I am frequently guilty of making personal comments here Rob, but how can I help it when you include the pub where we had both our 25th and 50th high school reunions? Also my great grandfather, Max Simson, a New York character in his own right ( Google Max Simson goes Jail, Lottery, NY Times) is buried in Woodlawn.
Personal comments are the best ones! And that story about your great-grandfather was wild! The government should have taken him up on his offer! What was the outcome of his trial?
Max was picked up several times, always on the same basic issue--selling foreign lottery tickets. Max did not understand the bail system. The Times at one point called for the release of his certificates so he could sell them and and make bail. Some of the articles also mention that he was close to an unnamed "congressman." There, the family legend has it that he was a statistician and insurance man who was close to Senator Wagner (father of Mayor Wagner I believe) and that Max helped write the underlying legislation for Social Security. In fact, Max wrote a book about the power of compound interest in government finance, which is still avaialble in some libraries. I believe the upshot was that the congressman, whoever that was, protected Max from great harm.
I found this material ca. 2010, and read it to my father who was then blind and in his old age. He started laughing so hard! Nobody in the family knew about Max's time in jail, but they did remember that he was obsessed with eliminating the national debt.
Probably my favorite NYC neighborhood outside of Staten Island. Nice and quiet, relatively suburban, but has that direct rail connection to Manhattan that County Richmond doesn't have (and likely never will). And if I ever wanted to go out on a bender without driving my car, Woodlawn would be the perfect place!
Banger (as was Red Hook.) Love the photo of the mini stonehenge with Mary and the frog presiding, and the the photo of the stone edifice with the yellow mold (or whatever) at the bottom.
I graduated with a civil engineering degree in 2016 from City College, and went on an annual trip sponsored by "the Moles" (https://themoles.net/web/pages/home), which is a "fraternal organization of the heavy construction industry" focused on the construction workers and engineers who make tunnels, in which they invite engineering students from all over the region to check out an active site. Our trip was to the 2nd Ave subway line. This was in late 2015, and we got to walk down a section of finished tunnel (minus the track) from an big cave where a station would be to one that was starting to be roughed in. It was wild looking 5 stories up and seeing some sort of street grating above us.
Wow! What an amazing opportunity! It really is mind-boggling how much goes on beneath the surface. I would love to see a Moles vs Sandhogs tunnel off. Thanks Ehren!
Many thanks for covering Woodlawn Cemetery - and especially for the link to the Woodlawn guidebook from the 70’s. I grew up in the Bronx but regrettably never visited Woodlawn (although I did visit Green-Wood many times while living in Brooklyn). I longingly look at brief glimpses of the cemetery on the right side of the train as I ride Metro North into the City from Connecticut. You’ve inspired me to make a special trip there this year.
I am frequently guilty of making personal comments here Rob, but how can I help it when you include the pub where we had both our 25th and 50th high school reunions? Also my great grandfather, Max Simson, a New York character in his own right ( Google Max Simson goes Jail, Lottery, NY Times) is buried in Woodlawn.
Personal comments are the best ones! And that story about your great-grandfather was wild! The government should have taken him up on his offer! What was the outcome of his trial?
Max was picked up several times, always on the same basic issue--selling foreign lottery tickets. Max did not understand the bail system. The Times at one point called for the release of his certificates so he could sell them and and make bail. Some of the articles also mention that he was close to an unnamed "congressman." There, the family legend has it that he was a statistician and insurance man who was close to Senator Wagner (father of Mayor Wagner I believe) and that Max helped write the underlying legislation for Social Security. In fact, Max wrote a book about the power of compound interest in government finance, which is still avaialble in some libraries. I believe the upshot was that the congressman, whoever that was, protected Max from great harm.
I found this material ca. 2010, and read it to my father who was then blind and in his old age. He started laughing so hard! Nobody in the family knew about Max's time in jail, but they did remember that he was obsessed with eliminating the national debt.
Probably my favorite NYC neighborhood outside of Staten Island. Nice and quiet, relatively suburban, but has that direct rail connection to Manhattan that County Richmond doesn't have (and likely never will). And if I ever wanted to go out on a bender without driving my car, Woodlawn would be the perfect place!
It is the ultimate bar crawl spot, especially if you fancy some chips between pints!
Very cool post! Loved to learn about sandhogs and because it’s NYC, of course the cemeteries are full of ICONS
Thanks! After reading Colum McCann's book years ago, I loved finding out that parts of it were inspired by a true story. Sandhogs are incredible!
So how was your spice bag? I feel so uncomfortable asking.
I'm not going to answer that.
I’d like a memorial manhole cover when I die too.
Better get diggin.
Woodlawn sadly stands out for no traffic cones.
What the hell?? I'll be sure to atone for my sins in the bonus!
I never knew about jazz corner. Will definitely check that out one day. The info on the sandhogs was fascinating as well
Worth a pilgrimage!
Banger (as was Red Hook.) Love the photo of the mini stonehenge with Mary and the frog presiding, and the the photo of the stone edifice with the yellow mold (or whatever) at the bottom.
I graduated with a civil engineering degree in 2016 from City College, and went on an annual trip sponsored by "the Moles" (https://themoles.net/web/pages/home), which is a "fraternal organization of the heavy construction industry" focused on the construction workers and engineers who make tunnels, in which they invite engineering students from all over the region to check out an active site. Our trip was to the 2nd Ave subway line. This was in late 2015, and we got to walk down a section of finished tunnel (minus the track) from an big cave where a station would be to one that was starting to be roughed in. It was wild looking 5 stories up and seeing some sort of street grating above us.
Wow! What an amazing opportunity! It really is mind-boggling how much goes on beneath the surface. I would love to see a Moles vs Sandhogs tunnel off. Thanks Ehren!
I really like your photogaphy. And jealous of your energy. Don't forget Broad Channel.
Means a lot coming from you, thanks Rowland! And, despite drinking way too much coffee, I'm always exhausted. I'd never forget Broad Channel!
Many thanks for covering Woodlawn Cemetery - and especially for the link to the Woodlawn guidebook from the 70’s. I grew up in the Bronx but regrettably never visited Woodlawn (although I did visit Green-Wood many times while living in Brooklyn). I longingly look at brief glimpses of the cemetery on the right side of the train as I ride Metro North into the City from Connecticut. You’ve inspired me to make a special trip there this year.
It is definitely worth the trip. Even without the history, it's a beautiful place to visit.
Hey Rob. Curious question. Do you happen to know where Phil Schaapp the Jazz historian is buried? May be in Woodlawn too.
I don't know, but Woodlawn seems like it would be a good place for him to be.
Great article! Thank you!
Thanks Gene!