Episodes
Thursday Sep 20, 2012
The Prison Ship Martyrs
Thursday Sep 20, 2012
Thursday Sep 20, 2012
During the Revolutionary War, British forces imprisoned 11,000 captured Americans in foul, overcrowded, disease-infested, rotting ships with scarce food, water air, space or even sunlight. This is one of the most tragic, but little-known, events in American history. Three times as many Americans were allowed to die in the prisons and prison ships than were killed in the combat during the entire war. In the summer, they suffered from suffocation. In the winter there was no heat, and few blankets or coats, and they froze to death or died of pneumonia. They had little food or water, so the prisoners had no resistance to the outbreaks of dysentery, typhoid fever, smallpox, yellow fever, and tuberculosis. It was one of the most horrible tragedies in American history. But some important heroes came out of this, including spies and brave people who helped prisoners escape. Today a monument honors these patriotic martyrs in Fort Greene Park. Kate and Kathleen tell you all about this grim but important event in New York City military history.
Wednesday Sep 19, 2012
Oysters
Wednesday Sep 19, 2012
Wednesday Sep 19, 2012
Like Maine's lobster, New York's oyster used to be our iconic food. New Yorkers feasted on them, exported them, and bragged about them. This attracted visitors (including Charles Dickens!) to our town, where you could find oysters of every possible preparation, if you were careful to walk around the enormous heaps of oyster shells (which are called "middens") on the sidewalks. Oysters could be had at fancy restaurants like Delmonico's, oyster cellars like Downing's, and even the eternally ubiquitous street carts. But where are all those oysters now?? Kathleen and Kate tell you all about these amazing little bivalves, their history, and their future in New York Harbor. The name of our favorite historical walking tour company, Urban Oyster, will make sense after you listen to this podcast. The Oyster Blog is truly remarkable. They have a complete (updated as of 8/2/2012) list of NYC happy hours with oyster specials, cross-referenced by the day of the week. So if you're looking for Kate, she's probably in one of these bars.
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Monday Sep 17, 2012
From 1806 to 1966, The Brooklyn Navy Yard in Wallabout Bay, Brooklyn, constructed and repaired our nation's ships-- especially battleships-- in its 4 dry docks. The 200 acres were covered with offices, store-houses, factories, hospitals, barracks, and extrordinarily lavish homes for admirals and the Commandant. At its maximum operation during WWII, over 70,000 peole worked there around the clock. Ships that played major roles in American history, like the Maine (its unexplained explosion in Havana triggered the Spanish- American War), the Arizona (it sank in the attack on Pearl Harbor), and the Missouri (it was the site of Japan's official surrender, ending WWII) were built there. Kate and Kathleen tell you all about the amazing past at the Brooklyn Navy Yard-- and the exciting events going on there now! To check out after you listen: Thirteen.org's The City Concealed Navy Yard episode-- well worth the 9 min 28 seconds! AWESOME Navy Yard tours by bus or bike Great restaurant in out-of-the-way Vinegar Hill Some more details about Brooklyn's waterfront bicycle greenway in the Navy Yard area