| Over the years,
I have probably been in Grand Central Terminal several-hundred
times, but like most of the 5-6 million daily commuters, I
had never really “seen” it until I joined a recent
Orange Senior day trip that included an insider’s view
of this New York icon.
Grand Central Terminal (often incorrectly referred to as
Grand Central Station, which is the subway station underneath
the terminal) was built in 1913 at a time when new electrification
technology allowed arriving trains to go underground.
Although it was built and named for the New York Central
Railroad when many long-distance trains used the station,
today it serves only commuter traffic from platforms on
two levels; 41 upper and 26 platforms on the lower. There
is a secret platform, No. 61 under the station which was
used to convey President FDR and his limo, directly into
the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. There is also a little known
and very special, cocktail lounge which occupies the former
elegant hideaway office and apartment of John W. Campbell.
In memory of this ’30s tycoon, a popular drink is
called “Prohibition Punch.”
Our guide pointed out many remarkable design innovations
used in the building of Grand Central. Ramps, instead of
stairs are used in most areas making it easier to move from
one place to another. The architecture, by cleverly opening
or narrowing spaces, although we are unaware of it, encourages
us to slow down or walk more quickly.
The use of amber lights gives a soft, warm glow throughout.
The 125-foot-high ceiling, which arches over the 80,000-square-foot
main concourse, also has many unique features. It portrays
the Mediterranean sky with October-March zodiac and 2,500
stars. A section of the zodiac is depicted backward, because
Paul Helleu, the artist, took inspiration from a medieval
manuscript that depicted the heavens as viewed from outside
the celestial sphere. If you follow a line on the ceiling,
you will also notice a small, very dark area. It is the
color of the ceiling previous to renovation caused by accumulation
of dirt and nicotine over the years.
Two major features of the Grand Concourse are “the
clock,” a favorite meeting place at the center of
the information booths, and the grand staircases. Each of
the four faces on the clock is made from opal and its estimated
value is between $10 and $20 million. Originally, there
was only one grand staircase; the second (which is the one
on the east side leading to the Metrazur restaurant) was
added during the restoration. Both beautiful marble staircases
are modeled after the one at the Paris Opera House.
Our guide showed us the area where from 1939-1964 CBS broadcast
their evening news programs, including Ed R. Murrow’s
well known “See It Now.” The comings and goings
of the trains, however, caused frequent lost signal problems,
which necessitated a constant adjustment of the “rabbit
ears” on viewer’s sets as they lost the program.
By the 1950s, we had become a nation of suburbs and cars
and, of course, the cost of prime Manhattan real estate
had soared. The interior of the terminal became filled with
advertising and billboards in an effort to make money and
in 1954 plans to demolish Grand Central and replace it with
an office tower, were advanced.
Although the Landmarks Preservation Commission had designated
Grand Central as a landmark, Penn Central filed an $8 million
lawsuit against the City of New York, and the litigation
lasted nearly a decade.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Brendan Gill rallied other influential
New Yorkers in the fight to keep Grand Central, and it is
now a National Historic Landmark: 1983 saw its takeover
by MTA Metro-North which instituted an ambitious revitalization
plan.
Now, with five upscale restaurants, including the famous
Oyster Bar, 20 casual eateries, a gourmet food court and
50 specialty shops, Grand Central not only serves thousands
of commuters, it is a historic landmark and tourist destination.
Free tours are available on Wednesdays at 12:30 from the
Municipal Art Society, 212-935-3960, or Fridays, also at
12:30, given by the Grand Central Partnership, 212-883-2420.
After taking the tour, you will never be able to rush through
Grand Central in the same old way again.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
