We spent time in the Lower East Side today learning about the area and the people who live there. We spent time in the Five Points area which was known worldwide as a very dangerous place. There have been books written about life during the 1840’s. It was pointed out that the row of funeral homes has been on that street for a long time, and if you look under the yellow awning you can see Italian writing. The funeral home is owned by the Chinese now. So the area has a lot of ethnic layering.
The yellow awning is the funeral home
We walked a little further and stood on Bowery. The Bowery was a place the working immigrant class would go to have fun. As we walk along, my legs are getting heavier and my feet my achy, but we must move forward. Lunch is next. Katz’s was an interesting experience. It is here that all the locals stand out from the tourists. The doorman/ security guard is handing out yellow tickets and saying move towards the middle for faster service. However we are still standing in our line looking at the massive counter and not quite sure what to do. The locals standing in the same area began sharing their knowledge of how to work the counter. They were either being helpful or just wanted the tourist to get out of the way because we were holding up progress. I ordered a roast beef sandwich. This was not a sandwich; it was half of a cow. As hard as I tried I could not finish sandwich. No matter how full I am, I always look at the desserts. I must have had a longing look on my face because Matt bought a slice to share with everyone, and it did not disappoint.
Roast beef sandwich
Next on the agenda is the tenement museum on 97 Orchard Street. This tenement was built in 1863 and occupied until 1935. It is the oldest tenement in America. The tenement room had three rooms measuring 325 square feet which consisted of a bedroom, living room and kitchen. We think it is a new idea to work from home but people were doing that then. I cannot imagine having a family of six, eight, or more living in that small space. My classroom is bigger and we have trouble moving around with 25 people in the room. As a matter of fact, I am going to measure out 325 square feet and have the kids create a living space using the technology and furnishings used in the 1860’s. The will be given a card as to which country they immigrated from and a job skill. After the presentations of their space the rest of the class can critique it. We will discuss who would survive and who would not. This time period was not for the weak.
Tenement House
After vowing not to buy anymore books, because my shoulders cannot carry the load, I find a few I cannot live without, so I am loaded down again. I have one more stop before the day is over. Sherri Ward has not had the experience of buying a purse behind hidden walls, and her New York experience would not be complete without it, so off to Canal Street. In no time at all she had seen the hidden room and made her purchase. For someone who does not like to shop, Sherri Ward is catching on nicely.
