Week 23: Bridge - My Family and the First Three Bridges of New York City

 

Week 23: Bridge – My Family and the First Three Bridges of New York City

 

Sometimes all that can be found out about an ancestor is a birth date, marriage date, and death date, the bare bones of that ancestor. However, in cases like that, I ask myself, “What were the environmental influences that affected their day-to-day lives and the decisions they made?” When I can learn something about the types of homes and communities they lived in, their educational opportunities, who their neighbors were, and the types of jobs available, I can begin to understand a little bit more about them. Sometimes, even why they learned a specific trade or married a particular man or woman.

The families of three of my four grandparents (McLaughlin, Ford, and Layton) came to New York City from Northern Ireland or England during the 1800s and stayed put. The only reason I can give for their remaining in one area is that my relatives were not interested in acquiring land. They were not farmers, but tradesmen or laborers. New York City and Brooklyn, were the first and third largest cities in the USA at that time, and the area had everything they needed.

In order to get to know my 19^th and 20^th century New York ancestors a little better, here are some of their job titles:  Engineer, Machine shop foreman, Tinsmith, Mason, Blacksmith, Shoe Maker, Wagon Painter, House Painter, Ticket Agent, Fire Insurance Salesman, and Shipping Clerk.  

Among their neighbors: Cigar Maker, Printer, Dyer, Tailor, Carpenter, Ship Joiner, Spar Maker, Ship Caulker, Policeman, Cooper, Saloon Keeper, Book Keeper, Dress Maker, Store Keeper, Railroad Conductor, Silversmith, Goldsmith, Mechanic, Cabinet Maker, Butcher, Seaman, Grainer, Surveyor, Coachman, Driver, Baker, Bookbinder, Ironworker, Brass finisher, Bricklayer, and on and on.

Both my Great Grandfather Addison Ford, and my Great Grandmother, Adelia Bartlett Ford, were born at home in Manhattan, on New York’s Delancy Street in the late 1840s. By the 1870 Census, they had married and moved across the East River into the 13^th Ward of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn on the western end of Long Island. Not only did the Fords live in Brooklyn, but so did all my McLaughlins and Laytons.

The only way to cross the East River until the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 was to go by ferry. But when residents of Manhattan realized they could still work in New York City and commute to less crowded communities and larger homes in Brooklyn or Queens using trolley cars, elevated subway trains, horse drawn vehicles, bicycles or even walking, the demand for bridges increased dramatically. Today there are more bridges and tunnels to commute between the five Burroughs of New York City than I care to count, but let me show you the first three bridges that impacted the lives of my family. These opened up new jobs, made new goods and services readily available, and reduced travel time for thousands of people.

 

Brooklyn Bridge - Opened in 1883

 

Williamsburg Bridge - Opened in 1903

Manhattan Bridge - Opened in 1909

You could travel, as mentioned above, by all the ways shown on the postcards below:

Elevated subway cars, trolleys, horse drawn wagons,

or even walking.

The postcards, from my collection, show you life as it appeared in New York about 120 years ago. The period illustrated is roughly 1890 -1910. You can see sail and steam ships/boats, electric powered trains, electric trolleys, a very early airplane, horses pulling wagons, and ladies wearing long skirts walking the bridge. Today, I wish I could say things are much the same, but most of the ships, boats, and piers are gone. And you guessed it, cars, buses, and trucks have taken over. But you can still walk the bridges or take a quick ride under the river in the subway running through a tunnel.

Knowing more about the environment in which my ancestors lived makes them more alive to me than they were when all I had were names and dates. Hope you've enjoyed looking at these three early marvels of design and engineering. If you've never visited New York City, I recommend you add it to your bucket list…and take a walk on one of these fine old bridges:-)