I also tell of my history in the Village during my history walk in the second half of the 20th century and the characters and creative people I have known.
My History
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March is here
There is so much to see here. I hope I’ll see you soon for a historic walk. I cover some of my own history too. I have seen many changes over the many years of my life here in Greenwich Village. Fortunately, much of the charm remains.
Spring is on walks are fun
Love to see you on one of my Marc’s Village Walks. The trees in Greenwich Village are in bloom and look beautiful now.
After the Washington arch was completed two statues of Washington were added. One of Washington as the soldier and the other as Washington the statesman. The latter was sculpted by Alexander Calder, the father of the artist of the same name who created the mobile. You will note in the picture a small door on the side of the arch. It is thru this door that a group along with the visiting French artist Marcel Duchamp broke in during the 1917 Armory art show, went to the roof and declared “the republic of Greenwich Village”.
Short Break
I will be away for 3 weeks visiting my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her family in Sydney, Australia from September 24 to October 16, 2018. You may book tours before and after those dates.
Marc (fat baby in the middle) with neighbors by Horatio Street, 1940’s.
Dark
Greenwich Village history is not all artists and Bohemians. There is also a dark side. Come join my walk to hear more.
Washington Square
Abingdon Square
Save the Stones
A letter I wrote was published in our local West View, July 2018:
On Gansevoort street between Hudson and Greenwich streets the original 150-year-old paving stones are being replaced by crudely cut multi colored stones with a band of black stones running down the middle. The Meatpacking District is a historic district and the original cobble stones should have been retained. I have seen in the past when these streets are dug up, instead of lifting these stones up a large cutting wheel just cuts right thru them.
These new multi colored stones look out of place here and have no business being put into a historic area. The original stones have a very high value. Where did they go? Who is making money by installing these cheap garish new stones and whose paying?
New Cobbles at Gansevoort Street, June 2018
The cobbles on Gansevoort Street looked like this
May 1, 1961 Protest at Washington Square
57 years ago in May the City said that people could not play music in Washington Square Park any more. I and many demonstrators marched. The first time the police beat people with their clubs. After several demonstrations they rescinded the order and to this day people are free to play music in Washington Square Park. This is a copy of the article in the NY Times.
Jefferson Market Library
Notables on Horatio
Notables who have lived on Horatio Street, where I live with my wife Sherry Felix, in Greenwich Village, New York City:
The writer Clifford Odets at #80. Known for the book ” Waiting for Lefty.”
James Baldwin, #81, One of his books was, “Notes of a Native Son.”
Folk singer Richie Havens.
Singer Todd Rundgrin at #51
Artist Jackson Pollock lived on Horatio for a brief time back in the 1930’s
Sculptor Chaim Gross at #48, next to where I live. It used to be a fire house. I saw the actor, Anthony Quinn, go there for lessons in sculpture.
Plaque commemorating his studio at 526 LaGuardia Place.![Chaim_Gross_Plaque[1]](https://marcvillagewalk.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/chaim_gross_plaque1.jpg)
Links are to articles on Wikipedia.
Republic of Greenwich Village
The 24th of this month will mark the 100th anniversary of the declaration of “The Independent Republic of Greenwich Village”. On the evening of January 24th 1917 a group of Greenwich Villagers and the artist Marcel Duchamp ascended the stairs in the Washington arch to a room at the top where they partied before going to the roof. They decorated the edges of the roof with colored crepe paper, shot off cap guns and declared the Independent Republic of Greenwich Village.
Marc's Village Walk 