Archive for the ‘Cat Mascots’ Category

In March 1934, the newly-formed New York City Housing Authority kicked off its citywide slum clearance campaign. Buildings on Cherry, Madison, Roosevelt, Oak Street, and other old streets in the Two Bridges neighborhood were razed over the years to make way for large public housing developments.

The men and cat of the old police station at 9 Oak Street were the last ones to leave the neighborhood.

I tell my latest animal story backwards in order to encourage readers to appreciate the history behind every building, park, and street in New York City. This cat tale of Old New York will start with a look at the Art Wall on the northwest corner of Bowery and Houston Street, where 100 years earlier a cat named Blackie made friends with a future president.

Judy began her career as the Grant Street court cat in April 1900, when she surprised a sergeant by jumping on his shoulders just as he was telling a prisoner that he had to be searched. The doorman put her outside, but Judy came right back in and stayed.

If you would like to help honor a true hero cat of old Brooklyn, please take a minute to sign our petition for Jerry Fox.

In September 1918, the New York Times reported that the Tank Corps men of new York had placed an advertisement for a black cat to serve as its mascot. The corps used a viscous-looking black cat on its recruiting posters, so the men in New York thought it would be great to have a live cat that could serve as a mascot as well as an attraction at an upcoming benefit event.