Made In NYC: Brands, Trends, and Inventions That Began in the Big Apple

Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers is the world's oldest clothing retailer. It's been in business since 1818, when Henry Sands Brooks opened H. & D.H. Brooks & Co. on the northeast corner of Catherine and Cherry Streets on the Lower East Side. He eventually turned the business over to his four sons, who changed the name and expanded. Among Brooks Brothers's innovations are the ready-to-wear suit, the first American button-down polo, and bringing the U.S. market the Shetland sweater, the Harris tweed, madras, argyle socks, and summer suits. The business managed to stay in family hands for more than a century, until 1946.

Televised Sports

Globally, televised sports are prominent in many cultures and account for a $60 billion dollar market. The beginnings trace back to the north end of Manhattan and Baker Field. Columbia University's home turf was the site of the first televised sporting event, on May 17, 1939, when Princeton traveled to Columbia for a baseball game. The National Broadcasting Company beamed the game out to the 400 or so sets that could receive the signal. They were happy enough with the results to try a pro game a few months later. Brooklyn was the location for that one, as the Reds took on the Dodgers at Ebbets Field on August 26th, 1939. It was the first pro sporting event to ever be televised.

Ralph Lauren Corporation

Ralph Lauren does about $6 billion in annual sales and employs 20,000 people around the world. Despite its preppy name, like so many American icons it began with a child of immigrants, in this case from the Bronx. (Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifshitz but changed his last name when he was 16, following his brothers, who also experienced bullying from it.) Lauren got his start with Brooks Brothers, as a tie designer, which helped him hone his classic American style. His company was founded in 1967 and remains headquartered in New York City.

 Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York

Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann

Stay tuned for more! To be continued . . .

This Little Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine . . . and Shine . . . and . . .

The world’s longest-burning lightbulb has been on since 1901.

Technology such as LED lighting has made lightbulbs last longer than ever, but no modern bulb even comes close to the incandescent Centennial Light, which has been glowing inside a fire station in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1901. The light shines for 24 hours a day, though it has taken a few breaks here and there for power outages, renovations, and venue changes. It was first installed in a cart house — so named when fire hoses traveled on carts, not trucks — but moved to a large firehouse nearby soon after. In 1903, it moved again to a newly built station. It stayed there until 1976, when it moved to its present home in Livermore, CA. At that point the bulb had been operational for 75 years and had become a sensation; it even got a police and fire truck escort for the journey, which was slightly less than 2 miles.

Unsurprisingly, the bulb’s survival probably boils down to good craftsmanship. The thick glass was hand-blown, and the bulb has a thick, durable carbon filament, unlike the thin tungsten filaments that became standard later. That was all mounted by hand on a sturdy brass base. Additionally, it’s filled with nitrogen gas, which is gentler than the argon and krypton gas used in later incandescents.

The second longest burning lightbulb, located in Fort Worth, Texas, was made by the same company, Shelby Electric.

The Centennial Bulb was hooked up to its own power source in 1976, and has lost power only once since then, for a little under 10 hours. Leaving it on 24/7 may have actually contributed to its longevity, since turning a bulb on and off frequently can damage the filament. The bulb also now burns at a steady 4 watts, much lower than its original 60 watts.

Source: historyfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

I Never Knew That

Why “Kendal”? An Explanation by Norman Sissman.

Kendal, England, where it all began

For those of you who may not know it, our home was named after the town of Kendal, in the northwest part of England, near the Lake District. It was a frequent stop for George Fox (1624-1691) during his many proselytizing speaking tours aimed at recruiting members for his new  sect, The Religious Society of Friends.  This group was soon called Quakers, as they were said ”to tremble in the way of the Lord.” 

One feature of the history of Quakerism was the persecution to which it was subjected  throughout  its history, at least until the 20th century. Although the reasons for this were many, I suspect that one of them was its abandonment of any clergy, which, of course, evoked a hostile response from priests, bishops (perhaps even rabbis). The persecution persisted even after many in England came to America.

My family vacationed often in Shelter Island which was named not only for its coves where ships could escape the fury of stormy seas, but also because it was a refuge for Quakers fleeing persecution by the Puritans of New England. Shelter Island even has a Fox Lane.

The most well-known American Quaker is William Penn. Penn’s efforts, in his state, to live amicably and justly with the local Native American population, were abandoned after his death.

The Mermaids Came, the Mermaids Came!

Saturday, July 20, starred mermaids of all sizes, ages, and ilk—with a few pirates thrown in, as well—for the first ever Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival, celebrating the Hudson River and 150 incorporated-town years. Two thousand people filled Kingsland Point Park for the fun and games in support of keeping our backyard neighbor — the mighty river we love — healthy and hearty. It all kicked off with the Mermaid Parade:

Neptune, of course, marched, too.

For Hudson Independent reporting on the day and many, many, many more wonderful pictures, click below.

The Grands

What could be better than a picture, a story, or a visit with The Grands — be they grandchildren, great grandchildren, great (or is it grand?) nieces and nephews? Barbara Bettigole’s “Great-Grand,” Sam, recently went on a canoe trip with his dad. Seems there were elk in the vicinity . . .

Contributed by Barbara Bettigole

Summer Vacation News

A Milestone to Celebrate

Mid-July Ginny and Bob Bender hit a special milestone: 55th years of wedded bliss. Their chosen way to celebrate: art in the middle of nature’s beauty, i.e. a trip to Storm King Art Center. And nature celebrated with them, providing a beautiful day after mid-summer heat extraordinaire.

The bride and groom

Photos by Ginny Bender

Berkshire Beauty

Meanwhile, Edward Kasinec took a visit to the Berkshires for beauty and inspiration.

Rattlesnake Mountain

Guan Yin, the Compassionate One

Photos by Edward Kasinec

For Your Funny Bone . . .

Poetry by Sheila Benedis

Let Thoughts Breathe

messages  come through the air

hear the way the wind rustles the leaves

creates shifts in scent

observe the way the light comes through the trees

 shimmers in noonday sun

suggesting rhythmical movement

I feel it within myself

messages come through the air

take time to hear the whispers

of what nature is trying to tell me

listen

let thoughts breathe

Art by Hart

Ms. Minch, the new company troubleshooter, had her work cut out for her

Everett’s new water ballet was an instant classic

Tootsie had had just about enough of Franklin’s bellyaching

Mrs. Jordan’s flamenco coach suggested castenets instead of gelato

Unsure where she’d left her phone, Lucia had to retrace her steps

Art and photos by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

The Power of a Glorious Sunset

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Bastille Day a la Kendal

Les Invites

Les Filles Can Can

A-a-ah, La Romance!

La Femme Française Authentique (Regardez Vous: Le Béret!)

Les Amis

La Danse Fantastique

Un Autre Béret! Ooolala!

Le Can Can Fini

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

A Mackerel Sky as Evening Turns to Night

Photos by Jane Hart

While Strolling Through the Park One Day . . .

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

The Storm

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Out and About

Nature’s Eye Candy

Photo by Edward Kasinec

Semicolon-oscopy by a Real, Live Doctor

From the desk (and pen) of Dr. Norman Sissman (a real-life doctor!):

I suspect that many Kendal residents have spent agitated nocturnal hours awake, trying to decide when to use a semicolon or a colon when composing their contributions to the world’s literature.  So — here comes the sleep doctor with his recommendation to relieve their grammatic insomnia.  Be assured that my remedy has not been superficially or casually arrived at; I have consulted authorities from the 1959 revered classic, Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, to the anonymous experts at Wikipedia (to whom we often turn for facts nowadays).

A semicolon joins two related clauses when neither is long enough or complete enough to stand as independent sentences. A colon introduces examples  of a subject mentioned in the first part of a sentence; it can be replaced by the words, “which is/are” or “as follows.” Here is an example: “During his presidency, Donald Trump established policies that had detrimental effects on the prosperity and security of our country: cutting taxes on corporations and rich individuals, thus sending our national debt skyrocketing; closing a federal pandemic preparedness unit, thus allowing COVID to spread unnecessarily; withdrawing the U.S. from a treaty with Iran that had put on hold that country’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons; and encouraging a violent mob to storm a congressional building to try to reverse the legitimate results of a presidential election.”

So – read this prescription once daily at bedtime, and sleep well!

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Dr. Sissman. We found Dr. Sissman’s explanation so compelling, that we wanted to know even more about the too-oft-denigrated semicolon. Where else would we go but to the Puncuationist of All Time (yes, that is a title we just made up, but it fits): The New Yorker’s Comma Queen, Mary Norris? She was, of course, profound. To learn even more about the semicolon, click below.

And why not go one step further and check out the Comma Queen’s brief video on, yes, the mighty semicolon.

If the Shoe Fits . . .

High Heels: Originally the Choice for Men

Long before the days of stilettos and pumps, kitten heels and wedges, high-heeled shoes were worn by men. As far back as the 10th century, Persian soldiers and emissaries wore heels when riding, battling, or traveling to faraway lands. These heels weren’t for show, however; they were for function. When a soldier wore heeled boots on a horse, he was able to better steady himself and generate more balance both for riding and fighting. Persian soldiers were also able to stand upright in their stirrups, positioning their feet so the space between the heel and the sole was snug in the stirrup, which gave them an advantage in battle.

Once heels made their way to Europe in the 16th century, their purpose was much more akin to how we think of these shoes today. Men in the French, Spanish, German, and Russian courts wore heels to project height and physical stature in order to intimidate rivals and foreign diplomats in court. Over the course of the next 200 years, men’s heels got shorter and stockier — making the shoes better for balance and walking, and less of an ornate fashion statement. By the 18th century, high heels faded out of fashion for men, who started to favor less flamboyant clothing and accessories.

When women started to wear high heels, the goal was to hide as much of the foot as possible beneath a long skirt. The peeking toe suggested a small foot, showing daintiness. Though sneakers are far more popular than heels today, the concept of the “platform sneaker” suggests that the ethos of the high heel is not yet a thing of the past.

 Source: historyfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

In Case of Rockland Park Emergency . . .

During park hours call the park office for goats and other park issues such as damage to the bird condo:

914-631-1470 — when prompted press 0

After hours and for immediate danger call the Mount Pleasant Police:

914-769-1941.

Note: do NOT call Sleepy Hollow Police.

This message is approved by Ranger Su.

Contributed by Carolyn Reiss

Made In NYC: Brands, Trends, and Inventions That Began in the Big Apple

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is the biggest bookstore chain in the US, with billions in annual revenue. It started out in the East Village in 1886, as a single shop inside Cooper Union. Arthur Hinds and Company was the original name, until an early-hire clerk named Gilbert Clifford Noble joined. The Hinds & Noble name changed again when William Barnes came on. The company is still headquartered in Manhattan today.

The Co-Op Apartment

Given the complexities of finding a place to live in New York City it makes sense the city pioneered the co-op apartment. Designed to lower the cost of living, with a shared staff and ice and coal bought at bulk rates, the concept was a success and soon migrated around the globe. The world’s first example was at 152 West 57th Street, a building called The Rembrandt.

Macy’s

Rowland Hussey Macy founded Macy’s on the corner of 14th Street and Sixth Avenue in 1851. The brand peaked at 850 locations and along the way added some retail innovations that are everywhere today, including the concept of a department store, cash transactions, set prices instead of haggling, tailoring services, in-shop Santa visits, and holiday windows.

Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York

Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann

Stay tuned for more . . .

For Your Funny

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Art by Hart

Minerva loved communing with nature at the lake

The little broccolini girl was growing up bitter

The new opera based on Jaws was dead in the water

Miss Kirkbright’s mani-pedi was costing an arm and a leg

Mrs. Peck spent a lot on all her outfits

Val’s millinery was rarely dull

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Meditation 5, by Sheila Benedis

In and Around Kendal

A Healing Garden for Body and Soul

Known as the Healing Garden, Kendal’s very own oasis is open to all. It’s a lovely place to sit and think, read, or just talk with friends, whether they be staying (permanently or temporarily) in Clearwater or not. Here’s a glimpse into its beauty:

Photos by Maggie Limburg

Artists at Work

Hard at work for the benefit of Kendal’s Art Committee — and their own enjoyment — is a band of Kendal artists who design and create the wonderful cards that go on sale twice a year. Their commitment — and their creativity — is a joy to behold.

Photo by Haruko Ogasawara

Out and About

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tour

On July 9, a van-load of Kendalites took a trip to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery — and returned to tell the tale! The final resting place of the famous, non-famous, and infamous alike, they visited select graveside monuments and heard stories beyond the grave told by Christina Urban-LaSalle, Director of Visitor Services.

Henry Villard told his own story on the back of his monument, but Christina told it better.

Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie chose a modest monument with carved Celtic knots. He acquired considerable wealth and was noted for his philanthropy.

While some graveside monuments were simple or wordy, some let the monument itself tell a story.

Photos by Marianne Bloomfeld

Away for the Summer

Cynthia Ferguson and family are livin’ the good life up in Lake George, experiencing their own version of lovely sunsets.

Occasional visitors include a friendly neighborhood beaver.

Photos by Cynthia Ferguson

Electronic Devices Driving You Nuts? Help Is Available!

July 18, starting at 1:30 pm, bring those problematic laptops, cell phones, etc. to the Residents Association Office and get the help you’ve been longer for.

The Computer Committee provides diagnostic and curative assistance that leaves the rest of us in awe.

Even if your hardware (i.e. physical equipment) isn’t a problem, if you have questions about “how to,” come on in!

Don’t be shy! Help is not only on the way . . . but there!