Item #6523 [Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]. Pierre P. Pullis, photog Granville W.
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]
[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]

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[Photo album documenting the construction of the East River subway tunnel.]

[Brooklyn, New York: Pullis Photo, 1903–1907.]. Covers lacking, 29 silver prints, 7.5” x 9.5”. 1 partial photo list, and 1 photographically reproduced map, 7.5” x 9.5”.

An engaging group of images documenting subway construction under the East River in New York City, with numerous shots of men at work on the project.

At the turn of the century, the City of New York hired brothers Pierre P. and Granville W. Pullis to take survey photographs of areas before and after subway system construction as part of the city’s planning process. Originally intended to simply document conditions at work-sites, the Pullis brothers’ photos—spanning from the 1900s to the 1940s—captured the transformation of New York into a modern city.

These photos, taken between 1903 and 1907, document the construction of the East River Tunnel, which ran from South Ferry, Manhattan to Joralemon St., Brooklyn. Images of underground work-scenes show groups of men dressed in overalls and wearing hats; holding tools; hammering into tunnel walls; manning heavy machinery; sawing wood; shoveling coal into massive furnaces, and so on. In one image, an African-American worker is seen, and in another image a man has brought a dog underground with him. One shot, taken on Furman St. in Brooklyn from an elevated vantage point, shows subway construction along a row of apartments. Several photos capture the end of the subway, and some images appear to show dynamite in the tunnel prior to its detonation. The tunnel is shown in various of states of completion. One image was taken in Jersey City, and several shots are water scenes.

CONDITION: Photos generally very good, losses to upper edge of last three photos, a fourth with a small chip; partial loss to photo list/index.

Item #6523

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