The Empire State Building - New York City's Jewel

The Empire State Building in NYC was  the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1972 it was also the site of a B-25 Mitchell bomber crash on the north side of the building between the 79th and 80th floors on Saturday, July 28, 1945. In thick fog pilot Lieutenant Colonel William Franklin Smith, Jr., flew into the building where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and flew as far as the next block where it landed on the roof of a nearby building, starting a fire that destroyed a penthouse. The other engine and part of the landing gear plummeted down an elevator shaft. The resulting fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. 14 people were killed and Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest survived elevator fall recorded. Even with the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday. A year later, another aircraft narrowly missed striking the building as well. Today one may enjoy views from the 86th and 108th floor observation towers 365 days a year from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. However, if you want to observe New York City at 2:00 a.m. make sure to catch the last elevator up at 1:15 a.m.

RMS Titanic Victim from NYC - A Native Son

RMS Titanic victim buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn. Wycoff Van Derhoef, of 109 Joralemon street, was one of the wealthiest and best known residents of the Eastern District of Brooklyn and Secretary of the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Van Derhoef was on his way from a visit to his sister in Europe and was a passenger on the ill-fated Titanic. Mr. Van Derhoef came this country when a small boy. Forty years of his life has been spent in the employ of the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Company. From office boy he has raised himself steadily in the ranks until two years ago he was elected secretary of the company. Besides this official capacity, Mr. Van Derhoef was one of the largest stockholders of the company.

Van der hoef was returning to New York following a business and pleasure trip abroad.
Interestingly the Belfast Newsletter states that a "Mr Wyckoff Derholf" aged 61 had booked a first class passage from Belfast to New York. Leaving Belfast on the evening of 2 April he is the only passenger to have been identified as boarding at Belfast for what was essentially a delivery trip.
He boarded the vessel again at Southampton on 10 April. The fare for his first class cabin (B-19) was £33, 10s (Ticket No. 111240).
He died in the sinking. His body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett and was delivered to Mr D. C. Chauncey for forwarding to New York.

NO 245. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 60. - HAIR GREY; AND BEARD, BALD. CLOTHING - Evening dress; "W. V." on drawers; black boots. EFFECTS - Two false teeth (top); gold ring, marked "L. E. N. to V. W."; gold watch and fob with gold medallion; 5 studs; gold links; keys; knife; glasses; $62 in case. FIRST CLASS. NAME - WYCKOFF VAN DER HOEF.

Gangs of New York - Bill the Butcher aka William Poole

William Poole (1821-1855) better known as "Bill the Butcher" was a member of the Bowery Boys gang featured in the movie Gangs of New York. In life Poole was known to throw a knife through a 1 inch piece of pine at 20 feet. He stood over 6 feet tall and was over 200 pounds was a bare-knuckle boxer, and a leader of the Know Nothing political movement. In 1832, his family moved to New York City to open a butchr shop in Washington Market, Manhattan. Poole trained in his father's trade and eventually took over the family store. In the 1840s, he worked with the Red Rover Volunteer Fire Engine Company #34, Hudson & Christopher Streets and started the Washington Street gang. On February 28, 1855 at the newly opened barroom  Stanwix Hall on Broadway near Prince Street several Tammany bruisers put $5 gold on the bar and challenged that her could not beat them all. Before Poole could make his move Lew Baker a long time rival shot Poole in the leg, abdomen, and through his heart. Amazingly he got on his feet, grabbing a knife and throwing it a Baker it quivered in the doorjamb as Baker ran for his life.  Poole died on March 9, 1855 from the gunshot wound at his home on Christopher Street, leaving a wife and a son named Charles Poole. His last words were, "Good-bye boys; I die a true American." His funeral was attended by 5,000 men and 6 brass bands playing dirges. He was buried on March 11, 1855, in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery in an unmarked grave. A tombstone was added in 2004; the grave is number 48 and 49, F/G 6(v).

Merchant's House Museum

The ghost of  Miss Gertrude Tredwell has lived at the Merchant's House Museum since her birth in 1840. Even though she died in 1933 many strange goings on still happen there today. Miss Tredwell it was said was never allow to marry her true love and is still there waiting for her true love in death. She also is rumored that in her latter years of life she and one of her sisters would only go ouy after dark as they did not want the sun to damage their skin. Just ask the many staffers who still experience the strange and unexplainabe things that happen there till this day.

Coney Island-America's Playgroung

In the late 1800's Coney was divided in two areas. At the eastern end was Brighton Beach, where large hotels for New York's upper class went up. At the western end of the island prostitution and three card monty players were abundant. Men and women wore swim suits that covered much of their bodies, weighed several pounds when wet and pulled themselves along ropes through the water.
The corrupt Tammany Hall member John McKane, ran the island. He had an iron grip on Coney and nothing was erected without his approval and  the appropriate kickback. McKane made a small fortune by ignoring illeagal going ons. He claimed that houses of prostitution were necessary on Coney Island.  In 1894 McKane was imprisoned and the island exploded economically. The visiting working-class families spread out between the two ends of the island in the area that became the amusement capitol of the world. There were over thirty wooden roller coasters and attractions at Coney from 1884 through the 1930's. Today all that remains of the great wooden rollers is the Cyclone which is the yardstick by which many other roller coasters are measured. The experts all agree that the Cyclone is arguably the most successful roller coaster to be erected at Coney Island. The area which becam to decline in the 1960's is once again on the upturn and looking towards a bright future.

I am Joe Selch a lifelong native New Yorker who loves to explore this great city and share it with other people. I know New York City from its famous tourist attractions and museums to its off the beaten path neighborhoods, along with the history that has helped them to shape this metropolis. Latter on in the day when you get hungry from exploring I can assist you in finding the best food the city has to offer, from New York City hot dogs and pizza to all types of ethnic food, as well as the fanciest restaurants.

Hi New York City (NYC) and NYCupAndDown.com are getting ready for another season of tours here in the Big Apple. We are excited as we get close to April and the 100th aniversery of the RMS Titanic and the impact it had on New York City.  A century has sailed by since the luxury steamship RMS Titanic met its end in the North Atlantic, after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage. The deep sea grave became the final resting place of the Titanic in the early hours of April 15, 1912. The lives of the 705 survivors and those that perished had a profound impact on the City of New York that was waiting to welcome her.

We are also looking forward to the Great Fire of 1835 and it's impact on business here in NYC. On the night of December 16, 1835 a fire broke out in the general store of Comstock and Adams. This fire destroyed 600 buildings and over 50 acres of the Financial District including the Merchant's Exchange (the first stock market in New York City).