OP: (photograph) Hudson Oyster and Chop House (1913)
9.5” x 7.5” photograph of The Hudson Oyster & Chop House at 207 Hudson St. and Watts St. Neighboring businesses include Burns & Reed Teas, Coffees, Spices two doors down and a hardware store in between. Stapleton & Doheny Market further down the block with their branded horse carriage out front. Two blurred figures appear, as well—a woman walking down Watts, and a man crossing Hudson. Another carriage makes a turn onto Hudson in the background.
“Pub. by Frank Cousins Art Co., Salem, Mass” stamped on the reverse. In 1913, Frank Cousins was hired by the Art Commission of New York City to photograph buildings which were scheduled for demolition. It is highly probable that this whole block was razed specifically for the construction of the Holland Tunnel, the entrance of which was built on this corner a few years later.
The back of the photo shows evidence of having been peeled off a sturdier mount. Small closed tears to the top and bottom edge.
