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Project #4- Brooklyn Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge

            There are many beautiful historical landmarks in New York. Many of them are created recently or have been there from a long time. They all make our state look very beautiful and are also attraction points for tourist all around the world. Many of these landmarks include Empire State building, Brooklyn Historical Society, Governors Island etc. Whenever I heard the word Brooklyn the first thing that came in my mind was the Brooklyn Bridge. I have seen it many times and always wanted to know the history of it. Instead of visiting these areas and enjoying we should also learn about there history and have some knowledge about it. We never gave much attention to one of the beautiful landmark. I will also tell you some interesting facts and why this bridge should be on a walking tour.

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Now we are talking about late 1800’s. Suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge started on January 3, 1870 and ended on May 24, 1883. Brooklyn Bridge connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903. The Brooklyn Bridge is also the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world. The Brooklyn Bridge was initially designed by German immigrant John Roebling, who had previously designed and constructed shorter suspension bridges. John Roebling however died because of a tetanus infection in his foot. The towers are built of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. Other than the Brooklyn historical society building, Empire State building, Governors Island etc. Brooklyn Bridge is also one of the most popular and a well-known landmark in New York. There have also been many stories of people jumping from the bridge, in 1919, Giorgio Pessi piloted what was then the world’s largest airplane, the Caproni Ca.5, under the bridge. There has also been an anniversary celebration of the ridge. It has been shown in many films also. Some American poets also use the Brooklyn Bridge in there poetry. Since this bridge is a historical landmark and its very famous as you can see it should be given the respect it needs.

On May 30, 1883, six days after the opening, an estimated 20,000 people were on the bridge when a rumor was spread that the Bridge was going to collapse which then caused a stampede, which was responsible for at least twelve people being crushed and killed. On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum helped to get rid of the doubts that people had about the bridge’s stability by leading a parade of 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge did not collapse or break and the rumor was proved wrong. No changes came about in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, except that more police were stationed on the pedestrian promenade. At the time it opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was 50% longer than any previously built and it has become a treasured landmark. For several years the towers of the bridge were the tallest structures in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1980s, it has been floodlit at night to highlight its architectural features. The towers are built of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. Their architectural style is neo-Gothic. About 20 people died during the construction of the bridge. Other workers fell off the 276-foot-high towers, were hit by falling debris or succumbed to caisson disease, better known as “the bends”.  No official figure exists for the number of men killed, but estimates range from 20 to over 30. Dozens more suffered debilitating injuries, including Roebling’s son Washington, who became bedridden with the bends after taking over as chief engineer from his father.

There have also been stories in which people have jumped off the bridge. On May 19, 1885 the first person to jump from the bridge was Robert Emmet Odlum, brother of women’s rights activist Charlotte Odlum Smith. He struck the water at an angle and died shortly thereafter from internal injuries. Steve Brodie was the most famous jumper. Cartoonist Otto Eppers jumped and survived in 1910, and was then tried and acquitted for attempted suicide. There have also been celebrations on the bridge like th 100th anniversary celebration. The centennial celebrations on May 24, 1983, saw a cavalcade of cars crossing the bridge, led by President Ronald Reagan. A flotilla of ships visited the harbor, parades were held, and in the evening the sky over the bridge was illuminated by fireworks. The Brooklyn Museum also exhibited a selection of the original drawings made for the bridge’s construction, some by the son of Roebling, Washington Roebling. As well as the 100th anniversary there was also a 125th anniversary celebration which was held for 5 days. There have also been films shooting on the bridge for various movies including Hollywood and Bollywood. On October 1, 2011 there was a mass arrest of more than 700 protesters with the Wall Street movement were arrested while attempting to march across the bridge on the roadway.

While having such a beautiful landmark in New York we should give the respect it has as one of our oldest bridge in the world and show some respect for the workers who worked so hard to make such thing. We should have more historical knowledge of the historical buildings we have so that if any random tourist asks us a question about a specific place we know what to answer them instead of being like “I don’t know”. We should also go visit these places instead of leaving them abandoned. I hope that today you gained more knowledge about the bridge and that in the future you will go visit it and enjoy the beauty our state has.

Work Cited

“Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Building the Brooklyn Bridge.” About.com 19th . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whats Behind Rev Henry Ward Beecher?

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Plymouth Church was found in 1847 by 21 New Englanders who wanted a Congregational church that had a simple order of worship, governed by the congregation. With this Purpose they named Henry Ward Beecher the first pastor of this church. Throughout time, Henry Ward Beecher was seen as a great abolitionist who would do anything to help slaves, but also as the pastor who was involved in a sex scandal. This scandal followed him all through his life making him a man of great controversy. Although, this problem got him unnecessary problems it didn’t stop him from achieving great things as a pastor. Now Plymouth Church has been designated as a historical landmark since 1961 for the impact it had towards the abolitionist movement thanks to him.

Rev Henry Ward Beecher is honored in Plymouth Church until this day. Besides being the first pastor of this church he brought the church a lot of popularity from the great things he got to accomplished. According to a book titled A Biography of Rev Henry Ward Beecher it states that Henry Beecher was a congressionalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, Known for his support in the abolition of slavery (Beecher). Therefore, he was asked to be a pastor in Plymouth Church and he accepted stating he will be a pastor of the church mainly so it can help him stop slavery. Beecher preached for thousands of people. After two years of the church just being founded it burned out and a new one was immediately build. Its design was completely different. The church was designed to seat 2,800 people. Many people even compared it as being like a theatre than a church (NYC AGO). This was all fixed so people would be able to hear Beecher preach.  His sermons were categorized by its originality, logic, pathos, and humor (Plymouth Church). Also he never stopped mentioning how Gods love was so important and that God loved with no discrimination of any kind. He even helped many slaves by buying them to set them free from their owners. One of the most famous slaves he bought was a girl named Pinky. Raising $900 the segregation of the church was able to buy Pinky from her owner. She was given a ring that was obtained with her purchased the moment that she was set free to commemorate her freedom. In 1929 she went back to the church to give back the ring and also to express her gratitude towards the church and specially Beecher (Beecher). The church was even part of the Underground Railroad because it was a common place were slaves used to hide in thanks to Beecher. It even became known as “The Grand Central Depot” of the Underground Railroad. Through his sermons he became known all over New York. Even Abraham Lincoln went to listen to him preach.

On the other hand some people didn’t like Henry Ward Beecher because apart from being abolitionist they though he was a “fake”. The reason for this was because of the sex scandal he was involved in. In 1870 Beecher was accused of seducing Elizabeth Tilton. She was the wife of his former friend and protégé a journalist named Theodore Tilton. In that moment Mrs. Tilton was one of the parishioners of Plymouth Church. This caused the scandal to escalate rapidly. Soon after the news was just starting to spread out, a radical feminist, entrepreneur and clairvoyant woman named Victoria Woodhull published the scandal in the national press, causing the story to spread out even quicker (Applegate). Even though Beecher tried to ignore it, it was too late many people demanded to know what was going on. The people that hated him for being abolitionist used the scandal in favor of them to put Beecher’s reputation down. By 1875, Theodore Tilton sued Beecher of “criminal conversation”. As the trial went down Elizabeth Tilton was asked to speak in various occasion, but she contradicted her statement every time. On some statements she stated that Beecher was Guilty, and in others she stated he was innocent. This let the jury to the conclusion that Beecher was innocent due to inconclusive evidence. The jury voted 9 to 3 in favor of Beecher (history engine). Therefore, Beecher was exonerated from the case. This scandal that lasted 2 years caused the separation of Theodore Tilton and Elizabeth Tilton. It also left some people thinking who Beecher really was.

Henry Ward Beecher has been one great abolitionist that did everything that was on his hands to help slaves. But in the other hand, he also has shown himself as pastor that spread Gods love to people, meanwhile committing adultery and braking peoples marriage. Well it is said that Henry Beecher already had a reputation of flirting too much. It was supposedly his “clerical weakness” (Giles).  He was a man that captivated the attention of thousands of people through his sermons. He made woman in Plymouth church fall in love with him causing a lot of problems in his marriage and in the marriage of all the woman who felt for him too. Obviously, this was something his wife was that okay with. She was known to be “famously jealous.” Here he was helping so much people all over the US. Buying slaves so they could have a chance to be free, so why as a man of God was he flirting and destroy marriages? That’s something to think about. What’s interesting is thinking that in either way during that time, he was going against the law with his all his actions. He was hiding slaves in the church’s basement and helping them in any way he was able to when back then it was illegal to do all that. He was also committing adultery with his friend’s wife. This could be taken as Beecher being a man that liked to go for illegal things. But it could also be considered as a mistake that shouldn’t be judged so harshly.  At the end of the day he was a pastor that help slaves gain their freedom through his preaching’s.

In conclusion, Plymouth Church is one of the most historic churches in New York. Its popularity increased since the first day Henry Ward Beecher became the pastor of the church. He may had his flaws but he achieved great things for this society. No one is perfect, but what counts is what you could do to make this world a better place to live on.  I assure you Beecher did his part for humanity. It only take to go inside Plymouth Church to know that.

Citations

  • Beecher, William. A Biography of Rev Henry Ward Beecher. Kessinger, 2007. Print.
  •  United States. NYC Organ Project. Plymouth Church. 2000. Print. <http://www.nycago.org/Organs/Bkln/html/PlymouthChurch.html>.
  • “Henry W.” Plymouth Church. n. page. Print. <http://www.plymouthchurch.org/our_history_henry-wardbeecher.php>.
  • Applegate, Debby. “Henry Ward Beecher.” New York Times 2005, n. pag. Print. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/henry_ward_beecher/index.html>.
  • “Scandals and Public Discorse.” History Engine n.pag. Web. 1 Dec 2013. <http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/3953>.
  • Giles, Mathew. “Preacher Beecher, a Sex Crazed Creature.” New York News and Politics 04 01 2012, n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. <http://nymag.com/news/features/scandals/henry-ward-beecher-2012-4/>.

Fulton Times—the change of Fulton Street

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Since I came to New York, I always walked to school; I never take any trains or buses to school, so it is so difficult to me to find the way out of the station and the way to my college. I still remember that was the first day of my school, I took the A train in Fulton Street and stopped at the station at Fulton, Jay street. I thought I lost and never left the Fulton Street in Manhattan, but the train did move in the same direction and pass through a stop. Therefore, I got out of the station and finally I found out where am I?
Brooklyn Fulton Street, the same street name in Manhattan downtown. It is named after Robert Fulton, who owned the monopoly business of steam ferries. In that time, the only way traveled to Manhattan and Brooklyn is by the steam ferries, and these two Fulton Street is where the steam ferries linked with. So as we can see Robert Fulton is the huge character in hundred years ago and his name still remain on today local history. Even though Fulton’s monopoly steam ferries business is no longer exist now, the monopolistic business along the Fulton Street still going on; the national chain stores vs. small local retail stores, and who will be last longer?
On Fulton Street, the 17-block corridor stretching from Boerum Place to Flatbush Avenue features a mix of national retailers like Macy’s, H&M, and the Gap; local chains like Brooklyn Industries, Cookie’s, and Shake Shack; and independent shops like Heart & Sole and Mirage Boutique. The retail business along Fulton Street cannot go without its transportation. From the past century, the road structure has great change and influences the area efficiently. Fulton Street has been a marketplace since early 19th century, “the street is full of pedestrians. A trolley track line was next to the (Orpheum) Theater and an over pass train track as well” (Afo). Today, there are no more train tracks, the MTA subway trains and buses replace the streetcars. And it easier for people come to Fulton Street and shop along the street. The great transportation gathers lots of customers to this street, the store owners have more chance to sell their products; however, too much customers also give the land lords an opportunity to increase the rent.
From the last century, people are more flavors to the local stores on Fulton Street, like the shops that sell hip-hop fashion, cellphone, sneaker and gold jewelry… however, in recent years, those local and independent shops are disappeared, since they cannot afford the high rent in that area and the competition with national chain stores. An associate director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail, Hymie Dweck said, “rent on Fulton Street were always around $150 to $200( square foot), but they are pushing past that now” (Julie Satow). Rent is one of the important factors that they cannot compete with the national stores. The owner of Stellar European Design, Sam Yung Kim said “driving up rents beyond $200 a square foot that may make it impossible for him to remain when his lease comes up for renewal in a year” (Berger, Joseph). Since the small retailers cannot earn as much as the national chain store did, and they still need to pay the same high rent, many stores closed, in this cruel competition, rent is like the salt, putting on their open wound, and make their situation worse.
The disappearance of those local stores make some people worry that Fulton Street will lose the African-American and Caribbean-American customers, since they like the unique style and bright color clothing, which make them show off their figure. On the other hand, “some small stores are pleased with the chains’ arrival. ‘They bring more people in this area and it’s better,’ said Frank Flower, an Egyptian immigrant who owns a hole-in-the-wall shop that sells gold chains and earrings” (Berger, Joseph). Do the national chain stores join in Fulton Street really change the people’s visit? Vicki Weiner, deputy director of the Pratt Center for Community Development who also worried about the unbalance between national retailers, local retailers and the independent shops did a survey in 2006, asking the architectural significance of the mall’s buildings, testing if the new stores in the mall did change the customers visiting. At the end, she found out that street is still “functioning like a traditional marketplace, where people see people they know and come to network and socialize as well as shop.” Weiner believed Fulton Mall (on the center of Fulton Street) has not lost its character (Berger, Joseph).
From these two stories, we understand the factor of rent influences the competition between the local retail and the national chain stores; and also the view from people about the national chain stores joining in Fulton Street. Because of the great transportation along the Fulton Street, many retailers want to join in this fantastic market; however, on the other hand, the more retailers want to join in, the higher rent they have to pay. And as we know only the large national stores can afford this high rents with ease. In the customers’ views, Fulton Street is still the same amazing shopping pedestrianized mall; but, it is a little painful to the small retailor.
In this monopolistic market, the local stores seem weaker than the national chain stores; however, generally, Fulton Street stills the unique place for the people, a mix of national stores and local retail stores. Even though the national chain stores joining did hurt some of the small businesses, and push them out of the competition; with the loss of some loyal local customers, Fulton Street still stands, continued to expands its fame, and attracts more new customers to here.

Cited Work
Afo (Aqbere, Dawuda), “Vaudeville Project-Orpheum.” What is Vaudeville? The Brooklyn Experience. OpenLAB AT CITY TECH, November 7, 2013. Web. November 20, 2013
Berger, Joseph. “On Fulton Street, Worries about Change.” The New York Times Online 20 September 2013. 20 November 2013.
Downtown Brooklyn. . Historic Downtown Brooklyn Walking Tour. Web. 28 November 2013

Satow, Julie. “National Retailer Discover a Brooklyn Mall.” The New York Times Online 28 August 2012. 20 November 2013.

Second draft of Project 4- “The Historical History Behind The Brooklyn Bridge”

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The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, was a crowning achievement in New York City history. The bridge has placed itself as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge in history to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. It took fourteen years to build the bridge which cost close to fifteen million dollars. The Brooklyn Bridge is regarded as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and is a top attraction for tourists visiting New York City. The bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 feet(about 1.8 km). The span measures 1595.5 feet. The bridge was  the world’s largest suspension bridge for some credible amount of time.

John A. Roebling was a civil engineer who designed the Brooklyn Bridge in the early 1800’s. Even though he came up with the design he never got to see the bridge because he died after crushing his foot in an accident on the bridge.  Roebling learned how to build suspension bridges, like the Brooklyn Bridge, when he was trained as an engineer at Berlin’s Royal Polytechnic Institute. In 1866 a company called “The New York Bridge Company” was founded and they hired John as a chief engineer. He planned the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, as they called it at the time and told them to make the bridge with newly available steel wire, which would allow the bridge to be larger, stronger, and longer than any bridge to be built yet. He was not the only one that died during the construction in total twenty people died during the construction. When John died his son Washington Roebling took after the leadership of the plan of the bridge. Unfortunately though, while working on the pillars of the bridge, he suffered from caisson-disease and was on his deathbed on the day of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge was a necessity and in demand during the early 1800’s in New York City, because the vastly populated Manhattan which housed 400,000 residents, twice as many residents as there are today. The resolution to this predicament was the development of the Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge. People and goods who commuted between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn could cross the East River quickly, regardless of weather conditions or any other once interfering circumstances. This was not the first time building a bridge over the East River was discussed, it was talked about as long as anyone could remember, but nothing was executed until the 1800‘s.The bridge had two central purposes which were to bear the weight of four immense cables, and they would hold both the cables and the roadway of the bridge high enough so they would not interfere with traffic on the river. The bridge was designed to have a load capacity of 18,700 tons. They designed two elevated railroad tracks, which were connected to elevated railroad systems in New York and Brooklyn, down to the center of the bridge. On the other side, they designed four lanes, two lanes on two outer roadways. To be used for carriages and horseback riders. Right over the track they provided an elevated promenade for pedestrians and bicyclists. After 15 years it helped unite Brooklyn and Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island to form a larger New York. When the Brooklyn Bridge first opened, it cost a penny to cross by foot, 5 cents for a horse and rider and 10 cents for a horse and wagon.    The Brooklyn Bridge served as an important landmark for New York City and added character. It allowed people to travel from Brooklyn to Manhattan in a very fast and convenient way. It allowed Manhattan to be a very attracted tourist area and as well Brooklyn. It allowed cars, horses, carriages, etc. to travel using the bridge at a cheap rate at the time. The footpath of the bridge allowed you to cross the river in peace by not being bothered by the traffic on the lower life and also offered a great view of the downtown Manhattan Skyline.

The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at some reputable time. . The bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 feet about 1.8 km. The bridge remained the longest suspension until 1903 when the Williamsburg Bridge overhauls it by 4.5 feet. On May 24, 1883, the opening ceremony of the bridge was described as “the greatest gala day in the history of that moral suburb. The wife of John A.Roebling was given the first ride over the bridge which represented a symbol of victory for her. As soon as the bridge opened 150,000 people poured the bridge. It carried trolley lines, horse-drawn vehicles, and livestock on its opening day. A week after the bridge opened a tragic attack happened on Memorial Day, 20,000 people died in a panic attack which said that the bridge was about to collapse. The bridge inspired more art than another other man-made structure in the United States. The towers of the bridge made the bridge become a national monument in 1964.

The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, was a crowning achievement in New York City history. The Brooklyn Bridge has many historical values behind it and serves an important factor for people back then. It allowed them to get from Manhattan and Brooklyn in a beneficial way. It was more expensive to use the bridge then it was today. Today the bridge is free to use thanks to New York Mayor William J. Gaynor in 1911, when he said, “I see no more reason for toll gates on the bridges than for toll gates on Fifth Avenue or Broadway.”  There are an immense amount of bridges that are free today but the Brooklyn Bridge is the most convenient one to use because it offers numerous features that are very useful compared to other bridges. The Brooklyn Bridge will always an everlasting change for NYC it led to many great achievements and modifications.

“Brooklyn Bridge.” Brooklyn Bridge. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/>.

“Brooklyn Bridge.” , New York City. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/brooklynbridge.htm>.

“Today in History.” : June 12. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun12.html>.

“Infrastructure.” NYC DOT. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/brooklyn-bridge.shtml>.

“10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 23 May 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-brooklyn-bridge>.

Project 4- Outline

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Introduction: Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.

Body 1: How did this place get known to everyone ?

Body 2: How was the Brooklyn Bridge Park (Dumbo) get discovered?

Body 3: Difference between how the park was before and how it was today.

Conclusion: Review all the main points and restate the thesis statement.

 

PROJECT 4 OUTLINE AND DRAFT

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Intro: The Brooklyn Historical Society is an institution which is dedicated to preserve and encourage the Brooklyn’s rich Heritage from the past.It has a diverse varieties of maps, texts, images etc to innovate people to learn more about Brooklyn’s history. One of the reasons why Brooklyn Historical society is recognized as National Historic landmark today is due to the magnificent architectural work done by George B. Post in 1881 and the  current exciting changes made by architect Christoff in 2012-2013. 

Body 1:  The Brooklyn Historical society’s 4 story building was completed in 1881 and was designed by architect George B. Post. His plan included using of Terra cotta and red brick to support the central ceiling of the library.  An article published in the NY times states that the building’s unglazed Terra cotta and repressed brick was the first building in New York City to use locally produced Terra Cotta.

Body 2: The plan proposed by Christoff will provide BHS members and visitors with improved exhibition, retail, and program space, and a state-of-the-art classroom for school groups. Clarissa who is a press conducted an interview with Christoff where he shared the benefits of renovating BHS. It will now provide full access to people who are handicapped instead of limited access. The entranceway lobby and first floor exhibition space will be equipped with updated technology for performances and events.The lower level basement and storage space will be transformed into a gallery space.

Body 3 : Comparing the changes between 1881 and 2012-2013 and talk about as time has changed Brooklyn historical society’s architecture has been magnificently improved and the new changed have added a prestigious value to the place. Thus it should be considered on a walking tour so that the work done by these great architectures for us gets appreciated.

Conclusion: Restating the introduction and making strong points which makes direct sense to the reader about the thesis/ purpose for writing this paper.

 

The Significance Of Plymouth Church

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Plymouth Church was founded in 1847 by 21 New Englanders who wanted a Congregational church that had  a simple order of worship, governed by the congregation. With this Purpose they named Henry Ward Beecher the first pastor of this church. This decision made the church increase its popularity rapidly. This reason is because Henry Ward Beecher stated  from his first sermon he was abolitionist and that he will be the pastor to have a greater possibility to stop slavery. When Plymouth church burned out a new one was rapidly build with a more sophisticated architecture to be able to accommodate Beecher and its people better. Now Plymouth Church has been designated as a historical landmark since 1961 for the impact it had towards the abolitionist movement, and there are around 4,000 adults and schoolchildren that tour Plymouth Church each year.[1]

In 1847 when the church was founded its Location was in Cranberry Street. It was a normal church that had the same amount of seats a ordinary church has. Beecher as a pastor and abolitionist gave speeches on this church but it didn’t have enough space for people to come listen to him preach. Two Years from its foundation the church burned. Even though the fire wasn’t that bad they decided to change its location and to rebuilt it so people were able to still listen to Beecher preach.

The location was moved to Orange Street. It was Designed by architect J.C Wells a founder of the American Institute Of Architects. The Church was Designed to seat 2,800 people. Therefore, it was made so people were able to listen to Rev Beecher preach. Its architecture was unique it looked more like a theatre or a huge auditorium than a church.[2]

 

[1] http://www.plymouthchurch.org/our_history.php

[2] http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/04/01/a_building_with_a_mission_brooklyns_plymouth_church.php

Project 4 Outline

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Intro – The Brooklyn Bridge is a landmark and one of the greatest achievements in the history of New York. Its grand opening on May 24th, 1883. But the bridge has also has its moments that didn’t end as expected.

Body 1 – P.T. Barnum’s Circus “Jumbo” crosses the bridge with twenty-one elephants to ridicule any rumors that the bridge was unsafe.

Body 2 – The Many deaths that occurred on or as a result of the bridge. (ex: Suicides and the death of John Roebling).

Body 3 – Safety Officials in a report in 2010 rule the Brooklyn Bridge dire in need of repairs due to its safety system being outdated.

Conclusion – The Brooklyn Bridge may seem as an outstanding and remarkable landmark but as we research further in depth we can clearly see that not everything that includes the Brooklyn Bridge have ended in a pleasing manner.

The Historical History Behind The Brooklyn Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, was a crowning achievement in New York City history. The bridge has placed itself as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge in history to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn together. It took 14 years to build the bridge which cost close to 15 million dollars. The Brooklyn Bridge is called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and is a top attraction for tourists visiting New York City. The bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 ft., about 1.8 km. The span measures 1595.5 ft. The bridge was the world’s largest suspension bridge.

John A. Roebling was a civil engineer who designed the Brooklyn Bridge in the early 1800’s. Even though he came up with the design he never got to see the bridge because he died after crushing his foot in an accident on the bridge.  Roebling learned how to build suspension bridges such as the “Brooklyn Bridge” when he was trained as an engineer at Berlin’s Royal Polytechnic Institute. In 1866 a company called “The New York Bridge Company” was founded and they hired John as a chief engineer. He planned the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, as they called it at the time and told them to make the bridge with newly available steel wire, which would allow the bridge to be larger, stronger, and longer than any bridge to be built yet. He was not the only one that died during the construction in total twenty people died during the construction. When John died his son Washington Roebling took after the leadership of the plan of the bridge. But from working on the pillars of the bridge he suffered from caisson-disease and was on his deathbed on the day of the opening of the “Brooklyn Bridge”.

The Brooklyn Bridge was needed in the early 1800’s because at the time New York City consisted only of Manhattan with about 400,000 residents, twice as many residents as there are today. So the solution they came up with was to develop Brooklyn and people and goods could cross the East River quickly, regardless of weather conditions. This was not the first time building a bridge over the East River was talked about, it was talked about as long as anyone can remember, but nothing was done until the 1800’s.        The bridge had two central purposes which were to bear the weight of four immense cables, and they would hold both the cables and the roadway of the bridge high enough so they would not interfere with traffic on the river. The bridge was designed to have a load capacity of 18,700 tons. They designed two elevated railroad tracks, which were connected to elevated railroad systems in New York and Brooklyn, down to the center of the bridge. On the other side, they designed four lanes, two lanes on two outer roadways. To be used for carriages and horseback riders. Right over the track they provided an elevated promenade for pedestrians and bicyclists. After 15 years it helped unite Brooklyn and Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island to form a larger New York. When the Brooklyn Bridge first opened, it cost a penny to cross by foot, 5 cents for a horse and rider and 10 cents for a horse and wagon. The Brooklyn Bridge served as an important landmark for New York City and added character. It allowed people to travel from Brooklyn to Manhattan in a very fast and convenient way. It allowed Manhattan to be a very attracted tourist area and as well Brooklyn. It allowed cars, horses, carriages, etc. to travel using the bridge at a cheap rate at the time. The footpath of the bridge allowed you to cross the river in peace by not being bothered by the traffic on the lower life and also offered a great view of the downtown Manhattan Skyline.

The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. . The bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 ft., about 1.8 km. The bridge remained the longest suspension until 1903 when the Williams burg Bridge overhauls it by 4.5 ft. On May 24, 1883, the opening ceremony of the bridge was described as “the greatest gala day in the history of that moral suburb. The wife of John A. Roebling was given the first ride over the bridge which represented a symbol of victory for her. As soon as the bridge opened 150,000 people poured the bridge. It carried trolley lines, horse-drawn vehicles, and livestock on its opening day. A week after the bridge opened a tragic attack happened on Memorial Day, 20,000 people died in a panic attack which said that the bridge was about to collapse. The bridge inspired more art than another other man made structure in the United States. The towers of the bridge made the bridge become a national monument in 1964.

The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, was a crowning achievement in New York City history. The Brooklyn Bridge has many historical values behind it and serves an important factor for people back then. It allowed them to get from Manhattan and Brooklyn in a beneficial way. It was more expensive o use the bridge then it was today. Today the bridge is free to use thanks to New York Mayor William J. Gaynor in 1911, when he said “I see no more reason for toll gates on the bridges than for toll gates on Fifth Avenue or Broadway.”

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“Brooklyn Bridge.” Brooklyn Bridge. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/>.

“Brooklyn Bridge.” , New York City. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/brooklynbridge.htm>.

“Today in History.” : June 12. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun12.html>.

“Infrastructure.” NYC DOT. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/brooklyn-bridge.shtml>.

“10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 23 May 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-brooklyn-bridge>.