New Guidebook Explores 400 Years of Manhattan History

Chronicles Of Old New York: Exploring Manhattan’s Landmark Neighborhoods

Author James Roman; Publisher: MuseyonGuides; Softback 209 pages; $17.95

The history of New York is written in its streets and neighborhoods. And to discover Manhattan’s past, a new guidebook--Chronicles of Old New York: Exploring Manhattan’s Landmark Neighborhoods—will guide you along the way. Written by local historian James Roman, the book features 25 concise, informative chapters on Manhattan’s 400-year old history peppered with episodes about the city’s early prominent families—the Rhinelanders, Astors, Vanderbilts—as well as about those whose creative efforts made the city what it is today—Stanford White, Gertrude Whitney, Robert Renwick, Robert Moses, to name a few. Each article features a detailed map for visiting the sites.

There are 58 historical maps along with vintage photographs and a helpful history timeline. Nine walking tours of historic New York neighborhoods are also featured with detailed maps and public transport directions.

The book is so fascinating in its historical detail and city lore that one cannot put the book down and presents a delightful afternoon of informative reading. The author, who works as a real estate broker and who lectures extensively on Manhattan’s architecture, presents life during the city’s earliest days, when Greenwich Village was a bucolic suburb; and disease was a fact of daily life because of the city’s polluted drinking water. There is an interesting section that explains how fresh water was brought to the city.

Ronan also chronicles the move north as lower Manhattan became overcrowded forcing the few and privileged to seek haven in the bucolic confines of central and northern Manhattan. He also addresses the city’s dark side--from the slums immigrants were forced to live in to Harlem’s Prohibition-era speakeasies.

The conciseness of the book’s text makes for easy absorption of the facts so clearly presented. And the lively biographies of past New York denizens and luminaries provide plenty of characters with whom to interact during or after a “neighborhood” walk.

Helpful as well is the special section that details the different architectural periods the city’s townhouses represent, not to mention the book’s easy-to-carry size.

Overall, Chronicles of Old New York provides a wonderful incisive look into what many call the world’s greatest city. So pick up a copy and put on a pair of walking shoes and explore Manhattan’s many delights.

                                                                                                -- PW Mooney