The old Five Points neighborhood in lower Manhattan was ranked among the worst slums in the world due to its population density, diseases, infant and child mortality, unemployment, and prostitution.  At the intersection of Worth and Baxter Streets was the “Five Points” neighborhood, named after the former intersection of Cross, Orange, and Anthony Streets.  At this intersection stood the Old Brewery tenement house (existing from 1837-1853), where its low rent attracted low income immigrant dwellers.  The Old Brewery quickly became an overcrowded, disease and crime ridden building in the Five Points slum.  The destitution at the Old Brewery pushed community leaders to take action on the squalor throughout the Five Points neighborhood. The tenement house was demolished in 1853, the remainder of the slum torn down in 1897 and turned into Mullberry Park in 1897 then renamed Columbus Park in 1911.  In the 1930’s, the Civic Center of Manhattan was developed in the area.  A few tenement buildings on the east side of Mulberry Street dating from 1800s are the only buildings still exist from the Five Points era, including 48-50 Mulberry Street (this building shown on the postcard made for this project)  Chinatown and Little Italy now surround Columbus Park, where the former slum once stood.

History of the Old Brewery

Coulthard’s Brewery (built in 1792) was converted into the Old Brewery tenement house during Panic of 1837, a major recession.  The Old Brewery’s low rent attracted low income immigrant tenants.  It quickly became an overcrowded, disease and crime ridden building in the Five Points slum.  Five Points’ was among one of the worst slums in the world due to the sheer population density, disease, infant and child mortality, unemployment, and prostitution.  It is alleged to have sustained the highest murder rate of any slum in the world.  The terrible conditions exhibited at the Old Brewery pushed community leaders to take action on the widespread destitution throughout the Five Points neighborhood.  The Old Brewery was purchased in 1852 by the Methodist Ladies of the Mission and was demolished in December 1853.  A new building called the New Mission House at the Five Points was erected.

Sketchbook

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Postcard