There are many reasons why this stretch had been known as "Satan's Circus" and "The Tenderloin" -- and you'll find out about that and other curiosities on this blog, which is focused on a strange and wonderful one-of-a-kind block in midtown Manhattan: West 30th Street.
Initially placed on the city's grid after the Civil War, West 30th stretches from the western side of Fifth Avenue to the Hudson River. The area first became an amalgam of luxurious townhouses and eateries situated between Fifth Avenue and Broadway. These were paved roads at a time when Seventh Avenue was still a dirt highway meant for carriage drivers destined for Central Park.
Stop here soon to see unusual photographs, close-ups, and forgotten archival treats that will punctuate each entry about the buildings and personalities from West 30th Street's notorious past and present life.
To be continued . . .
