Flashback: The Old Croton Distributing Reservoir

In an 1844 edition of the Columbia Spy, Edgar Allen Poe wrote, “When you visit Gotham, you should ride out Fifth Avenue, as far as the distributing reservoir, near Forty-third Street, I believe. The prospect from the walk around the reservoir is particularly beautiful. You can see, from this elevation, the north reservoir at Yorkville; the whole city to the Battery; and a large portion of the harbor, and long reaches of the Hudson and East Rivers." He's talking about the Croton Reservoir, of course, where the New York Public Library now stands. (In fact, you can still see some remains of it there.)

Allegedly that elevation Poe referred to was from the promenade, which hosted groups of gatherers on a daily basis, making for a "delightful scene at night, with the moonlight dancing on the water." Forgotten-NY points out that there was even a Croton Cottage, at 5th Avenue and 40th Street, which stood from 1845 to 1863 and provided refreshments for visitors (it burned down during the NYC Draft Riots). The city also designated a potter's field to the west of the reservoir as a public park, called Reservoir Square.

The reservoir, a massive tank holding water from the Croton River, boasted walls 50-feet tall and 25-feet wide. It was completed in 1842—a moment historian Henry Collins Brown called "the greatest forward stride in the city's history, [with] the general introduction of running water." (Prior to that, think rain buckets.) By the 1890s it was being torn down since it was no-longer-needed... and by 1902 the cornerstone was laid for the New York Public Library's main branch.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on February 4, 2010 9:00 AM

Comments [rss]

spiritross

This is great stuff.

FYI for adventure the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail begins at Van Cortland Park and goes all the way up to the Croton Damn in Westchester - about 40 miles. It's a great mountain bike and hiking trail with many ruins along the way.

http://www.aqueduct.org/node/35

elpollodiablo

Hey-o, synchronicity! I just finished EL Doctorow's 'The Waterworks,' in which the reservoir is featured prominently. Was curious what it looked like; thanks for the post!

pauletto

It looks like the 3rd and 5th photos include the Knox Hat building, which is still standing on the SW corner of 40th and Fifth, although it is tied into that bank tower with the serrated edge. Knox Hats was a big deal back in the day, and the building's architect was the same that designed Grant's Tomb.

By the way, the reservoir is desinged in an egyptian revival style.

Mordicai

I wrote a NaNoWriMo with some friends a few years ago where the Croton Reservoir features mightily:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/therefore-a-cruel-messenger-%28black-white%29/7212564

Mordicai

I wrote a NaNoWriMo with some friends a few years ago where the Croton Reservoir features mightily:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/therefore-a-cruel-messenger-%28black-white%29/7212564

schadenfreudian mensch

Practically no traffic.

Snoopy

And not even one bike messenger can be seen. Oh the good old days.

JenChungsBaby

And don't forget the Croton Reservoir Tavern:

http://www.crotonreservoirtavern.com/mainmenu.html

deegie

On a NY Public Library tour several years ago, I was told that the stones from the old Croton reservoir were used to construct the beautiful St Paul the Apostle Catholic church on 9th Ave up around 60th.

Alex

Very cool. Didn't know this existed.

JenChungsBaby

You can still see some great old manhole covers from the Old Croton Aqueduct on the UWS. Just inside the park on a path right around 85th street there are a couple of classics that I'm surprised haven't been stolen yet.