Vintage Photos of Morris Park—Before It Was Developed
Vintage Photos of Morris Park—Before It Was Developed
The Morris Park Race Track Clubhouse as it appeared in 1910. The clubhouse was located on the southside of Van Nest Avenue between Fowler and Bogart Avenues. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Race Track.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1910.
Decades before The Bronx neighborhood of Morris Park came to be, it was home to the 360 acre Morris Park Racecourse which ran from 1889 until 1904 as an important center of American thoroughbred horse racing which was the home of the Belmont Stakes from 1890 until 1904 and even saw the famous Preakness Stakes in 1890.
The 1 1/4 mile track was bounded by what is today Sacket Avenue, Williamsbridge Road, Bronxdale Avenue, and Pelham Parkway and by 1902 attendance was no longer what it once was and a decision was made to shut down the track which saw its last horse race on October 15, 1904.
Soon after that it was used for automobile racing—3 years prior, mass production of affordable automobiles had begun by Oldsmobile in Lansing, Michigan—but even that didn’t last as the owners ran into financial difficulties and the property was taken over by the City of New York.
From 1907 until 1909 the land was leased to the Aeronautic Society of New York and the area was the site of air shows. From horses to airplanes, Morris Park Racetrack had it all.
After a fire destroyed much of the stables and facilities, the 360 acre track was auctioned off to developers and the land was eventually subdivided into what we see today Morris Park.
Morris Park Avenue was laid out along with rail for a trolley and the urban grid began to take over the land.
Today Morris Park is an ethnically diverse neighborhood with a strong Italian history blending with Latinos, Muslims, Bangladeshis, and many other ethnic groups into a beautiful melting pot.
Morris Park Avenue during its construction in 1913 at Bogart Avenue. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Avenue – Bogart Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Spring 1913
Today:
Workers lay down rail for a trolley line as Morris Park Avenue is constructed at Bronxdale Avenue in 1913. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Avenue – Bronxdale Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Spring 1913
Today:
Morris Park Avenue at Paulding looking west towards Bronxdale Ave in the distance in 1913. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Avenue – Paulding Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Spring 1913
Today:
Trolley line and Morris Park Avenue both under construction in 1913 at Williamsbridge Road facing West. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Avenue – Williamsbridge Road” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Spring 1913
Today:
Morris Park Racetrack just before division and streets were laid out in 1913. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Race Track.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1913.View of Morris Park as the grid is laid out in 1913 from atop the clubhouse facing east. The streets running from left to right across the image are probably Fowler and Bogart Avenues and the vertical streets are possibly Pierce and Sacket Avenues. Note the slight curve on the bottom left of the image which was a remnant of the racetrack. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Race Track.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1913.View of Morris Park as the grid is laid out in 1913 from atop the clubhouse facing east. Notice the bend of the former racetrack still visible. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Morris Park Race Track.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1913.
Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.
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