the traces of WPA era design.

The Historic District Council's annual conference, which this year focused on the topic of "Open Space," was held in early March.

On the opening day of the conference, Thomas Campanella (http://planning.unc.edu/news/campromeprize)* spoke of the landscape architects Clarke & Rapuano who worked for Parks Commissioner Robert Moses.  The description he gave of their projects inspired me to show a small map fragment of Isham Park to him on the next break.  He took one look and said it looked to him like the work of Clarke & Rapuano.  Thomas Campanella studied Michael Rapuano during his Rome Prize Fellowship in 2010-11.  He is working on a book titled *Designing the American Century which "examines the careers of two of the most important American landscape architects of the 20th century — Glimore D. Clarke and Michael Rapuano."

After the HDC conference by email correspondence, Thomas confirmed that Michael Rapuano (http://tclf.org/content/michael-rapuano) had been assigned Isham and Inwood Hill Parks, during the design phase that accompanied the alteration of the shipping canal in the late 1930s and early 1940s.  He said he would need to confirm how much of the design was built and that although he would not be able come and speak on the subject for this series, it would be alright to reveal the news that Rapuano was assigned the design work of Isham and Inwood Hill Parks.

Thomas also sent a copy of his Wall Street Journal article from last summer about Rapuano's introduction of the London Plane tree to NYC Parks, that gives more detailed information on Rapuano: http://web.mit.edu/~tomcamp/Public/articles/CAMPANELLA_Roman%20Roots.pdf 


Outside in Inwood Hill Park, the tour studied a row of London Plane trees across from the Nature Center.

Then we strolled to the left out on to the "peninsula" to search for a feature of the park's design that has almost disappeared.  It is a stone curbed pathway, now almost obscured by lawn that crosses diagonally from the south to the north accompanied by a row of London Plane trees.  That feature appears on a 1938 aerial photo showing the park design as completed.  It also leads to the great view of the Henry Hudson Bridge and the Palisades at the end of the peninsula.

We walked on to the semi-circular end designs on paths that overlook the salt marsh and noted how they frame views of the Henry Hudson Bridge and the Nature Center.  So they, along with the forced perspective of the entrance semi-circle to the circle around the flagpole, seem to serve as examples of the Italian Renaissance style design that Rapuano employed in public parks, noted by Campanella in his WSJ article (see link above for the article "Roman Roots").

The tour on Isham Street

We then climbed to Isham Park's summit noting the large circular stone terrace at the crest of the hill.  Walking to the stone terrace down the slope above Broadway, we noted that the two terraces are lined up, forming another forced perspective element.  The double walkway between the two circular terraces that is seen in the map fragment must not have been built and the lower circular terrace which memorializes the Isham family and their gifts for the park may have preceded Rapuano's Art Deco era design, but the placement of the terraces is compelling and the stone work is most certainly WPA era.

Utilizing the natural amplification at the center of the memorial terrace.

Next week please attend the final event of the series on Saturday June 30th, the last day of the Art Stroll:

Julia Isham Taylor, birthday celebration (JITs actual birth date: June 28, 1866) Come help to celebrate the birthday of the woman who initiated the gift of Isham Park in 1911-12.

Saturday June 30^th, at 1:00pm at the stone memorial terrace in Isham Park* above Broadway (seen in the photograph above), enter the park at the stone gate across from W. 212th Street and up the sloped path or stairs by the Ginkgo tree to the terrace. We will share a cake from Inwood's new bakery The Darling Cafe (http://darlingcoffeenyc.com/about.html) and biographical readings about Julia.

*Please note: In case of rain, meet again at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center:

Springs and wells in Inwood Hill and Isham Parks

Don points to paths of active waters.

Last Saturday, June 16, 2012, Don Rice gave a detailed and informative slide lecture and walking tour on the springs and wells of Inwood Hill and Isham Parks at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center.

After Don's Powerpoint introduction to the topic, we strolled out of the Nature Center to have a look at the real thing. The weather was ideal and tidal waters in the marsh were low, enabling us to see where springs and ground waters still feed into the marsh.  During Don's slide show we had a preview of this condition, as his stills transitioned to video to demonstrate the movement of the waters.

We visited the spring on the south side of the soccer field known as  "Gaelic Field," where Don had explained he and his "Lost Inwood" co-presenter Cole Thompson were told by neighborhood players they had often slaked their thirsts during games at that spot. 

Next we strolled to the glacial potholes where Don explained that the movement of water could actually be up instead of down.

Then on to the site of a still extant well.  Don also pointed out places where cisterns are located but difficult to visit due to overgrowth of poison ivy.  Then we overlooked the mighty Hudson River at the Henry Hudson Bridge and walked down the path cut by WPA workers in the late 1930's, noting drill marks where the paths had been cut and wet places where ground waters or springs still leave their trails.

Don lecturing at a well site n Inwood Hill. Photo: Jeff Dugan

We wondered aloud about Hydrofracking and its potential effects on our beautiful state and its legendary waters.

Hope you can all come out to the Nature Center next Sunday June 24th to hear about the mid-20th century construction events in Inwood and both parks!  And please try to make it on Saturday June 30th for our final event in the Art Stroll series:  Julia Isham Taylor's birthday celebration.

Sunday June 24^th, 1:00pm meet at Inwood Hill Nature Center:

Art Deco/ WPA design in Isham and Inwood Hill Parks
A slide lecture ending in a walking tour with Pat Courtney.  Take a look at the Art Deco/WPA era design and structures in both parks.  Learn of the designers discovered during the process of the study for potential historic districts in Inwood which was selected in 2011 as one of the inaugural “Six to Celebrate” communities by the Historic Districts Council.

Saturday June 30^th, at 1:00pm at the Isham memorial terrace in Isham Park, above Broadway, enter the park at the stone gate across from West 212^th and up the sloped path or stairs by the Ginkgo tree to the terrace (follow signs). In case of rain, meet at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center:

Julia Isham Taylor, birthday celebration (JITs actual birth date: June 28, 1866) Come help to celebrate the birthday of the woman who initiated the gift of Isham Park in 1911-12.

Shorakapok tour yesterday

Harlan Pruden speaking at the Nature Center.  Photo: Jeff Dugan

Yesterday, Saturday June 9, 2012, a lecture and walking tour was led by NYC Parks Ranger Martha and Harlan Pruden, an Inwood resident and a member of the Cree Nation. 

The tour began with Ranger Martha describing her usual talk to school children about native peoples, their history, and what is commonly known of their day to day practices.  She said she always began by saying that native peoples did not generate garbage as we know it today and by asking the children to try to refrain from creating garbage for just one day.  She then shared the various items used as props for her lectures. She also described the planting style of native people who are known to have planted so that the plants intertwined and were mutually beneficial, such as corn with beans climbing its stalks, squash underneath to shade out weeds and keep moisture in the ground.

Harlan explained that he is dedicated to revealing the political and social issues for native peoples today and to demonstrating how misconceptions are promulgated in commonplace descriptions.  The intertwining of Ranger Martha's and Harlan's descriptions was very thought provoking for the tour.  Several people commented on how enlightening the combination was for them.

Ranger Martha speaking to the tour outside the Nature Center

The tour began in Inwood Hill Park inside the Nature Center and then went on a stroll around the marshland to the south, west to  Shorakapkok the rock formation just inside the woodland paths to Inwood Hill.  Passing the stone and plaque that describes the transaction between the Lenape and the Dutch of ownership of Manhattan Island, Harlan pointed out that the concept of private ownership was not a native concept.

We climbed to the caves and then Martha finished her portion of the tour at the spring near what the Parks Department describes as "Gaelic Field" the soccer field that was formerly covered by marshland.  Along the way, Ranger Martha pointed out the middens of Oyster shells that were the only garbage created by the native people.

We then passed Saturday farmers market, where we were reminded that native peoples had a planting ground just at that spot and beyond to the south and then climbed to the top of the hill in Isham Park, which is described in a New York Times article dated October 8, 1911, as a possible site for native ceremonies since burials of people and dogs had been recently located all around the hill near its base.   

Hope you can come out for next weeks tour which begins a little later:

 1:00pm at the Nature Center:

Where's the Water? Inwood's Springs and Wells of Yesteryear (and what became of them)

Don Rice co-organizer of “Lost Inwood” will expand his presentation at the Indian Road Café earlier this year:  “Running water wasn't available to Inwood residents until the later part of the 1800s. Before it became possible to simply turn on a faucet, how did people get fresh water to drink and use? The answer: a network of springs and wells which were spring-kled throughout northern Manhattan. We'll use our virtual dowsing rods to trace their story. Where were Inwood's springs and wells of yesteryear? Are any still around today?”

Centennial Lecture/Walking Tour Calendar for the 2012 Art Stroll

Calendar of Isham Park Centennial lectures/walking tours for June 2012 Art Stroll:

See this link for the first tour which took place this morning:
http://volunteersishampark.blogspot.com/2012/06/1st-lecture-in-series-related-to-isham.html

Saturday June 9th: 10:00am, meet at the Inwood Hill Nature Center, West 218^th Street

peninsula in Inwood Hill Park

Shorakapok: Native Americans of Northern Manhattan
Northern Manhattan has a vibrant history of the Nativespeoples of this land.  The Urban Park Rangers along with Harlan Pruden, a member of the Cree Nation, will lead am interactive lecture and walk on the Lenape and other Native Peoples of Northern Manhattan as they also explore the Indian rock shelters and Inwood Hill and Isham Parks.

Saturday June 16^th, 1:00pm meet at Inwood Hill Nature Center:

Where's the Water? Inwood's Springs and Wells of Yesteryear (and what became of them)

Don Rice co-organizer of “Lost Inwood” will expand his presentation at the Indian Road Café earlier this year:  “Running water wasn't available to Inwood residents until the later part of the 1800s. Before it became possible to simply turn on a faucet, how did people get fresh water to drink and use? The answer: a network of springs and wells which were spring-kled throughout northern Manhattan. We'll use our virtual dowsing rods to trace their story. Where were Inwood's springs and wells of yesteryear? Are any still around today?”

Sunday June 24^th, 1:00pm meet at Inwood Hill Nature Center:

Art Deco/ WPA design in Isham and Inwood Hill Parks
A slide lecture ending in a walking tour with Pat Courtney.  Take a look at the Art Deco/WPA era design and structures in both parks.  Learn of the designers discovered during the process of the study for potential historic districts in Inwood which was selected in 2011 as one of the inaugural “Six to Celebrate” communities by the Historic Districts Council.

Sunday June 30^th, at 1:00pm at the Isham memorial terrace in Isham Park, above Broadway, enter the park at the stone gate across from West 212^th and up the sloped path or stairs by the Ginkgo tree to the terrace (follow signs). In case of rain, meet at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center:

Julia Isham Taylor, birthday celebration (JITs actual birth date: June 28, 1866) Come help to celebrate the birthday of the woman who initiated the gift of Isham Park in 1911-12. 

1st Lecture in a series related to Isham Park's Centennial

Cole Thompson with tour at Church of the Good Shepherd.  Photo: Jeff Dugan.

This morning, Saturday June 2nd, the 1st of four Centennial related lectures/walking tours for the June NoMAA Art Stroll was held.  

Beginning at the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum on Broadway at West 204th Street at 10am, the tour group heard about the preservation history of Dyckman Farmhouse Museum from Susan De Vries, DFM director.  Introducing a New York Times article from 1913 that revealed a plan to move the Dyckman Farmhouse to Isham Park as a means of preserving it, Susan explained that the move would have been necessitated by the owner of the DF at that time who did not want to give up ownership of the land in order to preserve the house.  She also revealed that the drawn image of an historic house used in the article was not the DF.  We then moved to the interior and a question lead to the fact that the DF is actually built into the rock substrate resulting in an odd series of steps above, so a move would have been particularly impossible for its fragile wooden structure.  We learned that when that owner died, the house was sold back to Dyckman family members who preserved it and gave it to New York City as a museum.

Leaving DFM behind, we strolled down Broadway past the Church of the Good Shepherd where Cole Thompson spoke briefly about the centennial of the church, which is also being celebrated this year.  A New York Times article dated October 7, 1911 describes that the land for the church was purchased from the Isham family estate.  The announcement of the purchase was actually made at the Celebration of Isham Park on September 28, 1912.
 
Moving on to the entrance to the park, the former entrance to William Bradley Isham's estate just above Isham Street on Broadway, the group then heard about the structures given with the six acres of land Julia Isham Taylor originally donated for the park.  The letter to the Manhattan Borough President in May 1911 describing her gift was reproduced in the New York Times.  Her quoted letter states, "The proposed park would include the entrance, gardener's lodge, driveway shaded by elms, and the residence, lawns, and gardens of the estate."

Cole then described the history of the mile marker built into the wall of Mr. Isham's stone entrance gate.

Next, we showed images of the gardener's lodge which stood behind and next to the Ginkgo tree. We also described the Ginkgo as most likely planted by WBI, as Samuel Isham, WBI's second son and a well known artist and author, is quoted in 1912 saying his father razed all the trees from the land and replanted "nearly all of the trees that remain." The Ginkgo also appears in a photograph on the park's 1912 celebration pamphlet.

Then we scaled the steps up to the summit of the park, pointing out the sites of the gardener's lodge and the greenhouses, using physical evidence of their foundations' footprints.

At the circular stone memorial terrace, photographs of the Isham's residence were shared and a suggestion that the principles of design of Andrew Jackson Downing http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/ajd.htm seem apparent in both the residence with its unique, cross-shaped plan and the garden, which were designed and built for the former owner, Floyd T. Ferris, a Cholera epidemic doctor.  I suddenly realized after the tour that the form of the terrace itself echos the entrance hall of the Isham residence which is described by both Helen Worden and Reginald Pelham Bolton as circular in plan.  All  of the structures in Isham Park were demolished in the 1940's during Robert Moses era as Parks Commissioner.   (More on that in the lecture on June 24th, see next June 2nd blog entry for calendar). 
 
Cole then showed some amazing family photographs of the William H. Hurst House which is located next door to the site of the Isham residence at the corner of West 215th and Park Terrace East.  Descendants of the Hursts (the couple had 13 children) discovered his blog myinwood.net and the entry he put up about the history of the house http://myinwood.net/william-a-hurst-house/.  They are now in touch with each other and Cole, greatly expanding our knowledge of the house and their Irish American family.

Tour at the SD Arch. Photo: Jeff Dugan

Cole then spoke about the now lost Seaman Drake estate mansion and its replacement by the Park Terrace Gardens apartment complex designed by Albert Goldhammer and completed in 1939. We then descended the West 215th Step Street, hearing about its soon-to-begin reconstruction guided by the architecture firm WXY http://www.wxystudio.com/, which preserves the historic composite material and the steps double-sided configuration and two historic lampposts that remain.

The tour strolled a block north to the entrance arch of the Seaman Drake estate on Braodway.  We were able to enter the arch and look at its interior, so that the tour could gain real insight into its structure.

We crossed the street to look at the site from a distance and Cole called attention to the new Campbell Sports Center for Columbia University under construction at Baker Field on West 218th Street and Broadway.  Designed by Steven Holl - http://www.stevenholl.com/project-detail.php?type=construction&id=121&page=0 - who teaches at Columbia, an architect with international "starchitect" status, the building created controversy in Inwood when its contemporary design was revealed a few years ago:
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110420/washington-heights-inwood/columbia-hold-community-meeting-about-baker-field-construction


and http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110217/washington-heights-inwood/columbia-universitys-baker-field-plan-gets-citys-approval/slideshow/popup/61086

With that, the June 2nd tour concluded.  Please come to the next tour on June 9th:
10:00am, meet at the Inwood Hill Nature Center, West 218^th Street

peninsula in Inwood Hill Park

Shorakapok: Native Americans of Northern Manhattan
Northern Manhattan has a vibrant history of the Nativespeoples of this land.  The Urban Park Rangers along with Harlan Pruden, a member of the Cree Nation, will lead am interactive lecture and walk on the Lenape and other Native Peoples of Northern Manhattan as they also explore the Indian rock shelters and Inwood Hill and Isham Parks.