Brief Information
From the mid-1800s into the 1980s Hell’s Kitchen was a tough neighborhood filled with violence and gangs. Most people in Hell’s Kitchen lived in tenements and during the early 1900s people’s tenements were packed, which resulted in the youth to roam the streets then later create gangs. Not only was the neighborhood had roaming gangs it also had roaming prostitutes. The block of West 39th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue was considered Battle Row because of all the fights that took place here. 11th Avenue was called Death Avenue because of all the deaths caused from train accidents; the trains rode in the middle of the streets without any warnings to pedestrians. Hell’s Kitchen was a playground for mobs in the 1980s. They controlled the streets with murder, theft, drugs and all sorts of destruction. Throughout Hell’s Kitchen history there was violence and mayhem.
How Hells Kitchen Got its Name
There are many theories on how Hell’s Kitchen got its name, one of them being it was named after a building and another being it was adopted from the similar violent and deprived part of London. Which makes the most sense because Hell’s Kitchen was the slum.
“As the cab drew up before the address indicated, the fog lifted a little and showed him a dingy street, a gin palace, a low French eating house, a shop for the retail of penny numbers and two penny salads, many ragged children huddled in the doorways, and many women of many different nationalities passing out, key in hand, to have a morning glass; and the next moment the fog settled down again upon that part, as brown as umber, and cut him off from his blackguardly surroundings.”
A Quote from the Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It describes how the slums look and it questions who would want to live there. Most people that live there had no choice. Just like the streets of Hells Kitchen
Gangs of Hells Kitchen
Throughout 19th century, Hell’s Kitchen got its tough reputation as being one of the most violent neighborhoods in New York. With gangs such as The Hell’s Kitchen Gang, the Gorillas, the Parlor Mob, the Gophers, and The Westies. Had led the neighborhood to be known for its murder site. This all started in 1851, when the Hudson River Railroad opened a station at West 30th Street, soon after the development of the railway, factories, lumberyards, slaughterhouses and tenements were homes to numerous immigrant workers. They lived in penury and close quarters bred existed between neighbors, and rampage erupted between the Irish Catholics and Protestants as well as between the Irish and African-Americans. Furthermore, gangs such as the Gophers and later the Westies ruled the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.
The Westies who were known as the Lords of Hell’s Kitchen, were consider to be the most savage organizations in the history of New York gangs. The gang is accused of a criminal enterprise involving eight murders and dozens of other cases of attempted murder, kidnapping, loan-sharking, extortion, gambling and drug dealing. And responsible for more than 30 murders during the last 15 years. ”This is the most violent gang we’ve seen,” states Michael Cherkasky, the head of the Rackets Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Unfortunately, the gangs start to break off in 1986 when Francis T. Featherstone known as ‘Mickey’, the Westies’ fearsome enforcer, decided to become a singer. Federal and state prosecutors had already been investigating the Westies, when Featherstone was convicted of the 1985 gangland-style execution of Michael Holly, a construction worker. Francis T. Featherstone, 38-year-old, had been charged with at least three other murders during the previous 17 years, yet was not pled guilty. Suddenly, the Westies appear to be collapsing under the weight of a series of anger and hatred towards Featherstone. Working with information that was provided by Featherstone, the District Attorney’s office has indicted members of the gang on charges of killing Holly. The gang’s leader and its gang members were charged with murder. Over the last decade, the Westies had an alliance with Gambino family of the Mafia. During that time, officials charge, gang members to help the executions of the Gambinos, and shared in profits from the mob’s traditional control over New York’s docks. This led the Westies to cease on the streets of the West Side. Surprisingly, Joseph Coffey, principal investigator with New York State’s Organized Crime Task Force states ”has pretty much taken the heart out of the Westies.”
Hell’s Kitchen has change a lot thought out the years. Now the area bounded by 42d and 59th Streets, Eighth Avenue and the Hudson River is known as Clinton and Midtown West. The Irish bars are replaced by French bistros and the tenements are now co-op. Walking through Hell’s Kitchen today, it’s hard to visualize how it was in the 19th century, consisting of bars and fancy restaurants. It was a home to the gangs, and a murder site. Even though, the Westie cease from Hell’s Kitchen, eventually there still lies generation of criminal violence.
The Holy Cross Church
The Holy Cross church is a Roman catholic church located in 329 west 42nd St. It is located in a neighborhood called “Hell’s Kitchen”. How ironic is that?! The church was established in 1852 and unfortunately, a lightning struck it, resulting in a severe fire that damaged this establishment. Luckily, Henry Engelbert designed the new and improved church and completed his masterpiece in 1870. This church is known as one of the oldest buildings in 42nd St. The church is made out of red bricks and terra-cotta facade which descents from a Romanesque revival style. Louis Tiffany designed the stained glass of the clerestory and came up with the idea of a dome-shape ceiling upon the sanctuary. This style was and still is very popular in most of Western Europe.
The Church’s Gothic Elements
The church is made out of Georgian and Byzantine architecture, which the style is symmetric and proportionate based like those of Greek and Roman churches.Which influences the Gothic style architecture. The Byzantine architecture is most commonly seen in religious institutions. This style peaked in the 19th century and incorporates elements of Eastern & Orthodox Christian architecture.
The Church has pointed arches on the Exterior of the church. The pointed arches is at the center of the church. From the doorway and a huge window above it. Which viewers from far can see and it gives attention to enter.
Another elements on the exterior of the church is pointed towers on the top of the church which gives it a gothic feel
The interior contains some vaulted ceiling. The vaulted ceiling is shown on both sides of the church which they parallel each other.
The Supernatural
In 1860, a bar named the Landmark Tavern opened in Hells Kitchen. It was built on the waterfront to cater dockworkers and seaman. But in the 1980’s, the bar became a favorite among a violent Irish gang called the Westies. But now the bar is a hangout for tourist and locals. But not only do people hangout in this bar but also something else lingers in the Landmark Tavern, which are at least three ghosts.
1936
One of the spirits is a man named George Raft. Who is an actor who portrays gangster roles in films. He is claimed as “the Hollywood tough guy who grew up in hell’s kitchen” His spirit haunts the bar along side a confederate civil war veteran who was knifed or shot in a bar fight. It was said that after the fight he staggered up to the second floor, knocked over books on the shelf and died inside the bathtub. Which still remains.
Lastly the spirit of an Irish immigrant girl lingers in the 3rd floor. She died in her bed from a typhoid fever in the 19th century. She wanders up and down the halls in the Tavern.
Gothic Elements
There are many elements in Hells Kitchen that makes it gothic such as the gothic forms of the architecture that is displayed on the exterior and interior of the Holy Cross Church.
Also the very unsettling things that have happened throughout the history of Hells Kitchen. Like the darkness within the gang activity that has happened in the neighborhood. The crimes and the murders, which causes humans fears.
The supernatural in the bar which also causes human fears. The bar itself is dull which gives the sense of creepiness. The fact that people have died in the bar and still haunts. wandering from floor to floor, which is unsettling. All these things is what makes Hells Kitchen truly gothic.
