REPORT ABUSIVE MESSAGE
|
Subject
|
The rocking-chair riot that riled up New Yorkers
|
Poster Handle
|
War Ensemble |
Post Content
|
Oscar Spate (right) was a shady British businessman with a crazy plan in spring 1901. He’d pay the parks commissioner $500 for the right to put 200 green rocking chairs in Central Park and Madison Square Park. He’d charge 5 cents a seat to park attendees who wanted to sit in his cane-bottomed chairs rather than a stiff park bench. Hired attendants would make sure sitters paid up. This idea actually got the go-ahead from the parks commissioner. [ link to ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com (secure)]
|
|
Please verify you're human:
|
|
Reason for reporting:
|