Ah, those good old days on West 30th Street when the exciting night-life provoked headlines and summoned the New York City police.
No doubt, the New Year celebrations, fueled by alcohol and a departure from the regular routine, raised the spirits and lowered the inhibitions. The aftermath drew reporters to the scene and a long narrative appeared in The New York Times on January 2nd, 1882. The titles was "Desperate Colored Men -- A Waiter Shot and Killed in West Thirtieth Street. Ex-Convicts Settling an Old Feud in a Drinking Saloon -- The Murdered Man's Brother Also Shot -- Pawning the Pistol from Which the Bullets Were Fired."
It seems that Isaac Willroy, a 29-year-old waiter, was shot and killed by Samuel Thomas, a rough customer. The barroom, owned by Robert A. Caskie, was at 158 West 30th and described in the news as "a noted resort for colored men of bad character." There was little sympathy for the hired help, however, since Isaac Willroy, a resident of West 28th, was also a local brawler who had served time for robbery in Sing-Sing. Mr. Willroy met his match that evening. Samuel Thomas, age 40, a resident of 218 West 30th, went by the alias of "Sambo Sutton," and was not know for his patience nor being a soft-touch with hs neighbors.
Robert Caskie's joint wasn't the only hot-spot on this stretch of West 30th between Sixth Avenue and Seventh. Felons and second-storey-men also socialized in a low basement saloon at 157 West 30th, owned by Mr. Batts. The desperadoes of the block could congregate at 156 West 30th, too, by walking through Daniel Brown's barber shop, then crossing the yard to a saloon a few feet away, where a pool table and beer on tap awaited them.
Time passed and seven-storey buildings constructed for light manufacturing replaced the noisy bar scene and criminal activity between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. For instance, at 110-112 West 30th Street a passerby could see the painted signs of artisans and hard-working men such as Zwilling Fur Trading; Beers Brothers, Picture Frames; William L. Gottlieb, Coats; and C.A. Vanderbilt, Silversmith.
In 1908, the real estate section of The Times announced that the Relianc Construction Company had rented the first commercial loft in its new building at 110-112 West 30th Street to Beers Brothers. The family-owned picture frame company remained here until 1952.
A jeweler and silversmith, Clarence Vanderbilt had launched his business downtown and relocated to 110-112 West 30th around 1909 or so. By 1913, Vanderbilt had situated his company up the street at 151-155 West 30th Street.
“This was a sleepy street when I first moved to this block in the early 1970s,” said Mike Lee, who is known as “the Mayor of West 30th,” and who currently owns 110-112 West 30th Street. Several commercial lots are now for rent in his building. “Forty years ago there were Jewish people who owned the fur factories, and the skilled workforce on this street was mostly Greek or Italian. West 30th has evolved from a tight-knit group of furriers in the 1970s, to importers and exporters of handbags at the present time.”
To contact Conrad Bradford about leasing lofts in the West 30s, phone: 917-403-0980.
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