Chinatown: 1900

It is a fascinating picture, but one thing that struck me of all things is the variety of styles of steps, and that most are constructed out of wood, for a city block made of brick and stone, I thought this a little odd, not what I expected to see.

The candle lantern on the front of the horse cart should be adequate at 5 mph.

Is the WO HOP Chinese restaurant. A world famous institution since the 1930s, for all late night club-goers, at 17 Mott Street. This view is facing south.

"And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.
The great big city's a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy."
-Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

In the street, to the front and to the right of the horse-drawn wagon, there is something on the road itself -- a puddle, a piece of debris, something -- and the odd thing is it looks like it has letters on it? I see "ROBDEV"? It really does look like a puddle, but if the letters were a reflection, wouldn't they be backwards?

I also thought that maybe the photographer playfully left his name on the spot?

Dunno, would love to hear what y'all think.

[The thing you're seeing is a manhole cover with holes in it. -Dave]

The railings on the buildings on the right hand side of the street are reminiscent of the ones in New Orleans.

[A delight to the touch as well as the eyes. - tterrace]

I should have used spell-check...:-)

Half an hour after looking at this Shorpy photo, I felt the need to look at Shorpy again.

This postcard is in my family’s collection. Dr. Chu Soule Bok lived on Mott St. near the place pictured on the postcard which was sent in 1911. Dr. Bok and my grandfather C.M. Austin became friends after meeting at Centenary Collegiate Institute in Hackettstown, NJ, in 1891. Several of C.S. Bok's letters are also in the family collection.

Many of the buildings are still there, and looks like as fun a place as ever to explore!

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