A Tale of Two Rivers: A Look at the Bronx River in the 1890s

A Tale of Two Rivers: A Look at the Bronx River in the 1890s

In the 1890s, the Bronx River was a waterway of two distinct personalities. In its northern reaches, it was a scenic, natural stream flowing through newly established parkland and woodlands. To the south, as it neared the East River, it became a heavily exploited industrial channel, its waters darkened by the waste of mills and factories. The decade was a pivotal time for the river, marking the last moments of its rural character before the full…