Tradition of moving on May 1 fades

From the May issue: In 1880, New York City’s more than century-old tradition to begin all residential leases on May 1 began shifting to the fall, moving companies reported 132 years ago this month. For much of the 1900s, the annual civic upheaval on the first day of May created confusion and a shortage of moving carts and vans as tenants scrambled to relocate on the same day. “All trade ceased that day because the streets were so heavily filled with traffic,” the Encyclopedia of New York City said. [more]