Famous Bronxites

Historic Poe Cottage Now Open 4 Days A Week

The 203 year old house in the village of Fordham where the great poet Edgar Allan Poe spent the last years of his life is now open 4 days a week for all to enjoy and absorb the history of this celebrated man and his life. Visitors can now enjoy a visit to the cottage on Thursdays and Fridays from 10AM – 3PM, Saturdays from 10AM – 4PM, and Sundays from 1PM – 5PM.

More details below in the press release issued by the Bronx County Historical Society who manages this great, historic treasure of our borough:

Irish Americans And The Bronx: More Than St. Patrick’s Day

Bronx Irish Americans: American Irish History in the Bronx

The Bronx being The Bronx, has always been home to many groups of people and that includes our Irish family here in The Bronx.

In Woodlawn, which is one of the largest Irish communities in New York City is also home to many who have settled straight from the old country back in Ireland.

Late Bronx Hollywood & Fashion Icon Lauren Bacall’s Garments on Display at FIT

The Bronx born and raised beauty, known to the world as Lauren Bacall but to her family and childhood friends by her birth name of Betty Joan Perske, passed away last August at the age of 89. She was the last surviving icon named in Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ list of Hollywood legends — all of whom are gone now.

From 1968 to 1986, Bacall donated over 700 items to The Museum at FIT and now, some are on display in a new exhibition, ‘Lauren Bacall: The Look’ which runs until April 4th, 2015.

Bronx Woman Becomes First Black Female U-2 Pilot In History

Lt. Col Merryl Tengesdal, a Bronx native, has become the first African-American female to ever pilot the U-2 — an ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft used for intelligence gathering and can fly up to altitudes of 70,000 feet. The aircraft is celebrating 60 years this year in flight.

According to an article by the United States Air Force, Tengesdal, “As a child she imagined flying amongst the stars, thousands of miles above the earth’s surface, and today Lt. Col. Merryl Tengesdal is one of eight female pilots to ever fly the U-2 and the only black female pilot during the aircraft’s history.”

A Chinese Takeout, a Bronx Jewish Businessman & The Creation of the #1 Distributor of Popular Condiment

Here’s a fun story with Bronx history we found via The Atlantic about a Bronx Jewish businessman who was able to overcome some odds to become the top distributor of those little soy sauce packets we all know so well. After all these years of these soy sauce packets staring me in the face, little did I know this was the brainchild of a fellow Bronxite! Oh and did you know that soy sauce appears to go back as far as the year 160AD?

Remembering Bronx Native Bess Myerson, 1st & Only Jewish Miss America

Without much as a whisper of her passing, Bronx born and raised Bess Myerson, America’s first and only Jewish Miss America, passed away last month on December 14th at the age of 90. She was known as the woman who refused to change her name so it wouldn’t sound too Jewish.

Myerson, who was crowned Miss America in 1945 just days after the end of World War II, lived in Van Cortlandt Village area of The Bronx with her family at Shalom Aleichem Cooperative, one of the country’s first residential cooperatives.

Bronx Native Bess Myerson, 1st & Only Jewish Miss America Has Died

Without much as a whisper of her passing, Bronx born and raised Bess Myerson, America’s first and only Jewish Miss America, passed away last month on December 14th at the age of 90. She was known as the woman who refused to change her name so it wouldn’t sound too Jewish.

Myerson, who was crowned Miss America in 1945 just days after the end of World War II, lived in Van Cortlandt Village area of The Bronx with her family at Shalom Aleichem Cooperative, one of the country’s first residential cooperatives.

Legend Has It That Green Beer Was Invented In The Bronx On St Patrick’s Day in 1914!

As legend has it, green beer was invented in Melrose on 163rd Street near 3rd Avenue 100 years ago today just as our borough of the Bronx was born according to an article The Daily Meal by Editor, Joanna Fantozzi.

If the legend is true, then it is quite fitting as the Bronx is the unofficial Irish Capital of New York City!

Here’s the article from The Daily Meal: