Last week marked the one hundreth anniversary of the opening of Grand Central Station which transformed the face of then "uptown" Manhattan. In the heyday of rail passenger traffic it was the hub for the New York Central's Twentieth Century Limited to Chicago and the Atlantic Coast Line's Silver Meteor to Florida. As long distance rail service waned, there was talk of demolishing this building but concerned citizens including Jaqueline Onassis spearheaded a drive to have the station designated a historical landmark. During the years 1976/1979 I passed thru this station commuting to and from Yonkers hardly pausing to appreciate the architecture and the star filled ceiling. As you approached the train platforms in the evening there were the bar car stewards doling out their "attitudinal adjustments" to sooth the nerves of harried commuters enroute to Westchester and Connecticut. The great hall was a popular meeting place under the clock and if you had time to pause and people-watch there was a cozy dining area on a small balcony overlooking the main floor and their brie was warm and runny. During the great blackout of July 1977 I was caught in the city and the great station was dark and idle. I had the option to sleep on its steps that night but a friend took me in to use the sofa. Those were the days!
tjs
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Truely an amazing place. The Oyster Bar! The Vanderbilt Apartment. I can remember sitting in the Waiting Room between sales calls in midtown. It is such a wonderful place particularly when you compare it to the awful Penn Station.
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