A look down Cortlandt Street way before the WTC

A lot has changed on Cortlandt Street since this postcard photograph from 1908 was printed. In fact, few of the buildings depicted in the antique photograph stand today.

A postcard from 1908 via Ephemeral NY

“Cortlandt Street, New York, showing the Singer Building,” reads the caption of this postcard acquired by Ephemeral New York.

Unfortunately, the Singer Building no longer exists. It was brand new in 1908, but like so much of Manhattan, it was demolished in 1968.

The small walkups are also gone. They were destroyed to make way for the World Trade Center in the 1970s.

Another interesting bit of history just visible in the photograph is the platform for the Ninth Avenue El, which used to run up Greenwich Street. [Ephemeral NY] – Christopher Cameron