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Arts & Entertainment

Flashback: Demo In The City, 1951

By

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 16, 2011

Modified Feb 16, 2011

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"Demolition chute leading from townhouse during wrecking, w. double decker bus from Fifth Avenue Coach Co. in front."

 

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By

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 16, 2011

Modified Feb 16, 2011

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In 1951 LIFE magazine documented a crew of demolition men—whom they dubbed The Wreckers—knocking down townhouses and other structures around the city. We're told that most of the photos available in their public archive are for stories that never ran, so this one likely never saw the light of day (there's no trace of it in the Google machine). There was plenty of destruction happening in the '50s, with high rises going up and brownstones coming down.

Tagged

1959

demolition

flashback

wreckers

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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