Posts Tagged ‘New York City History’

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.

Free Virtual Presentation: The FURst Responders of Gotham

Posted: 6th October 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Animal Stories, Virtual Events
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Join me on October 20, 2021, at 6 p.m. (ET). as I explore the city’s police and fire history while sharing some amazing stories of Old New York’s four-legged bravest and finest. This will be the debut for my FURst Responders of Gotham presentation, which is a prelude to my (possibly) upcoming book of the same title. Registration is required for this free virtual event.

1928: Minnie and Miss Frothingham, the Real Cats of the Winter Garden Theatre

Posted: 24th June 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Mascots, Cat Stories
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The Winter Garden Theatre was home to the original Broadway production of Cats from 1982 until the production closed in 2000. But about 50 years before the creepy human cats appeared on stage, the theater was famous for its real cats. Cat mascots, that is.

1895: Dolph, the Fine Cat “Goated Into” a Tight Spot at the East Harlem Ice Palace

Posted: 12th April 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Stories, Cats in the Mews
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Dolph the cat could do many tricks, but his skills did not come in handy when a goat led him into the Ice Palace Skating Rink on East 107th Street, where he was stuck without food and water for eight days.

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