Model of Block on Lower East Side from the Tenement House Exhibition of 1900

Model of Block on Lower East Side from the Tenement House Exhibition of 1900

tenement houses

During the Progressive Era, this particular photograph of the Model of the Block of the Lower East Side was often reused in publications and reports pertaining to tenement housing. The block was bounded by Chrystie, Forsyth, Canal and Bayard streets. It included 39 tenement houses, containing 605 different apartments for 2,781 persons. Of these, 2,315 were over 5 years of age, and 400 under 5 years. There were 1,588 rooms, and only 264 water closets in the block. There was not one bath in the entire block. Only 40 apartments were supplied with hot water. There were 441 dark rooms, having no ventilation to the outer air and no light or air except that derived from other rooms. There were 635 rooms getting their sole light and air from dark and narrow air-shafts. From 1895 to 1900 there were 32 recorded cases of tuberculosis from this block, and during 1899 there were 13 cases of diphtheria. From 1895 to 1900, 663 different applications for charitable relief came from this block. The gross rentals derived from the block amounted to $113,064 a year. This block was not one of the worst in the city, but merely typical. Governor Theodore Roosevelt made comments on the opening of the Tenement House Exhibition of 1900 on February 10, 1900. "In the former Sherry building, at 404 Fifth Avenue . . . The opening meeting was so well attended that many people who desired to be present were unable to gain admission to the building . . . The exhibition was opened to the general public on the following Monday, February 12th*. . . and in that short period of two weeks was viewed by as many as 10,000 persons." The exhibition eventually closed on February 24, 1900.

F.T. Gilling

Columbia University Libraries/Information Services' Community Service Society Photographs

1900

The Jacob A. Riis Collection at the Museum of the City of New York (photo negative #454)

Item Number: 1266
Photograph Number: 454
Box and Folder Number: 296: 42

Model

850 x 577