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As New York historians, Susan and I were recently asked to speak at a medical conference in Gramercy Park, at the prominent National Arts Club, the former house of Samuel Tilden. Remember him? He was a presidential candidate, like Al Gore, who won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote and the election. This wonderful neighborhood is the home to the rich and famous, and has New York City’s only private park where key holders are only key holders are permitted inside. By now you must realize, from our ongoing walking tour tips, that New York City has everything! We started by taking little know facts about the personalities and people who shaped the history of “Gotham”. Speaking of Gotham, did you know that Washington Irving of Sunnyside in Westchester, coined the phrase “Gotham” when describing this incredible city in his Knickerbocker Tales. (Irving Place, in the Gramercy Park area is named for him.)
But, let’s move on to the “medical” part of our historic city. One fact that we uncovered dispels the myth that most people have grown up with regarding George Washington’s wooden teeth. Actually, he had ivory teeth made by coppersmith, Paul Revere (you know, the “midnight ride” guy, who really could be called “the father of our country” since he had 18 children and probably needed to get out of the house that evening to get away from the screaming kids!). George Washington suffered through ill health most of his life. Beside poor teeth, he had malaria, small pox, tubercular pleurisy, dysentery, scarlet fever, chronic frequent coughs and excessive indigestion caused by stomach, liver and intestinal trouble. We complain in our lives when we’re not feeling well. And with all that, this 6’ 3” hero still managed to defeat the British in the Revolutionary War! If you want to know more, visit Fraunces Tavern Museum, the site of Washington’s Farewell Address or Federal Hall, the site of his inauguration as President.
Speaking of president’s, Abraham Lincoln, who probably suffered from a condition called agromeglia, had quite a sense of humor and was conscious of his not so good looks and awkward appearance. Once, after speaking at Cooper Union and sitting for his photograph, done by New York photographer, Matthew Brady, Lincoln was asked to comment on it and said, “If I had another face, do you think I would use this one?”
While viewing Washington’s statue at Federal Hall (on Wall Street near the Stock Exchange), turn around and look at the Morgan Bank, the site of a terrorist attack in 1920 (yes, 1920) that killed 38 people and wounded 300 when a horse drawn cart carrying explosives was left in front of the Bank at lunchtime. The impressions from the blast have been left on the walls to remind people of the attack. Heading the bank was the most powerful financial giant in American history. J. Pierpont Morgan, who though, was a feared and respected businessman, had a skin condition called rhinophyma that caused his nose to be severely disfigured, turn bright red in color and be covered with bumps and bulges. This condition fascinated the public, and the paparazzi of the day were constantly taking photographs of Mr. Morgan’s nose which would send him into a fiery rage. Morgan managed many successful love affairs in spite of his deformity. I guess sometimes money can buy love!
A story regarding Morgan’s nose, centers around Anne Morrow (Lindberg), future wife of Charles Lindberg, when she was a young girl. Anne Marrow was from an extremely wealthy family who invited J.P. Morgan to their home. Anne’s mother, fearful that her nine-year old daughter would embarrass their guest, for weeks prompted the little girl not to say a word about Mr. Morgan’s “nose”. After dinner, with a sigh of relief, Anne Morrow’s mother excused the little girl and proceeded to offer the prominent banker a cup of tea. As she was handing the tea to Morgan, she asked (as the legend goes), “Would you like some “NOSE” with your tea?!”
Medical ailments and unusual conditions were abound in the City. P.T. Barnum, of circus fame, had two Siamese twins called Chang and Eng, who spent 63 years attached at the chest. They were world- renowned oddities. The amazing thing was that the twins had two wives and 21 children between them. The incredible truth is that they detested each other. I guess we are all able to learn a little about our own relationships with people “close” to us by learning more about Chang and Eng!
On the side of psychiatry, New York has lots of cases in which modern therapy might have helped. For example, in 1702 New York had a crossing dressing governor named Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury. He was so proud of his resemblance to his cousin, the Queen of England, that he would dress as she did. Hyde also had a fixation with his wife’s ear lobes and would require people to pass through a receiving line and feel these wondrous appendages!
Another example of someone who was a bit “off” is Hetty Green, known as “the Witch of Wall Street”, who would be worth the equivalent nine billion dollars today. She once spent three hours looking for a two cent stamp, used to get only the hems of her dresses cleaned, conduct business in her bank vault instead of an office and refused to get proper medical care for her son which resulted in the amputation of the child’s leg. No wonder that she was also called, “the Miser of Wall Street”!
The other parts of the City have too many more stories to mention in this piece. So, you’ll just have to catch our next installment to learn about some more! In the meantime, to coin a phrase from our co-host on our radio show “45 Minutes from Broadway” which airs Monday nights at 8:00 P.M. on WVOX 1460, “shut off your cell phone, turn off your T.V., buy a guide book, and take a trip to one of the neighborhoods in the incredible city to our south!”
You only live once!
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