When it comes to buildings, is "the new and the big” always stronger than “the old and the small”? Not necessarily. How can one old tree be the savior of ancient and precious New York City architecture? Learn about the St. Paul’s sycamore and find out.
-St. Paul's is on 209 Broadway, across from where building 5 was of the World Trade Center. It was built in 1764 and is the oldest standing church in NYC.
-It was built on land granted by Queen Anne of England and is a chapel from the Parish of Trinity Church.
-Even though it stood directly across from the site of 9/11, where the twin towers fell, it was unharmed during the disaster. Not one window was broken and no headstones in the cemetery were damaged. There is a large sycamore tree that was over one hundred years old which took a lot of the blast and it’s roots are memorialized today.
-For over 8 months after the disaster, it served as a place for food and rest and comfort for the firefighters and workers who searched for survivors and cleared debris.
-For the first 8 weeks, no one except approved personnel and rescue workers could enter he chapel. Photographers were not allowed to take pictures inside because it was supposed to be a place of rest. Volunteers of all kinds worked at St. Paul’s around the clock to take care of the firefighters and rescue workers.
-There are gifts, art and messages from people around the world sharing thoughts of hope, comfort and condolence for those who died in the 9/11 attack and their families.
Its so cool that it survived!
ReplyDeleteIs there a reason why the rubble didn't destroy the church and was there any part of the church that was damaged?
ReplyDeleteThe sycamore
DeleteDuring the aftermath of 9/11, did the people live here, as they would if in a shelter, or did they just come for brief periods of time?
ReplyDeleteThe sycamore roots are memorialized in that big reddish statue at the Bigger Trinity Church, which is associated with St. Paul's (both are Anglican). I guess that there wasn't room for it at the smaller site at St.. Paul's.
ReplyDelete