Wedded to War Historic Sites of New York City--
a guest post by JOCELYN GREEN
Monday, April 22, 1861
New York City
When Charlotte and Alice told their mother they were taking the omnibus down Broadway, they weren’t lying. They just didn’t tell her where they would be getting off. There was simply no time for an argument today.
So begins Wedded to War on one of the most famous and historic avenues in the world. In fact, many scenes in Wedded to War are set in locations you can still visit today. If you love history, this blog post highlighting some of them is for you. (Future blog posts will feature historic sites in Washington and Virginia, the other two “stages” for the dramas in Wedded to War.)
1) Broadway
Since the book begins on Broadway, let’s start there on our virtual tour, too.
Broadway 1860
Today, Broadway looks nothing like the above photo, but it did have a few things in common: dirt, noise and crowds.
The avenue throbbed with life, like an artery coursing down the island of Manhattan. Ten days into the war, recruiting offices for the Union army had already cropped up along the avenue, their entrances clogged with eager young men. Between Canal Street and Houston, the street teemed with gentlemen in spats and ladies in silks, their musk colognes and lavender perfumes cloying on the warm breeze. The white marble facade of St. Nicholas Hotel between Broome and Spring Streets dominated the west side of Broadway. In front of The Marble Palace facing Canal Street, porters in their brass-buttoned, blue uniforms opened carriage doors and escorted their elite customers inside, where they would no doubt spend staggering sums on the latest Parisian fashions.
~Wedded to War
Five Points
A few blocks south and east of all this opulence was the world’s most notorious slum–Five Points. see map of area here The street names have changed in the last 150 years, and there is no discernible sign of the former poverty that marked this area. I don’t really recommend making a special trip to see it. The illustration at right was made in the 1850s, and the one below, which was in Frank Leslie’s Illustrate Newspaper, was published after the Civil War. Both are very similar to what the characters in Wedded to War saw and experienced.
If Broadway was Manhattan’s artery, Five Points was its abscess: swollen with people, infected with pestilence, inflamed with vice and crime. Groggeries, brothels, and dance halls put private sin on public display. Although the neighborhood seemed fairly self-contained, more fortunate New Yorkers were terrified of Five Points erupting, spreading its contagion to the rest of them.
This was where the Waverly sisters got off.
~Wedded to War
2) St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral
When we first meet the character Ruby O’Flannery, she is outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Mott Street, searching the Irish 69th Regiment for a glimpse of her husband Matthew. Here is what that scene may have looked like, below.
We also see Ruby revisit the cathedral later in the novel, but stay outside the fence for reasons I will not divulge here. Visitors to New York City can still visit this cathedral, which is now referred to as Old St. Patrick’s, since there is a more recently constructed cathedral by the same name. This is what it looks like today (below).
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
Check out the history of St Patrick's Old Cathedral. Find directions to Old St. Patrick’s.
After Ruby’s visit to the cathedral, she returns to her tenement in the 14th Ward. If you’re interested in tenement living, do check out the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. It chronicles the lives of residents over several generations, beginning in 1863, and looks fascinating! If I get back to the city, I will definitely go there myself! Find directions to the Tenement Museum.
Tenement Museum
3) Bellevue Hospital
He offered her a cup of lemonade as if seeing each other again were the most natural thing in the world. As if a decade of silence between them made no difference whatsoever. “I’m just in town for some lectures on anesthesia at Bellevue Hospital this week. Two of the other doctors at Bellevue were invited to attend the ball this evening but one of them had to bow out when a patient began bleeding after surgery. . .”
~Wedded to War
Bellevue Hospital was a mere mention in the early part of Wedded to War, but without that lecture Dr. Caleb Lansing attended there, he and Charlotte would never have met at that ball just after the start of the Civil War. The hospital itself is America’s oldest public hospital, and a magnificent piece of architecture. Take a look at what Dr. Lansing would have seen:
In order to serve more patients, the building was expanded in 2005, but the original facade of the old Administration Building wasn’t torn down. Instead, it is preserved in a glass atrium. You can see it in the photo below behind the glass front.
Now here’s a photo, below, from inside that glass structure.
For better photos, including some which showcase the hospital’s impressive Christmas decorating, I highly recommend that you visit this blog post, from a New York movie location scout. He also tells us that inside the main entrance there is a neat exhibit on the hospital, which dates back to the 1700s, and a pamphlet you can take with you. (If you go, will you grab an extra one and mail it to me? Please?) Find maps, parking info and directions here.
4) Cooper Union
Charlotte sat on the edge of her chair at the association’s Cooper Union headquarters, spine straight and feet flat on the floor, as if perfect posture even now might have a favorable bearing on her fate.
~Wedded to War
Cooper Union was the headquarters of the Women’s Central Association of Relief, which grew into the U.S. Sanitary Commission, so this is where we find Charlotte Waverly in the excerpt above, waiting her turn to be examined by the medical committee about her suitability to become a nurse. Cooper Union, the tall building on the left in the illustration below, is an extremely historic building. To read more about its significance, visit this web page.
Cooper Union above
The illustration below depicts the first meeting of the Women’s Central Association of Relief inside Cooper Union. More than 4000 of New York City’s women gathered here to organize volunteer efforts to aid the Union army. Out of this meeting, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell gained support for her idea to train women nurses–a revolutionary idea at the time. What an incredible moment in history! I would have loved to have been there.
By the way, Dr. Blackwell’s New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children is now New York Downtown Hospital. Not really worth a sightseeing visit, but if you’re interested in the history, check out this bio on Dr. Blackwell. who plays a major role in my novel. Here’s the timeline of the hospital.
But back to Cooper Union. Below you’ll see it as it stands today. Find a map of building here
5) Central Park
Central Park, the first public landscaped park in America, is important in Wedded to War. Completed in the 1850s, it’s Charlotte Waverly’s favorite spot in New York City. Irish immigrant Ruby O’Flannery has a different attitude toward the park since she and her family were evicted from their neighborhood (Seneca Village), a community of African American and immigrant citizens, so the land could be appropriated for Central Park. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted became the executive secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission for the first two years of the Civil War, proving his administrative genius and saving thousands of lives. The historical figure Olmsted plays a major role in Wedded to War.
Click the image below to see Olmsted’s map of Central Park much larger.
The image below is a Currier & Ives hand-colored lithograph called “Central Park, The Drive,” painted in 1862.
This is the Central Park scene Charlotte Waverly much preferred over a Broadway promenade.
Present Day Central Park
The image below shows Central Park today. Visit the Web site of Central Park, which has maps, events, and other information. They also have a page to show you the Site of Seneca Village.
This concludes the Wedded to War Historic Sites of New York City tour! If I find more, I’ll add them. But my next project will be the Wedded to War Historic Sites of Washington!
Wondering what Wedded to War is all about? Click here for an overview and book trailer.
Jocelyn has graciously agreed to a terrific giveaway to one lucky winner:
-signed copy of Wedded to War, plus:
- Historic Maps and Views of New York:
-Bricks and Brownstones: The New York Row House
To enter, please leave a comment for Jocelyn about either her book or anything New York City related, with your email addy. For extra entries, you may follow this blog, tweet this post, share on facebook, or follow Jocelyn's blog at http://www.jocelyngreen.com/
Winner selected Dec 21 7 PM Eastern
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First of all, I really want this book. I was so disappointed when I heard 'years ago' that Civil War fiction wasn't selling. Hooray for you book, Jocelyn. It is definitely on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteI am actually drooling over your resources (I'm a sucker for old maps and more!). And I've just started researching NYC around the turn of the century.
I've heard your book listed as a resource because of the detail of research into war wounds!
Thanks for the chance to be in the drawing, ladies!
debraemarvin at yahooooo
What a wonderful blog post!
ReplyDeleteThe novel and resources look fascinating. I've had only two short visits to NYC, and loved it as much as I always dreamed I would.
Thank you for this chance to win this generous prize.
Thank you, Margo and Debra, for coming by! Isn't Jocelyn's research incredible? I've been to NYC several times but have never been to these places. Now I want to go back, armed with what I know.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn, for being my guest this week!
Anything New York or more specifically NYC related has totally claimed my attention as of late lol I'm giving my sister a weekend trip to NYC for Christmas :) So I'm kinda consumed lol. I also happen to love history and this was fascinating! I love how you compared the Cooper Union building. Your blog title comes to mind that "history repeats itself" and it's so true. All of the books look fabulous! I've never heard of Jocelyn before, so I'll have to look into her some more :) Oh and I also signed up to be a follower because I'd love to continue reading your blog! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteYour newest follower,
Hannah
hccelie[at]gmail[dot]com
Hannah, thanks so much for coming! I have you down for two entries. Good luck!
DeleteGreat post. I love the old photos of NY. Such a fascinating part of our Nation's history. I'd love the opportunity to win.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jodie Wolfe
digging4pearls(at)comcast(dot)net
Aren't hose pictures incredible, Jodie? NY is a terrific place for history. My family has roots in the city. I wrote about one of my relatives, Katherine Meager, in an earlier post about the General Slocum disaster.
DeleteThanks for coming by! Good luck in the giveaway
Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by this morning! Both of the resource books we are giving away would be fantastic coffee table books--they are just gorgeous! So good luck to all for the drawing. Hannah, I'm sure you'll love following Kathleen's blog here. I know I do! If you'd like to see more about my fiction series, see www.heroinesbehindthelines.com. But I also write nonfiction, so you might check out my author Web site at jocelyngreen.com. Thanks again for participating in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteI'm wishing i could enter this myself! LOL Thank you so much, Jocelyn, for your generosity in giving these gorgeous books away. I read Wedded to War and absolutely loved it. You all can read my review in a previous post: http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com/2012/09/giveaway-wedded-to-war-by-jocelyn-green.html
DeleteFascinating stuff about NY history! I once had the privilege of being a guest speaker in several churches in Brooklyn and Queens. During the day I had time to roam, so I took the subway to Battery Park and zigzagged north all day until I hit the north side of Central Park. That evening a local pastor looked at me with wide eyes and said, "There are people who live their whole lives here and never do what you did today."
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing for the book! :)
Hi, Rick. Thanks so much for stopping in and leaving a comment for Jocelyn.
DeleteWow! Thanks for all the fascinating history of New York. My novel releasing in May takes place in 1865 just after the Armistice. It begins in Maryland at Pt. Lookout and ends in Louisiana. I would love to have the book about brownstones and I would love to read your book. Thanks for such a great opportunity.
ReplyDeletemarthalrogers(at)sbcglobal.(com)
Thank you for visiting, Martha! Jocelyn's book is incredible. Yours sounds really good, too. I am a huge Civil War fan, so I'll be looking for it. Good luck on the giveaway!
DeleteLove Civil War books. Looks like a very enjoyable book. I have never been to New York and the information from the book would be great. Row houses have always fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your faithful visits. I have you down for two entries. Good luck!
DeleteJocelyn, I really love history and loved reading this book. I got it from the library but would love my own personal copy. Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeleteamandabarratt33(at)gmail.com
Hey, Amanda
DeleteThanks for stopping by today. It was a terrific book, wasn't it? And the two other resources look amazing, too. Good luck!
One of these days, I want to get to NY...along with a whole bunch of other places! :) How cool that they saved that one building's front. rmjagears AT gmail DOT com
ReplyDeleteMelissa be prepared to be amazed when you do get there. It is even "bigger" than you can imagine. Thanks for coming by today! Good luck on the giveaway.
DeleteGreat post. I would be so excited to win a signed copy of Wedded To War. I love to read about history and I'm sure I would love reading this book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway.
Katie Johnson
johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com
Hey, Katie
DeleteThank you for coming by and leaving a comment. If you love reading about history, then Wedded to War is a book you won't want to miss. Good luck!
How interesting to see these places you reference. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi, Davalyn. So nice to have you come by. Wedded to War really brings these places to life. Good luck on the giveaway!
DeleteWonderful article, and wonderful blog. Seeing so much about old New York City was great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine! I appreciate your visit and kind words.
DeleteI would really, really, like to have this book, it sounds so good. Thank you for hosting this giveaway.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I follow both you and Jocelyn by email.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Hi, Wendy. I have you down for three entries. Thanks so much, and good luck!
DeleteI've been to New York City once and it was amazing!
ReplyDeletechambanachik (at) gmail (dot) dom
NYC is a destination one never forgets! Thanks for visiting. Good luck on the giveaway.
DeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! Have to agree with Deb M., a sister New Yorker--I would LOVE to win Wedded to War. Always loved Civil War stories, and never knew why they kind of left the scene--even for a short time! So glad to hear they're back!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL historic photos of N.Y.!
Thanks for this opportunity, ladies!
Pat, thanks so much for coming by. I knew you write qabout the Native Americans form New York, but I didn't know you were a New Yorker, too! How delightful! I will have to have you come and do a guest post one of these days here. Blessings, and good luck!
DeleteHoly cow, that was quite the article and an amazing number of great pics an facts. Thanks for sharing this Jocelyn and Kathy! I have the book so don't put me in the drawing! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carrie! Jocelyn made such a beautiful blog post about NY I just had to have her come by and share it here. So glad you came by today to visit. Are you sure you don't want to try for the research books?
DeleteThis is one of the best articles I've seen pertaining to a book. I love Civil War novels, and I would love to win this contest. Jocelyn, if you're checking in on the comments on this blog, thank you so very much for the education through this blog post. I'm so excited about this book. If I don't win a copy I will definitely be buying a print copy. No ebooks for this one. You have certainly done your homework, and to the benefit of each of us who will be reading your book, "Wedded to War!" Thank you very, very much for your article and the opportunity to win this wonderful gift!
ReplyDeleteNancee
quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Nancee, you are so right about Jocelyn doing her homework. She is a consummate researcher and yet she makes it all so engaging within her story. You are going to love Wedded to War.
DeleteBlessings!
I love Civil Historical Fiction and there doesn't appear much of it now. I haven't read of that period that was set in New York. I am so excited about this book that I added it to my wishlist. Thank you for this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love the pictures!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Nancee, thank you so much for the kind words and for deciding to buy a print copy of WTW if you don't win! I'm delighted that you and so many others have enjoyed this post. I do plan to do another one on historic sites of Washington DC (commonly called Washington City during the Civil War) that appeared in Wedded to War. That one is going to take a while, and I need to wait until I finish editing novel #2- Widow of Gettysburg. But it is on my to-do list, and it's going to be great fun! For those of you interested in historic maps and photos of the Civil War, I'd encourage you to check out http://heroinesbehindthelines.com/?page_id=2 for a sneak preview. You can click on the thumbnail images and they will become much larger.
ReplyDeleteI've so enjoyed reading all the comments. It's very motivating to me as I go back now with my red pen and polish up the manuscript for Widow of Gettysburg. Thanks and good luck to all!
Kathleen, thanks again for hosting this blog post and give-away, and for your support of both WTW AND Widow!!!! :) (Kathleen was a beta reader for Widow!)
Wow, the history you shared was amazing! How do you go about your research? And do you read a lot of history books? I posted on Facebook and twitter and I'm following both blogs :)
ReplyDeleteJasmine A.
montanamade(@)gmail(.com)
welcome, Jasmine and thanks for visiting. You have 5 entries. Good luck!
DeleteVery interesting information on NYC. I've never been there, but have read about some of the buildings/areas mentioned. Very fascinating!
ReplyDeletemay_dayzee(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
thanks for visiting, Kay. Good luck on the giveaways.
DeleteI have this book on my wish list and would really love to read it. I live just 3 hours from New York City in 1980-1983 and never got to visit. thank you for the
ReplyDeletewonderful article.
godblessamerica.jan(at)gmail(dot)com
Jan, sorry you never got to see the Big Apple. It is an experience you never forget. I had the best tour guides--both of my brothers lived there in the 80's. It was wonderful.Blessings, and best of luck in the drawing.
DeleteYes, Jasmine, I do a lot of research. :) I read lots of history books to prepare for each novel, and I even have a selected bibliography in the back of each book, so if you want to dig deeper into anything, you can see what resources are out there. In addition to reading books, I visit locations when I can and sift through primary sources at historical societies. I've put together a list of resources I used for Wedded to War here: http://heroinesbehindthelines.com/?page_id=13 I do make use of the Internet as well. Google Books has many old books online in their entirety. (http://books.google.com) So I will search through those quite often. Other Internet searches lead to some interesting things--but usually I need to fact check them against other sources. :) Another thing I do is when I find a good history book, I always look at the bibliography to see what other books I need to check out. This has been a very valuable practice! I spent nine months researching Wedded to War and three months writing. Most of the information I shared in this blog post, I learned while researching the novel.
ReplyDeleteGreat article! I'm SO fascinated by New York's history, so both books sound amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi, Elizabeth. Thanks for stopping in! Actually, there are three wonderful books being given away, so one lucky winner will have quite a bonanza. Good luck!
DeleteVery interesting! I only have ever gotten to spend part of a day in NYC. I did get to see Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty which were neat. I know there is much to see there!
ReplyDeleteI also am a follower of your blog.
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi, Patty. That's funny--those are the two sites I never got to see. I bet it was amazing. Thanks for the follow--I have you down for two entries. Good luck!
DeleteI would love to win. I absolutely love the Civil War era and love fiction and nonfiction books alike from that genre. Many years ago, I had a history teacher for 5th and 6th grade who was a Civil War buff. He did so much in class about different things to do with it. He took part in reenactments and spoke about that time period at public events. He is the one who made me love U.S. history and the Civil War era.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
deamundy(at)gmail(dot)com
DEanna, I am deeply jealous of your wonderful teacher. I would have had such a school girl crush! heehee. Thanks for coming by and good luck on the drawing! I have you down for two entries.
DeleteI don't know much about New York, except it has cold winters. And, one of my granddaughters used to go there pretty often, and she told me you could see just about anything on the streets of New York City, Lots of weird stuff. My baby brother lives in NY about 6 hours from NYC. And, all of his kids. It is too far away, so hardly ever see him. ( I would love to win this book for a gift. I follow Joycelyn's blog, also follow History Repeats Itself, and posted this to my Facebook page.) This should give me 4 entries!
ReplyDeleteMaxie ( mac262@me.com )
Hey, Maxie, thanks for coming by! Yes, 4 entries for you. Thanks for those follows, and for sharing on FB. Good luck!
DeleteI love Civil War books, and your book sounds amazing. I also enjoyed your blog post. I recently watched the new show, Copper, and it dealt with the Five Points area and people. I follow your blog and I signed up for Jocelyn's newsletter. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteRose
harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Rose. Good luck on the giveaway! I have you down for three entries.
DeleteAnd our winner, selected by Random.org, is Wendy Newcomb! Congratulations, Wendy. I will be emailing you shortly to exchange contact information.
ReplyDeleteThank you everybody for making this a fantastic week here with our great guest, Jocelyn. I appreciate each one of you!
Blessings, and a very Merry Christmas to all.
I wanted to check back and see if the drawing was done. I am going to buy this for myself for Christmas and I'm already looking forward to the next book. Thanks so much Kathy and Jocelyn. What a great post!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you all!
Just found a terrific website for old NYC maps: http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11220
ReplyDelete