Yesterday’s Bronx: A Look at Old Historical Photographs of The Borough We love

In the 113 years since The Bronx became the 62nd county of New York, a lot has changed yet plenty has managed to still remain the same. 

Between 1900 and 1930, The Bronx exploded with 1 million new residents, thanks largely due to the expansion of NYC’s nascent subway system. 

Apartment buildings sprung up like weeds along corridors where the subway lines snaked up and down. 

Former estates and farms were subdivided to create neighborhoods like Morris Park, Allerton, and many others. 

Then the Cross Bronx Expressway happened as Robert Moses unapologetically tore open a gash across our borough destroying Homes, neighborhoods, and ultimately lives. 

Not too long after, the arson came from unscrupulous landlords trying to unload properties as African-Americans and Puerto Ricans moved in. 

We’ve recovered a lot since then and most of it through grassroots efforts to revitalize communities by those who stayed behind during the worst of it all. 

New buildings once again are rising, changing the face of The Bronx once again. 

Using the New York Public Library’s Digital Collections archives, we’re able to sift through over 5,000 images providing a window into our past. 

Below are some we think you’ll enjoy and if you want to see more, let us know. 

The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1933.

The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1929.

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. 

The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1917.

The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1928.

Stay tuned for more!