Inwood photographer William Davis Hassler took thousands of photographs in the early 1900s, many featuring his young son and his two pet cats, Reddy and Peaches, and pet dog, Bounce.
Archive for the ‘Cat Stories’ Category
1912-1918: Reddy, Bounce, and Peaches: The Photogenic Pets of William Davis Hassler
Posted: 30th October 2020 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Men, Cat StoriesTags: 150 Vermilyea Avenue, Cats of Old New York, Inwood history, Reddy the Cat, William Davis Hassler
3
1906: Thomas, the Horse-Saving Blacksmith Cat of Lenox Hill
Posted: 22nd October 2020 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Stories, Cats in the MewsTags: 428 East 75th Street, Alois Dill, Arch-Brook Mansion, Henry Bock, New York City History, Richard Riker
“Thomas, a big cat, was the hero of a fire that destroyed the upper part of a stable at 426 and 428 East Seventy-fifth Street early yesterday morning.” So begins a story about the cat in The Sun on November 26, 1906.
1895: The Brooklyn Bridge Watchman and His Brooklyn Bridge Watch Cat
Posted: 13th October 2020 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Men, Cat StoriesTags: Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn History, Cats of Old New York
Before the Brooklyn Bridge was built, there were tenements where the approaches are now. And in those tenement buildings–according to the Brooklyn Bridge watchman–were cats. Lots of cats. One special cat with superior skills became a Brooklyn Bridge watch cat.
1910: The 300 Cats Wanted to Act at the Manhattan Opera House
Posted: 17th September 2020 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Stories, Cats in the MewsTags: Cats in the Mews, Cats of Old New York, Manhattan Opera House, New York City History, Oscar Hammerstein
On September 16, 1910, The New York Times ran a small article about a want-ad soliciting 300 cats for performances at the Manhattan Opera House on 34th Street.
According to the article, the stage director would accept all cats–with or without stage experience–to take part in the production of “Hans, the Flute Player.” The comedic opera was going to be the opening act for Oscar Hammerstein’s opera house.
1903: The Pet Cat That Edwin Gould Reportedly Abandoned on Fifth Avenue
Posted: 9th September 2020 by The Hatching Cat in Cat StoriesTags: 720 Fifth Avenue, Cats of Old New York, Edwin Gould, New York City History, Sheltering Arms
On September 8, 1903, the New York Evening World reported that a gray and white cat had been living on the steps of the Edwin Gould house at 7 West Fifty-Sixth Street for more than a week. Based on a few facts, I believe the reporter told a few white lies to get this story published…
