Annotated Bibliography Baker, Kevin. “The First Slum in America.” The New York Time, Sept. 30 2001. ,
This article explores the history of the 19 century Five Points neighborhood, which included Worth Street and was known as one of America’s first slums. Baker questions Five Points’ negative reputation, which was mostly based on the fact that it was inhabited by poor and immigrant communities, and addresses Five Points value as a politically charged place, where Civil War draft riots occurred and Southern politicians blamed the immorality of race mixing in the diverse area. This review gives a short history of the forming and nature of Five Points, but also offers commentary on the way the neighborhood was viewed and its inherent values. th
Brennan, Joseph. “Abandoned Stations.” Columbia University. 2001, 2002. http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/worth.html. In this scholarly article, Brennan explains the construction, operation and abandonment of the Worth Street Station. He also provides diagrams of the old station and pictures of the remnants. The station opened in 1904 and was a part of the first New York subway. Originally 200 feet long, the station was lengthened twice to accommodate a full length ten car train. It was replaced by the Brooklyn Bridge-Worth St station in 1962. He also describes how the “Worth St” painting on the wall of the platform is now covered in graffiti and how the signs are too dirty to read. The article gives the reader a vivid image of what existed and what remains. Brennan, Joseph. “Worth St.” Columbia University in the City of New York, 2001-2. This article on the history of the now-vacant Worth Street subway station details the opening of the station in 1901, various remodeling, and the eventual close in 1962. Brennan discusses the changes that occurred to the New York subways during that time, including adding of more cars and lines. This record of the Worth St station serves as a representation of New York’s growth over time, as the public transportation system expanded to fit the population. Correal, Annie. "At Funeral for Victim of Crane Collapse, Recounting a Life, and a Love Story." The New York Times. February 7, 2016. Accessed November 15, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/nyregion/Man-killed-in-crane-collapse-isremembered-as-a-supreme-mensch.html. This article covers the biggest Worth Street story in recent years. A crane fell and killed one man, injuring two others. Newman, Leigh. “Where Everybody Knows Your Parking Space.” New York Times (New York, NY), Mar. 11, 2007. In this interesting article, Newman describes a weekly club held in a tiny kiosk of a parking lot on the corner of Hudson and Worth Streets. Dimly lit, the kiosk is the go-to spot for the members of this group. Unofficially led by a Pakistani immigrant, Jeff Asghar, the members
share their personal as well as professional problems over chips and drinks. According to Jeff, the club was founded in 1988. It has since been graced by many celebrities like Robert De Niro, lawyers Johnnie Cochran and Barry Scheck, and even John Kennedy Jr. Leigh has concisely explained the connection that these group members have developed and how it has become an important part of their lives. Newman focuses specifically on the personal aspect of this group. This story can be used to make the essay more interactive and relative. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. "Worth Square General William Jenkins Worth Monument." Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Accessed November 15, 2017. https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/worthsquare/monuments/1734. On this web page, the City of New York gives a biography of William J. Worth as well as general information about the park and monument dedicated to him. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. "41 Worth Street," The Official Website of the City of New York, Oct. 29, 2013. This article from nyc.gov outlines the 2013 public hearing by the Landmarks Preservation Commission about whether to designate 41 Worth St. as a landmark site. The building in question was a 5-story shop and loft building built in 1865 by architect Isaac F. Duckworth, who built other buildings in the Tribeca area. Built in the Italianate style, the building was occupied by tradesmen and merchants as Worth Street was part of the dry goods district, including cotton and wool merchants. The article highlights the different industries and individual merchants that worked in the building and area throughout the 1800's, and also discusses the style of the cast-iron fronted Venetian building. The article is a thorough analysis of the style and use of a historical Worth St. building. Rothstein, Edward. “A Burial Ground and Its Dead Are Given Life.” The New York Times, Feb. 25, 2010. This article discusses the 2010 opening of a visitor center for the African Burial Ground memorial site on Broadway, which marks the mass 18 century African American burial ground located under Broadway and Worth St, discovered in 1991. Rothstein discusses the site as an important spot of connection for black New Yorkers to their heritage, and a reminder of New York’s history of slavery and racial discrimination against free African Americans. While Rothstein focuses on the anthropological work surrounding the excavation and research into the burial site, he also notes the emotional import of the memorial and the enclave it represents, revealing the immediacy of New York’s slaveholding history, and also the presence of New York’s small but present 1700’s free black population. This article offered a look into an aspect of Worth Street’s neighborhood’s history that had been literally covered over, and informs the reader that the Lower East Side immigrant population was not just white and European as portrayed in many other historical reviews. th
Santos, Fernanda. “Eloping to Vegas? Why Not Lower Manhattan?.” New York Times (New York, NY), Jan. 7, 2009. This article, by Santos, is a vivid description of the renovated Manhattan Marriage Bureau on 141 Worth Street. She writes about the change of the wedding hall from dull and cramped to brightly-lit and lavish. It talks about First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris wishfully saying that New York City wants to be the wedding destination of the world. The Bureau offers a wedding band at $25, flowers within a reasonable price range, cameras and much more for the couples. The renovation was a $12 million project, overseen by the renowned designer Jamie Drake. In the article, Manhattan is said to be taking over Las Vegas’ “wedding destination” title. The information from this article can be helpful in giving a view of the development of the buildings on Worth Street over the years.
Wallace, Edward. General William Jenkins Worth: Monterey’s Forgotten Hero. Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1953. In this book, Wallace has explained Worth’s life story from beginning to end in-depth. General William Worth fought several wars and even won many for his country. Edward describes how William being dissatisfied with his government job as a clerk, enrolled in the army when the War of 1812 began. This book gives a holistic view of Worth’s experiences including the good and bad. It informs the reader of the sacrifices made by one person for his country. It provides evidence for why a street in Manhattan, along with other places in the country, were named after him. Walton, Frank Ledyard. Tomahawks to Textiles: The Fabulous Story of Worth Street. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1953. This book gives a lot of anecdotal and interesting facts about Worth Street and its history. Starting from pre-Colombian history, well past the industrial revolution.