Another Life in a Bottle -- Dorman L Ormsby Soda Water Bottler, 168th St. & Amsterdam Ave.

We reported earlier this year I found an old bottle (c. 1900) that was associated with a pharmacy located near Highbridge Park at Amsterdam Ave. and 167th St. (Adolph Joseph Linser).  We now have another bottle.  This one is dated 1896, and was produced for a local business establishment near Highbridge Park about a block away from the Adolph Linser Pharmacy.  There is every reason to believe that the proprietors of these two establishments knew each other.

This latest bottle is embossed with the following information: "DORMAN L ORMSBY, A.B. CO, 168TH ST. EAST OF AMSTERDAM AVE, NEW YORK" (see image above}.  The back is embossed: "Established 1835, A.B.C Beverages, DLO, Registered"  The bottom is embossed: "1896".  It stands approximately 7 1/2" tall and 2 1/2" wide.

The information we have uncovered about the people involved here reads like a novel with many of the wondrous elements of the history of this country and this City, the realization of the American dreams, combined with the disastrous consequences of divorce, and murder, death and tragedy.

In 1995 the City of New York Department of General Services commissioned an "Archaeological Assessment of a 33rd Precinct  Project, Site  Block 2112, Lots 10-42, Manhattan".  (Dorman Ormsby site -- Jumel Place).  See s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/arch_reports/307.pdf

In the image below the reader can clearly see the outline of the Project Site.  [Ed: For clarity, what appears to be 178th St. is really 170th St.] The Project Site extends on its northern end to 170th St ; on its western side to Amsterdam Ave., on its southern side to 168th St. and on its eastern side to Jumel Place.

For comparison to the current topography, this site is currently occupied by the 33rd Precinct Police Precinct Headquarters Building and a vacant lot immediately to the south of the police precinct building.

The found bottle, which came from a mineral water manufacturing site located within the Archeological Project Site, allows us to explore the lives of yet other individuals at various times during the history of this city, and especially near Highbridge Park.

[To avoid any confusion in identifying different people with the same name in this post, for example, to distinguish the elder Leonard from his grandson of the same name we will always include their year of birth immediately following their name.  The same naming convention will be used with the various Dormans and Watermans and other names where multiple generations in the family have the same first name. --Ed.]   

Leonard Ormsby (b. 1783)

In order to put this story into perspective we need to start our description with Leonard Ormsby (b. 1783, Windham County, CT) who, in about 1806, married Elizabeth Ashely (b. 1785, Hampton, CT). The original Ormsby family in Colonial America had emigrated from Ireland a number of generations before Leonard's (b. 1783) birth.  Leonard (b. 1783) and Elizabeth settled near Elizabeth's family in Hampton, CT where their children, Dorman Leonard Ormsby(b. 1807), Waterman Lily Ormsby(b. 1809), and Jane Eliza Ormsby (Smith) were born. Eventually, Leonard (b. 1783) and Elizabeth were divorced sometime around 1821. We will not go into the details of their divorce here, however, we do note that Elizabeth and their three children moved to New York City. The reason for her choice of New York City has not been determined as of this writing.

Dorman L. Ormsby (b. 1807)

The first of Leonard and Elizabeth's sons, Dorman L. Ormsby (b. Jan. 2, 1807, Hampton, CT -- d. after 1873) married Gertrude J. Roberts (b.1809, NJ -- d. after 1870, NJ) in 1834.  By 1835 it was reported that Dorman L (b. 1807) was operating as a grocer with his business location at 347 Bleecker St. on the corner with Perry St.  Longworth's American Almanac, New York Register, and City Directory for 1837, also reports Dorman L Ormsby (b. 1807) at the same location.  

The 1840 Census shows Dorman L Ormsby (b. 1807) as head of household with ten members in his extended household living in New York City. No details other than the count of male and female members appears in the 1840 Census.  Dorman (b. 1807) and Gertrude already had three children: Leonard H. Ormsby (b. 1836, New York), whose biographical and genealogical information we report in some detail below;  Sarah Jane,  who eventually married James Flanagan, a well known brewer of New York; and Josephine, who eventually married J. H. V.  Arnold, a surrogate. Dorman (b. 1807) was only 33 years of age at the time of the 1840 Census and the other members of his household, other than his wife and three children, were extended family members. We highly suspect that these extended members included his mother, Elizabeth, and his siblings, Waterman (b. 1809) and Jane.   We also know that Waterman (b. 1809) was already married by this time to Julia and they had a son, Waterman (b. 1834).  This extended family would account for all ten members of the family that were reported for the 1840 Census.

We also have information from around this time that Dorman (b. 1807)  who, as we indicated above, had been a grocer, registered, in 1835, a brewing company, "Dorman L. Ormsby  A B Co". The manufacturing operations of 'root brewers,' as they were frequently called in those days, was a cottage industry and could have been easily operated out of his grocery store.  It has been noted that he brewed mead, root and ginger beers, which, at that time, were put up and sold in stone jars (see images below). He was one of the pioneers in this line of business.

You may have noted above that Dorman's (b. 1807) daughter, Sara Jane, who was only born about the time that he started the brewing business, married into the well known brewing family, the Flanagans, some twenty years or so later.  We believe that the brewing operations were successful and attracted the attention of others in the New York brewing industry.

Early D L Ormsby Stoneware Ginger Jar, 1848

 In 1844, Dorman (b. 1807) shows up in the Doggett's New York City Directory as being a "manufacturer of root beer" with operations at 255 16th St. and a home residence at 251 16th St. By the 1860 Census Dorman L. (b. 1809) shows up as a "soda water manufacturer," with wife Gertrude and two children, Gertrude I., and Julia. His son Leonard H. (b. 1836, New York), then age 24, was old enough not to have his primary household with his parents.  Trow's New York Business Directory in 1860 lists "Dorman L Ormsby & Son Mineral Waters" with a business location of 423 W 16th St. and 288 W 17th St.  Of course, the "Son" is Leonard H. (b. 1836).

We have found an example of bottle he was using at thE 423 W. 16th St. address here:

In 1861 the New York Times reported that Dorman (b. 1807) and Leonard (b. 1836) were being sued for running over and killing a child with their brewery delivery wagon.  

[see www.nytimes.com/1861/11/01/news/pleading-practice-on-demurrer-supreme-court-special-term-before-justice-leonard.html]

Dorman (b. 1807) retired from the active management in 1873.

Leonard H. Ormsby (b. 1836)

Leonard H. (b. 1836 - d. after 1902), Dorman (b. 1807) and Gertrude's eldest son, was educated in the public schools of New York City, and upon the completion of his education began his business career as assistant to his father, Dorman L. (b. 1807) in the root brewing and mineral water business. Learning every detail of the business, as he did, thoroughly, under the practiced eye of his father, he was well fitted to take full charge of affairs when Dorman (b. 1807) retired from the active management in 1873. Leonard (b. 1836) personally supervised the manufacturing interests until 1902, when he retired in favor of his son, Dormon (b. 1867) and retired to Keyport, New Jersey.

Leonard (b. 1836) married Kate Dall (b c.1837, New York) in c. 1856.  Leonard (b. 1836) and Kate had six children: Gertrude (b. 1858), Lilly (b. 1860),  Rubina (b. 1862), Kate (b. 1865), Dorman L  (b. 1867, New York,- d. Sept. 8,1945,Yonkers, NY), and Josephine (b. after 1870).  Gertrude eventually married James Dennelly. Lillie married William Boyd, Robina married William A. Ewing, Katie married William Walling, and Josephine married Harry Winterton. Dorman L. (b. 1867) biographical sketch and genealogy are elaborated upon below.

The 1870 Census shows Leonard H. (b. 1836) as a "manufacturer of root beer" with Kate and the five oldest children.  The 1880 Census shows Leonard (b. 1836)  married to Kate Dall (bc.1837) living at "Walton Ave. North between 149th St. and end, NYC."  They then had all six children.  Leonard (b. 1836) is listed as a "wheelwright."  Dorman (b. 1807). changed the name of his company from "Dorman L. Ormsby A B Co" to "Dorman L. Ormsby & Son A B Co".  We do not know the year that Leonard (b. 1836) actually joined his father in the operation of the brewery, Dorman L. (b. 1807) retired in 1873 leaving the operation of the brewery to his son Leonard (b. 1836). We also have information that the brewery was moved from lower Manhattan to 132nd Street and Eighth Ave. This might explain why Leonard (b. 1836) had moved his family to near 149th St.

Waterman L. Ormsby (b. 1809)

While Dorman (b. 1807) was developing his brewery business, it is worth noting that his younger brother (by two years), Waterman Lily (b. 1809), who grew up as a member of Dorman's (b.1807) extended household also became a person of some distinction. Noted enough so as to mention some of his accomplishments here, also. Much of the information on Waterman that appears here has been acquired from Wikipedia.

Waterman Lily Ormsby (b. Sept 9, 1809, Hampton, CT – d. Nov. 1, 1883, New York, NY) became an apprentice in an engraving shop at a young age.  In 1829, he attended the National Academy of Design right here in New York City. Upon graduating he moved to Albany, NY where he engraved using his own name for a few years.  Then he went to Lancaster, MA, where he worked for the firm of Carter, Andrews & Co.  Eventually, he settled in New York City where he founded the New York Bank Note Company and became one of the founders of the Continental Bank Note Company.

He married Julia Ann Brainard in 1830 and they divorced in 1846.  Waterman (b. 1809) and Julia Ann had one son.  Waterman L. (b. 1809) subsequently married Amelia (date unknown).  His son from his first marriage, Waterman L. Ormsby (b. Dec. 8, 1834, New York City -- d. May 1, 1908, Brooklyn, NY) married Elizabeth Ormsby.  They, in turn, had a son Waterman L. Ormsby, Jr. (b. 1857 Brooklyn, NY - d. ? ). Waterman, Jr. (b. 1857) married Carrie Laura Bertram Hamilton (b. ?) on Dec. 4,1895 in Manhattan, NY.

Trow’s Business Directory for 1860 shows Waterman L. (b. 1809) as an engraver at 50 Wall St. in New York City.

Waterman (b. 1809) was an excellent line engraver and was called upon for a great deal of work engraving plates for bank notes. These were in wide use by the Government at around the time of the Civil War. He designed the five-dollar note, intended to prevent counterfeiting and was the author of several pamphlets, including, "Cycloidal Configurations" or the Harvest of Counterfeiture, and a volume on paper-money engraving entitled, "A description of the Present System of Bank Note Engraving" that was published in 1852.

Waterman (b. 1809) provided engraving plates and is noted for illustrations for The Columbian Magazine, a journal known for printing the stories of Edgar Allan Poe along with political and technological stories, from its first issue. He purchased controlling interest in the magazine in 1847, but readership declined and the magazine eventually failed. The failure of the magazine might be attributed to the untimely death of Edgar Allan Poe in 1849.

Waterman (b. 1809) is probably best known for his engraving of "The Declaration of Independence" painted by John Trumbull (see illustration below).

The Declaration of Independence. lithograph by Waterman Lily Ormsby. [Editor's note: the Ormsby engraving currently may be seen on the US $2 Bill on the reverse side]

Dedicated to stopping counterfeiters, he invented the “grammagraph", a machine used to copy medals and medallions onto bank note dies in order to give the illusion of a bas-relief. The device was later used as a pantographic engraving machine to produce "roll-die" engraving on metal. The machine automated an existing engraving technique that varied spaces between parallel contour lines to give the impression of depth to a print.  This was most famously used on the cylinders of revolvers made by Samuel Colt of Colt Firearms. Waterman Ormsby (b. 1809) produced half a dozen engraving scenes for Colt as early as 1839

Other inventions by Waterman Ormsby (b. 1809) included a refined transfer press, medal-ruling machines and geometric lathes that took engraving from human hands to machinery. This was because, for the majority of his career, he worked alone or with one assistant.

Waterman Ormsby (b. 1809)  is said to have helped Samuel Morse in the creation of the Morse alphabet.

Waterman L. Ormsby (b. 1834)  

Waterman L. Ormsby (b. 1834)

Waterman L. Ormsby (b. Dec. 8, 1834, New York City - d. May 1, 1908, Brooklyn, NY), the son of Waterman L. Ormsby (b. 1809), who was also a member of the extended family of Dorman L Ormsby (b. 1807) worked as a reporter for a number of newspapers in New York City. Most importantly, he became a reporter for the New York Herald.  Waterman (b. 1834) was the first and only through passenger on the Butterfield Overland Mail Stage from St. Louis to San Francisco in 1858 and wrote about it in an acclaimed series of six articles that appeared in the New York Herald. His account of the trip was republished in 1942 and is still in print today.

[Ed: see Ormsby, Waterman L., The Butterfield Overland Mail - Only Through Passenger on the First Westbound Stage, (Edited by Lyle H. Wright and Josephine M. Bynum, The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA 1942].

Waterman L Ormsby (b. 1834) married Eliza Beth Crawley(?).  Waterman (b. 1834) and Eliza Beth, in turn, had a son Waterman L. Ormsby, Jr. (b. 1857, Brooklyn, NY - d. ?  ), Sydney C., and Senter H. (twins) the latter died in his youth.  He then married Carrie L. Hamilton, widow of the late William Hamilton.

Waterman L Ormsby III (b. 1857)

Waterman Lily Ormsby III (b. Dec. 5, 1857) was the son of Waterman L Ormsby (b. 1834). His career was similar to his father's.  Following graduation from the College of the City of New York in 1876, he was a newspaper reporter, private secretary, and amanuensis, and, in 1882, was appointed secretary to the senate of the State of Pennsylvania.  Two years later he became official stenographer to the supreme court in Brooklyn, NY.  He was twice married and the father of one son and two daughters.  His first marriage was to Carrie Laura Bertram Hamilton on Dec. 4, 1895, in Manhattan.

Dorman L. Ormsby (b. 1867)

Now, switching back to Dorman's (b. 1807) side of the family and closer to Highbridge Park  Dorman L. (b. 1867), the grandson of Dorman L (b. 1807), and the only son of Leonard (b. 1836) and Kate,  Dorman L. (b. 1867) attended the public schools of New York City, and at a very early age he entered the business of his father, Leonard (b. 1836), and became practically acquainted with all the details. He kept well abreast of the times in his special line of manufacture, and was always ready to adopt the newest methods, whether of advertising, machinery or other improvements, as soon as the practical advantages became apparent to him. His business was one of the most extensive of its kind in New York, and was constantly growing.  He is the only manufacturer of ginger ale in this country that would guarantee that it will keep in any climate for one year. Dorman L (b. 1867) spent years experimenting to get this article perfected. He was a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, the Hudson Boat Club, the  Foresters, and the Eagles.

Dorman L. (b. 1867) married Susie Ferris (b. New York, 1869) on June 26, 1889.  They had two children: Leonard (b. 1889), and Adelaide (b. c. 1890, New York -- d. 1982).  Land records show that land was purchased for the new manufacturing site at Jumel Place at Amsterdam Ave. and 168th St. in 1895.  The 1900 Census shows the family and children lived on Jumel Place near 168th St. He is listed as  "manufacturing soda." The US Patent & Copyright Office shows that in 1901 Dorman L. (b. 1867) registered a copyright for his products under the name "White Fawn Natural Sparkling Mineral Water". The 1910 Census shows Susie, still listed as Dorman's (b. 1867) wife with children at 463 Convent Ave. near 151st St. Dorman (b. 1867) is shown as "garage proprietor", Leonard (b. 1889) is listed as an "auto mechanic", Adelaide is listed as an "electrical billing clerk".

It appears that Dorman (b. 1867) sold the soda manufacturing business which had been in his family for three generations in 1905, three years after his father retired from the business.   Frederick Wehmann, a german born immigrant to New York City purchased the company.  However, a 1907 article in the American Bottler tells best the story of what happened after the sale:

"On October 23d [1907] occurred the sad and tragic death of Mr. Frederick Wehmann. Mr. Wehmann was engaged in the soda water business at 39 Jumel Place, New York City which he purchased from Dorman L Ormsby [b. 1867] about two years ago. A long series of disputes as to whether Mr. Ormsby [b. 1867] had the right to keep his automobile in the cellar of the house in which both families lived, and where Mr Wehmann carried on his manufacturing business following the sale and purchase of the business and culminated in the final quarrel in which Mr Wehmann was shot by Mr. Ormsby. [b. 1867] A physician was immediately summoned and the injured man was hurried to the hospital where he lived for only a few minutes.

Mr. Ormsby [b. 1867] testified at the trial that he had fired his pistol at random and that he had drawn it only when forced to do so to save his life. After some deliberation he was acquitted. Frederick Wehmann was born in Germany about 34 years ago When about 15 years of age he came to America and for a short time was employed in a grocery store A position was offered him with the Moran Bottling Co New York where he remained for nine years.  Later he was employed as a driver by Bruckner Bros. which position he resigned to go into business for himself. Mr. Wehmann is survived by his widow who will continue the bottling business."

Dorman (b. 1867) either divorced Susie or Susie died and then Dorman (b. 1867) married Effie Dover (b. Dallas, TX) in 1913. The 1920 Census shows wife Effie Dover with Dorman (b. 1867) living at 24 Grand Ave, Yonkers. with occupation listed as "president automobile," which seems to indicate that he is the president of the corporation that ran a garage and auto supply business in Yonkers.   A 1945 obituary in the Herald Statesman in Yonkers, NY stated that Dorman L Ormsby (b. 1867) died Sept. 8, 1945.

Leonard D. Ormsby (b. 1889, New York)

In the 1940 Census, Leonard (b. 1889) was living in Texas.     

last revised 1/23/2017

The High Bridge Mystery of May 23, 1955

Earlier this month we posted the story of Max Snyder and the mysterious money he found in Highbridge Park in 1928.  Thanks to the posting of that article we were able to identify Max's son, Robert, and find out that Max did eventually end up keeping the $711 he found in the can in a crevice in the Park.

Today we have another mystery that happened around May 23, 1955 at the High Bridge.  The snapshot above was taken by some unknown tourist traveling on the Circle Line around Manhattan on May 21, 1955. There is nothing unusual about the picture, except, on the rear there is a note which appears in the picture below:

If you are cursive writing impaired the note says, "People looking down from High Bridge over Harlem River as our boat went under.  2 days later [5/23/55] a 17 yr. old boy who'd just enlisted as a paratrooper jumped from this bridge to fulfill a boast to friends that 'paratroopers can jump from anything.' He was killed when he hit the water.  5/21/'55"

Truly a tragedy, but we can find no articles in any of the local papers about this.  Does anyone have any information that they can add? Please comment below.

Another High Bridge Bridge Jumper Reported

As reported here on this blog in 2013, Ronald Donaldson, successfully jumped off the High Bridge as described here in the New York Times.  The 30 year old Scotchman jumped from the center of the 128 foot high bridge into the Harlem River.  Of course, if you are looking in the newspaper for this news, you will, most likely, not find it unless you go back 133 years to when the event actually occurred on August 18, 1880.

According to an entry in Wikipedia,  there were more individuals engaged in this  

Lawrence M. Duignan, better known as Larry Donovan (born New York 1862, died London 1888) was a newspaper typesetter who became famous for leaping into water from a number of high bridges, and may have been the first person to survive a leap from the Brooklyn Bridge. During a two year, ultimately fatal, stint, he sought to gain, and then monetise, fame by leaping from a number of bridges around New York, and later, England. He suffered minor injuries and incarcerations on several occasions.

Donovan's first recorded leap, in 1884, was from a bridge over the Schuylkill River. A year later, he made a 105 foot leap from High Bridge in New York City, an aqueduct supported by many stone arches, on August 24, 1886.

Several days later, he jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, at around 5:30 AM on August 28, 1886, a month after the disputed leap of Steve Brodie and two months after the fatal first attempt by Robert Emmet Odlum. Learning from the difficulties the two previous men had in remaining perfectly vertical during the descent, he wore shoes weighted with five pounds of zinc each.  He also wore trousers padded with "coarse cotton waste", and was attended by two rescue boats. He was immediately arrested, and fined $10 for obstructing traffic.

Although the New York Times dubbed him "Crank No. 3" (after Odlum and Brodie), it pointed out that his leap was higher than Brodie's (143 feet vs 120 feet) and was a jump, rather than falling from the underside of the deck, as in Brodie's case.

Having earnt $200 in a wager for this success, he began to seek other opportunities in the field. He was, however, denied permission to leap from Genesee, on October 20 by the Mayor of Rochester, telling a newspaper that he would join a circus and do a high jumping act. However, he attempted to jump from the bridge anyway, three days later, but was caught by police.

In early November 1886, he set his sights on Niagara Falls, apparently without immediate financial incentive, but with the hope of future returns. He visited Niagara Falls to find a site to jump from, rejecting the "old bridge" before settling on the new Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge . This bridge had only seen one previous jump, a Bellini in 1873, who performed a sort of bungee jump. In the company of a ferryman, a few members of the press, and his trainer, J. Haley, Donovan made the leap at 7 AM, wearing the same outfit he used for the Brooklyn Bridge jump. The height was calculated at 190 feet. After swimming to safety, he was spitting blood, and shaken by the experience, refusing to repeat the leap for less than a million dollars. He was diagnosed with a displaced rib and bruised lung.

After the leap, he swore that he wouldn't "degrade [himself] by going into a dime museum", apparently envisaging more sophisticated ways of earning an income from his pursuit. He planned another attempt on Genesee Falls, in the summer of 1887, and to "swim the Niagara Rapids farther than[William] Kendall did".

This was soon followed by a leap from the Chestnut Street Bridge  (88 feet) in Philadelphia into the Schuylkill River. He achieved this latter feat at 7 AM on February 18, 1887, inviting a "score of reporters and prominent sporting men" to witness the leap, made wearing shoes with lead-lined soles.^[8] He was "badly winded, and a little stream of blood gushed from his mouth", but was otherwise uninjured.^[8] He was, however, arrested and spent three months at "The Tombs" jail.  He had been intending to attempt to set a record of 500 miles in a "walking match" later in the month, and apparently still had his sights on the Genesee Falls.  Soon after, he declared his his intention to jump from the Niagara Horseshoe Falls on May 8, and to swim the Niagara Falls Rapids. Nothing seems to have come of these plans.

On April 18, 1887, he attempted to repeat his success on Brooklyn Bridge, but was foiled by his mother alerting police.  Calling himself "the champion aerial jumper of the world" and "the champion of champions", he had made a wager of $1,000 to be the first person to jump from the bridge. His mother, having received word, sent an urgent telegraph to police, "Please prevent my son from jumping off the bridge". Shortly afterwards, he was arrested at the bridge, at about 1:30pm, and was subsequently remanded, pending bail of $1,000 by a judge who declared "You are a fool...I am opposed to cranks of your stripe".  On May 9, Donovan was paroled in Yorkville Court by a judge who "extract[ed] a promise not to use any bridge in New-York State for such exhibitions again".^[13]

The next year, he travelled to England, he travelled to England with plans to leap from Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge, a height of 250 feet. He was attempting to make a living from the risky occupation, by exhibiting medals he had won and taking bets. After arriving in London on the first of June, 1887, he marked his arrival with a jump from London Bridge a week later.  However, his feats generally "found but little favour, and were only looked upon as a species of foolhardiness."

On June 22, he attempted to leap from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, but was arrested, then "discharged...upon furnish sureties that he would make no further effort to jump from the bridge". He apparently ended up spending a month in prison, regardless, and later claimed to have achieved the feat on a separate occasion.

He began working as an emcee and drinking heavily, and by about May 1888, he had professed to be retiring from bridge jumping.

Around 2 AM^] on August 8, 1888, he drowned in the River Thames after leaping 100 feet off the Hungerford Bridge in London, apparently in order to win a bet for two pounds after a night of drinking with friends. With little preparation, he simply removed his coat, and had no boat ready to pick him up. He was seen surfacing and swimming a short distance before disappearing under the water. Conflicting reports say it was "high water", "at flood and running under the bridge like a mill race", "near low water" or "very low" at the time. Although prone to drinking, a coroner found he was not drunk at the time. There was speculation that as the bridge was under repair, he might have struck a projecting timber.

According to a "correspondent" in a newspaper, at the time of his death, Donovan had been publicly appealing for money to buy a ticket back to the US, and to reclaim a pawned medal.  He had been "in condition of pitiful poverty for the past few weeks".

Danza Heights Festival at Highbridge Pool September 17

Date:  Saturday, September 17, 2016

Time:  3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

For the first time in 10 years, the Danza Heights Festival returns to the drained swimming pool in Highbridge Park. This one-of-a-kind celebration, originally launched by DANCE NOW in 2003, will include flamenco, hip-hop, swing, contemporary, and musical theater, and will conclude with a group salsa class. You'll be dancing by the end of the day!

Scheduled performers include:

• House of Duende's Urban Gypsy Project
• Swing/Lindy Duo: Samantha & Brian
• Maleek Washington/Contemporary Scripting
• Alessandra Marconi
• Wes Veldink
• Cassie Nordgren Choreography
• Billy Griffin
• R.Evolución Latina

Reserve Your Free Ticket here.

Artistic Director: Cassie Nordgren
Presented by UPCA and the NYC Parks Department

Rain date: Sunday, September 18, 2016

The Mystery at Highbridge Park

Copyright 2014, Friends of The High Bridge, Ltd., with permission

One winter day in early March, 1928, while scrambling through a wooded and rocky part of Highbridge Park, Max Snyder, age 13, who lived at 228 Audubon Avenue between 176th St. and 177th St., caught the glint of metal in a crevice between two rocks.  Climbing down between them he found a large can partly covered with black tape.  With the can under his arm he climbed to a clear space.  There he unwound the tape.  The lid was rusted to the can and would not come off the can at first.  Finally, after much effort he succeeded in opening the lid and a bundle of $1, $5, and $10 bills fell out on the ground.  There were hundreds of them and the edge of every one was scorched.

The boy sat there for a time admiring his wealth.  It looked like a million dollars.  There seemed far too much of it to count.  He picked it up by handfuls, weighing it and estimating its value.  His title to it seemed to be clear.  But Max thought it over carefully.  He had read of Alexander Lubowsky, who had just recently found $52,000 and returned every cent of it, and this had made a deep impression on Max’s mind.

The boy gritted his teeth, stuffed the money back in the can, put on the lid and started off for the Wadsworth Avenue Police Station.  On the way he met Patrolman William Stapleton. “I have found a fortune in money here,” said the boy.  “I found it in Highbridge Park. I’m taking it to the Police Station.”

At the Wadsworth Avenue Police Station the boy turned the money over to Lieutenant Levy.  It was emptied onto a table and counted.  Most of the bills were of $1 denomination, and the total was $771, considerably less than the boy’s first estimate, but still a fortune for a thirteen year old boy in 1928.  Police Captain Patrick Shea said: “Well, you’re a fine honest lad, and there’s a chance that this is going to be yours after all.  It has to go now to the lost property clerk at Police Headquarters, but if the real owner doesn’t appear in six months and prove that it’s his, it reverts to you.”

Max was in class C-2 of public school No. 115, a Junior High School at 181st street and Audubon Avenue.  His father, Benjamin Snyder, was a painter, who had been out of work for eight weeks.  “Max is a good boy and I’m proud of him,” said the father.  “It’s been a kind of a tough winter and all that, but I’m glad the boy did just what he did"

Max Snyder was born April 12, 1914 in Hartford, CT, the son of Russian immigrants, Benjamin and Rose Snyder who immigrated to the United States in 1907.

So, the mystery is who’s money was it that Max found? And, did that person ever claim the money?

Two years later in 1930, the US Census reported Max as living only a short distance away at 600 W 178th St. with his father and mother. The1940 US Census reported Max, age 26, as living at 280 Wadsworth Ave. between 187th and 188th Streets, still living with his parents. Max reported himself as a mail order clerk.  Max was inducted into the Army two years later in September, 1942 and served in the armed forces during World War II

It is not known as of this writing if Max ever married. Max died in Bergen County NJ in December, 1980  at the age of 66.

The information included here is based upon, in part, on an article that appeared in the Montreal Gazette, March 2, 1928.

If anyone has any additional information on the mystery or on Max himself, please let us know.

last revised 9/8/16

Where to Park near the High Bridge

We know that there is a limited amount of parking and it is difficult to find a parking space on the street near the High Bridge and Highbridge Park.

These are the locations for parking facilities in this area and published rates.  Good Luck and have a great time.


Name                  Address                 Cross Street                      Rate

Manhattan

MTP Parking     4070 Broadway     Btwn. 171 & 172 St.         $18/2 hrs.
Park-it Mgmt.    506 W. 181st St.    Near Amsterdam Ave.      $10/2 hrs.
Barrington         467 W. 165th St.    Btwn. Amsterdam &
                                                         Edgecombe                       $15/2 hrs.
J B Parking        477 W. 165th St.   Ditto                                  $14/2 hrs.
SP Plus              3910 Broadway     165th and St. Nick            $18/2 hrs.
PV Parking       554 W. 174th St.  St. Nick & Audubon       $  8/2 hrs.
Alliance Park     528 W. 162nd St.  Btwn. B'way &
                                                         Edgecombe                       $10/2 hrs.

Bronx

Chile Parking     1282-6 Shakespeare
                                                         Btwn. 169th & 170th        $  8/2 hrs.
K & N Parking 1250 Edward Grant
                                                         169th St.                           $  5/2 hrs.