Historic Harlem Fire Watchtower Ribbon Cutting ~ October 26, 2019

 

 


The long-awaited ribbon-cutting for the restoration and unveiling of the historic Harlem Fire Watchtower took place on Saturday, October 26, 2019, to the delight of the entire community. Come along with us as we walk up to the Acropolis and celebrate the watchtower’s return.

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Landmark Lectures 2019 ~ The Preservation of Cast Iron Construction

 

 

 

The Gilsey House on 29th and Broadway, was a former grand hotel built in 1867,a residential cast-iron building, It is an eight-story co-op building with 40 units. It was designated an official NYC landmark in 1979. Image credit: stereoscopic c.1900, wikipedia.org + NYPL Digital Library

The Landmark Lectures 2019 Series by The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York will host a discussion entitled “The Preservation of Cast Iron Construction” with Christopher P. Pinto, Associate Principal, Thornton Tomasetti. Included in the discussion, the historic Harlem Fire Watchtower in Marcus Garvey Park, a project that is nearing completion.

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Visiting the Reconstructed Harlem Fire Watchtower in Marcus Garvey Park

 

 

 

Image taken October 18, 2019, courtesy of a reader

 

A pop-up visit by Urban Park Rangers visiting the historic Harlem Fire Watchtower prior to resuming tours. Image courtesy Connie Lee, President, Marcus Garvey Park Alliance; Director, Public Art Initiative; Curator, Living With Art Salon, spending some time with the Urban Park Rangers today.

Harlemites and preservationists were delighted to receive the recent news that the historic Harlem Fire Watchtower, removed from the Acropolis overlooking Marcus Garvey Park in 2015 for restoration, would have its unveiling and ribbon-cutting on October 26, 2019.  Prior to COVID-19, the Urban Park Rangers opened the gate and escorted the public up to the top of the Watchtower, giving the public a bit of history and a spectacular view.

The Urban Park Rangers will open the Fire Watchtower for visitors who want to climb to the top (or even just to ring the bell). Check NYC Parks Dept for dates.

Below, a few images and history of the Watchtower as it was dissembled in 2015, and reassembled in 2019.

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