There is an old Irish song that starts, "In the year of our lord eighteen hundred and six, we set sail from the cold bay of Cork. We we sailing away with a cargo of bricks for the grand city hall in New York." Seeing your photo of the 1812 city hall made me think of the contibutions made by so many from so many places. THANK YOU for another great read.
I used to know that song! Yes, that 20th-century America was built by immigrants is so important—and makes today's prevalent negativity toward immigrants so infuriating. Thank you for your loyal readership!
I can almost picture my own grandparents' looks of amazement as they passed through NYC in 1922, when the city was in it's "Guilded Age", and the construction of Coney Island Boardwalk was near completion! I wish I knew what my grandparents experienced then. I never paid attention to those details when my grandmother told me about her coming here... 100 years ago.
I know, it's so sad that we get more interested in our past when those who could tell us the most are gone. I guess it's normal that when we're younger we're more focused on our own lives and the future, but what a loss in terms of really understanding our ancestors' experiences. Yours, coming 20 years after mine, would have seen a very different NY.
There is an old Irish song that starts, "In the year of our lord eighteen hundred and six, we set sail from the cold bay of Cork. We we sailing away with a cargo of bricks for the grand city hall in New York." Seeing your photo of the 1812 city hall made me think of the contibutions made by so many from so many places. THANK YOU for another great read.
I used to know that song! Yes, that 20th-century America was built by immigrants is so important—and makes today's prevalent negativity toward immigrants so infuriating. Thank you for your loyal readership!
Give us your tired feet.... what a journey! Complimenti!
It was quite a trek!
Great read! So much history that shouldn’t be forgotten. Thanks!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I can almost picture my own grandparents' looks of amazement as they passed through NYC in 1922, when the city was in it's "Guilded Age", and the construction of Coney Island Boardwalk was near completion! I wish I knew what my grandparents experienced then. I never paid attention to those details when my grandmother told me about her coming here... 100 years ago.
I know, it's so sad that we get more interested in our past when those who could tell us the most are gone. I guess it's normal that when we're younger we're more focused on our own lives and the future, but what a loss in terms of really understanding our ancestors' experiences. Yours, coming 20 years after mine, would have seen a very different NY.
Your beautiful words continue to inspire me. So many of us share a similar story!
Thank you! Yes, it's a deeply felt shared history for sure!