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

Rainbow Cookies

Photo Credit: wEnDy/Flickr

You might guess this is an Italian export, but it’s a New York original. The dessert goes by many names: rainbow cookies, rainbow cake, Neapolitan cookies, seven-layer cookies, Venetian cookies, seven-layer cake, Italian flag cookies, tricolor cookies, and tricolore. New York City has been making (and eating) them for a century, beginning in Italian-American neighborhoods and being then picked up by nearby Jewish communities as well.

Scientific American

Scientific American is the US’s oldest continuously published magazine, counting Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla among its contributors (150 Nobel laureates have been featured on these pages over the years). It might seem like the offspring of California tech, but its origins are in New York City, with inventor Rufus Porter. The first issue was published on August 28, 1845 — not a bad run!

Chipwich

No less an authority than the New York Times has ranked this the #1 packaged frozen treat. You can find it anywhere, but it began in New York City. Brooklynite Richard LaMotta came up with the idea in 1978 and within two weeks he was selling New Yorkers 40,000 of them a day. By the time he sold the company to Coolbrands International in 2002, more than a billion Chipwiches had been sold.

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

Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann

There Were Heroes Among Us, by Norman Sissman

An Unsung Medical Hero

Recently I was reminded of an old medical hero of mine who is little known either by the general public or by the medical establishment. Because his story is so remarkable and interesting to me, I am presenting it to my Kendal readers for their enjoyment and edification.

He was William A. Hammond (1828-1900). Born and raised in Annapolis, MD, he joined the army after graduation from the NYU School of Medicine. Early in 1862, for reasons that have never been completely understood, Abrahm Lincoln, over the heads of many senior officers, appointed him to Surgeon General of the Union Army.

Almost immediately he initiated wide-ranging reforms of army medicine: 1) he convinced Congress to enact a law making the Medial Corp an independent unit; whereas previously army physicians could be used in combat if needed, now regiments could never be left without a medical presence. 2) He designed and built the first military ambulances, assuring that the wounded could be evacuated rather than left to die in the field, as they had been in all previous wars. 3) He designed and built new army hospitals. Although the cause of infection was not yet known (it wasn’t until the 1870s that Koch and Pasteur discovered bacteria as causes of disease), Hammond’s designs minimized the spread of infection: wards radiated like spokes of wheel from a central nursing area. They were well lit and had excellent ventilation. If infections began to spread, the wards could be quickly and easily isolated. 4) He established an Army Medical Museum, which is still the repository of one of the most extensive collection of old medical equipment and history in the world.

Hammond then issued an order that was his undoing. He banned the use of Calomel, a widely used medicine containing mercury. He realized that Calomel not only didn’t improve illnesses, but was detrimental to the health of its recipients. This was too much for the old guard. They refused to follow this order and organized what has become known as the “Calomel Rebellion.”

In addition, they invented an entirely false narrative that accused Hammond of embezzlement. He was court-martialed and sentenced to a dishonorable discharge from the army.

But that did not deter Hammond. He then set up a thriving practice of neurology in New York City. He wrote many medical papers on new aspects of neurology and authored a neurology textbook that was widely read for decades. He also wrote several popular novels in collaboration with his eldest daughter.

Times passed and opinions about Hammond changed. In 1878, Congress passed a law that nullified his court-martial and changed his discharge to honorable.

I Never Knew That

All Human Beings Are 99.9% Identical Genetically

Our diversity is part of what makes human beings special. Yet as far as our genes are concerned, we’re all fairly similar: humans share 99.9% of their genes with one another. To put this into perspective, bonobos and chimpanzees — the closest relatives to humans in the animal kingdom — share approximately 98.8% of their genes with humans. Clearly, even small differences in genetic similarity can have a major impact.

That may be especially true when it comes to human health. According to the National Institutes of Health, 9 of the 10 leading causes of death in the US (barring accidental deaths) are influenced by our genetics, and variations among individuals can mean significantly varying health outcomes.

In the 21st century, advances in our understanding of the human genome — thanks to the completion of groundbreaking scientific studies, including the Human Genome Project — have pushed medicine into the genetic frontier. Now doctors can screen newborns for genetic abnormalities and sometimes use gene-based therapies, while nutritionists are using genomics to tailor diets to specific genetic dispositions. According to some, the future of medicine is in our genes.

Source: interestingfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

Art by Hart

Dr. Fisch’s advice was to cut back on the arugula

New sponsors and new cast, but “My Mother the Car” was back on air

The new girl group called themselves “5-Part Harmony”

The smallest compliment made Crumpleman blush

Lucinda had to tell everyone about the crazy dream she had last night — in detail

Art and photos by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

After the Storm . . .

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

In Honor of a Lady

When Rockwood Park’s “Lady Tree” (aka Daphne) was destroyed last year by the high winds of a nasty storm, a new tree was planted in her honor. We’re glad to report that Daphne Jr. is thriving.

And we note, she now has her own plaque. . .

. . . though we await information from the parks service as to who, exactly, the honorable Florence Theresa Menninger Mooney was. Stay tuned.

Photos by Barbara Williams

A Cooling Walk in Rockwood Park

The Bridge to . . . ?

Still Waters

Portent of the Future?

Photos by Edward Kasinec

They’re B-a-a-a-a-ck

Yes, as predicted, they’re back in great numbers: the dreaded — and very hungry — lanternflies. They’re in the park, on the roads, on the terrace, and on Kendal’s windows. Remember: if you can reach ‘em, step on ‘em — do it with vigor! Ick!

Photo by Joe Bruno

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

GOODNIGHT MOON

Goodnight Moon has sold more than 50 million copies — it sells briskly today, nearly 7 decades after its initial publication. The book seems like it could be from England, or maybe even New England, but its origins are in a small farmhouse on 71st Street and York Avenue. (The house can be seen today in Greenwich Village, where it was moved in 1967.) “Cobble Court” was where author Margaret Wise Brown wrote Goodnight Moon. She drew on its interior for inspiration.

BLOOMINGDALE'S

The first Bloomingdale's goes back to the Civil War era and the Lower East Side. Immigrant Benjamin Bloomingdale and his son Lyman Bloomingdale founded it in 1861 as Bloomingdale’s Hoopskirts, with a focus on the then-trendy hoop skirt. Lyman and his brother Joseph had a sharp eye for growth opportunities and opened a second location in midtown — Bloomingdale’s Great East Side Bazaar — in 1872. Along the way, they pioneered the notion of a department store. In 1886 they established Bloomingdale’s at 59th and Lexington Avenue, the flagship headquarters the company retains to this day, along with 57 other locations.

BOAR’S HEAD PROVISION COMPANY

Boar’s Head has a national reach, showing up on grocery shelves and in deli cases all over. It sells over a billion dollars every year, but it began with humble Brooklyn roots. Frank Brunckhorst began distributing under the brand name in 1905, selling cold cuts and hot dogs in an effort to add more quality to Brooklynite plates. By 1933 Brunckhorst and his partners had launched their first small manufacturing plant in Brooklyn. (More than a century later the same families are still running the business, which advises you to “Compromise Elsewhere.”)

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

Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann

To be continued. Stay tuned for more.

Beat the Heat

Okay, so we have heat. Check. We have humidity. Check. We have a population over the age of consent. Check, double check, and check that sucker again. It’s now August and that means take those first couple of things — heat and humidity — and double down. Herein a chart to pay attention to. Check it on a regular basis until, say, the snow starts to fall:

And should you be in Tarrytown and things just get too hot for comfort, here are places to go to take a break.

Don’t be shy. Don’t be stubborn. Be wise. Get cool!

I Never Knew That

Rats Bop Their Heads in Time to Music

Just can’t stop yourself. The song starts playing and your toe starts tapping. And you might even start bopping your head. Well, in the animal kingdom, you’re not alone . . .

Most rats live their lives entirely unseen by humans. As kings of the background, they often scurry through human environments just out of sight or after dark, looking for leftover morsels. But researchers believe rats might be picking up more than just our food crumbs — they could also be picking up on the beats in our music. A study published in 2022 suggests rats may have a humanlike sense of rhythm, which they express by bopping their heads to the beat. Scientists once believed that few animals were beat-sensitive (aside from some birds), but rats exposed to music made microscopic head movements that were picked up by tiny, wireless motion detectors. The researchers hypothesized that rats would prefer faster jams thanks in part to their rapid heartbeats, though surprisingly, lab rats synced up best with music in the 120 to 140 beats-per-minute range — just like humans.

Humans have long wondered if animals respond to music the way we do. Charles Darwin’s studies examined the relationship between animals and music, believing rhythm could be found throughout nature and may have been the precursor to music. Today, some experts believe only certain species have the ability to really respond to changing beats — notably bats, birds, dolphins, and elephants, which all have the complex ability to learn and repeat new sounds. However, some studies show other animals interact with music, too; one experiment found that pigs exposed to certain music became playful and wagged their tails. Additionally, many farmers report their cows are calmer when the radio is on, with a supporting study reporting that dairy cows produce 3% more milk while listening to slow tunes (fast music had no effect). And when it comes to our best pet companions, music is known to soothe anxious dogs in shelters and adoption centers, though felines — known for being a bit finicky — couldn’t care less about human music. However, they do respond positively to tailored tunes that use beats and frequencies similar to their own meows.

Source: interestingfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

Art by Hart

Ted, a burned-out Care Bear, was taking meds for his compassion fatigue

The neighborhood toughs were even meaner when Betty took Chufton to school in her doll carriage

Beryl kept her important stuff in a jar

Dobbin and Glenn were late entries at Saratoga

Thrilled with the bumper crop of new potatoes, Mr. PotatoHead could finally think about retiring

Art and photos by Jane Hart

In and Around

A New Perspective

A Kendal Sunset: Southern View, over the Tappan Zee Bridge

Photo by Greg Lozier

Kendal Olympics

Hey, we’re not just pretty faces here at Kendal. We’re on our game, sports-wise, as well. So, herein some Kendal spot:

A Popular Sport

Photo by Joe Bruno

Bocce — and a good, long toss

Photo by Joe Bruno

When it’s too hot outside for Bocce . . . switch to corn hole tossing

Photo by Pete Roggemann

Awaiting a triathlon? Ya just never know . . .

Photo by Joe Bruno

How to Start the Day Out Right: A Morning Rainbow

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Blue Against the Gold

Photo by Edward Kasinec

Train Spotting, Kendal-Style: The Last in Over 100 Cars . . . NYC-Bound

Photo by Marilyn Bottjer

Peek-a-Boo!

Photo by Joe Bruno

July Birthdays

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

“Do I Know You?”

Photo by Edward Kasinec

Out and About

Diversion Par Excellence

While biding her time in Phelps Hospital recently, Sarah Plimpton captured the storm that raced across the Hudson.

Discovering Noguchi

On July 24, Kendalites journeyed to NYC to visit the Noguchi Museum. A brief history of Isamu Noguchi, courtesy of Wikipedia and Art Brady:

Isamu Noguchi (November 17, 1904 – December 30, 1988) was an American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned 6 decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public artworks, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces, some of which are still manufactured and sold.

In 1947, Noguchi began a collaboration with the Herman Miller company when he joined with George Nelson, Paul László and Charles Eames to produce a catalog containing what is often considered to be the most influential body of modern furniture ever produced, including the iconic Noguchi table which remains in production today. His work lives on around the world and at the Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum in New York City.

Art Brady also sent along photos from the Noguchi Museum, itself.

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

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Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.