Posts Tagged ‘New York City History’

1926: Miracle on 99th Street: Fanny, Sandy, and Peggy, the Dogs Who Saved the Winter Refugees of New York

Posted: 14th December 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, Dog Tails, FDNY Horses/Mascots
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“The barking of two dogs, answering each other on the wind and sleet swept East River saved the lives of more than 80 men, women and children asleep in the cabins of a line of 40 coal barges, torn from their moorings, at the foot of East 96th Street.”–New York Daily News, December 27, 1926

1929: The Holiday Horse Shortage and Other Horse Tales of Old New York

Posted: 6th December 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Horse Tales
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Lately, the news has been filled with stories about supply chain issues, shortages, and high gas prices. But what would life be like today if we depended on horses to help deliver our Christmas mail and Amazon packages?

Or what if a drastic gasoline ration forced Americans to resort to horse-drawn vehicles?

Even worse, could you imagine calling for car service to take you to the hospital just as you’re about to give birth during a snow storm–and getting a horse-drawn sled instead?

Here are just a few horse tales of Old New York that all have one theme in common: When the going got tough in New York, the tough got going (with horses, that is).

1899 & 1904: Snowbird, Pearly Dew, and the Draft Riots Heroine: A Thanksgiving Tale of Old New York

Posted: 25th November 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Animal Stories
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When I first set out to write a new animal tale of Old New York this week, I didn’t expect to be telling the story of a Draft Riots heroine.

I originally wanted to tell a story that took place in history during the week of Thanksgiving. After discovering the following story of Elizabeth Gallagher, I thought I had found a short but sweet–and sorrowful–tale of a lonely woman and her animal companions.

But what started out as a sorrowful animal tale turned into a short history lesson and wonderful story of the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Enjoy.

1892: Chappie, the Pedigree Fire Dog of New York City’s Flatiron District

Posted: 9th November 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/Mascots
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One of my favorite fire-cat stories is about Peter and Chops, the beloved firefighter felines of Engine Company No. 14 in New York City’s Flatiron District. When I wrote the story about Peter and Chops for my book, The Cat Men of Gotham, I didn’t realize that they had a canine predecessor.

I recently discovered the wonderful story of Chappie, a pedigree pit bull coach dog gifted by William Waldorf Astor who also called the Engine 14 firehouse his home.

1901: Tom, the Deaf Cat of New York’s Post Office Feline Police Force

Posted: 30th October 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Men, Cat Stories, Cats in the Mews
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A librarian recently asked me what makes an old news story worthy of further research and posting on my website. I told her that not only does it need to be a great animal tale, but it must also be a good people story or have ties to interesting historical buildings or events. The following story about a deaf New York Post Office cat and the deaf postal worker who loved him meets all my criteria for a fabulous animal story of Old New York. Sit back and enjoy.

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