My grandfather immigrated as a child from Ireland in the 1880s and was orphaned in Five points. My father grew up in tenements on Orchard and Cherry Sts the youngest of 10, only five survived childhood. He barely survived diptheria. Tough times. Tough people.
Hard times make strong people. Strong people create good times. Good times create weak people and weak people create hard times. We are now somewhere between the last two I'd say.
@@1stp4ward"strong people" also led to 2 world wars. Hardworking, ethical and compassionate people make good times. Hardworking, selfish and cold people Make hard times.
$5 a month rent on $50 a month salary. Well nobody is only spending 10% of their income on rent these days. More like 40-70% for a median income. Minimum wage you need 3 jobs working 60-90 hours a week to afford anything in mid to lower Manhattan.
So true. The narrator said that the wealth gap was "obscene" in those days. I'd use the same word today; nothing's really changed, except it's no longer just millions but billions and our government's owned by corporate lobbies and the rich. Kinda' sad when you think about it. I'm grateful I'm past my youth and retired.
@@GladysAlicea our country today is an oligarchy disguised as a capitalist republic. NYC is one of the worst cities politically and socially, but it has a fascinating history.
Except as they say at the end, this is only a representation and not a true story, which was annoying. Am sure there are plenty of true stories they could’ve used.
I really enjoyed this. I had German ancestors who came to NYC in the 1850s and 1860s. In fact, a great-grand uncle of mine fought for the Union in the Civil War. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862. He was honorably discharged later that year. He lived until 1901.
I lived at 33 or 35 Orchard Street. I was on the third floor. The back door led to Allen Street. I loved my landlord! He was such a nice man. He was an elderly Jewish man and he ran a little lingerie shop on the ground floor. My apt. was a Railroad apt. I think the rent was $130.00 a month in 1979. Great memories..
@@Scorned405 No way. More like 10,000. Living even 2 hrs. N of NYC the cheapest 1 br is around 1,200 - no utilities - but the average is 1,600. Now I am sick all over again, just thinking about it.
I grew up in a tenement on Onderdonk Avenue in Queens. I remember the windows between the railroad rooms inside. Great memories, different times. Better times.
This was fascinating. I’m American of German descent. My paternal side arrived here in 1837, Johannes. He arrived from Bavaria with his wife and five sons, one of which was my great great grandfather. This video sure explains a lot for me. Johannes eventually settled in Yankton South Dakota but they had immigrated through New York.
Mine came from bavaria too. There is a grandmother who lived to 102 years old (in bavaria, 1600s)..and only had one child..i thought that was a really incredible highlight.
Mine were from Prussia whom went to Virginia in 1725. Germans were not welcome. .But perseverance & hard work brought forth a farm eventually. Later, scholars & lawyers.
My family are from Bavaria. 3 brothers came to the USA/Ellis Island on the same ship . . . Everyone in the USA with their last name are related . . . I've researched genealogy for 43+ years now
My great grandmother and her sister married two german brothers from the next farm, she said that her mother in-law didn't like them, saying that her sons should have married good German girls. My great grandmother also spoke Swedish at home, English at school and had to learn German to speak to her husband's family at their home! She said that was just the way it was, no complaints. But she still had a thick Swedish accent in her old age and said that her inner dialog was still Swedish but could switch between languages very easily
It's still Like that in Europe. We have our native language, than English is a must, but we never settle with speaking just one foreign language so many of us learn another one. If you move countries, we add one more. And many countries and areas are bilingual or trilingual with more than one official language. I live in a bilingual area close to a border so most people are fluent in 4 languages
My great grandmother was from Sweden. On a record they misspelled her last name. I guess the misheard her. I was able to tell what she was saying when I was a child.
@@karentucker2161 this happen to my family too! The people didn't know how to spell certain names (when writing down someone else's) so my name now "Netznik" we think may have been closer to "Nietzsche"...hard to find them BEFORE Allentown, PA.
Yes. My grandmother spoke 3 languages. These days if you suggest someone learns English to assimilate into America you get labeled a far right extremist. 😂
I'm always searching for good historical docs. This one did not fail expectations. Interspersing acted scenes with historical sites and information is pretty standard. Yours raised the bar. Thank you.
I love this! My family emigrated from Austria around 1880s and were involved in the garment industry. I too worked although in sales on 7th ave. Bravo.
I think this is a German produced documentary. The fact that they take pains to explain the concept of a jury trial (something incredibly familiar to the Anglosphere) made it quite apparent to me.
I do not love Germany or its infamous history. I respect it, but do not like or love it. I’m sorry. I can respect your love for your heritage but please, do not expect others to gush with like or love for it.
Interesting! My fathers family is Portuguese and English. The immigrant communities brought innovate ideas for society to test out in cities like NYC, Boston, and Chicago. Amazing video 🇺🇸
Thanks so much for this great documentary! My mother's parents were from the small country of Luxembourg ❤ my mother was born in 1926 ,New Jersey ( Patterson NJ) they spoke french, German and thier language, plus English with a strong accent until both passed away my father's parents were from Toronto Canada from Scottish/ Irish decent ( spell ✓) after my Grandfather on moms side retired from the railroad they all moved to southern California on a nice piece of land where we all lived! Its astonishing to me years later how very blessed/ lucky I was but was never told i was fortunate all of the time growing up i was taught that our large family weren't any more or less than anyone else... especially to know who i am and I think it's very important to teach your children or any young people in your family your heritage no matter which way it was my mother was the first child of my grandparents born in the USA. My mother and her mom used to go shopping in New York. And they told us about all of the different neighborhoods according to where they were from ect. Thanks again so very much!!!( Sorry so long!!) Theres so much more!! Oh well maybe I should write a book 🤔 😊
I want to hear much, much more! My paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany and my maternal great great grandparents immigrated from Germany also. As you say there is so much more and so many stories.
That's nothing! I first came to my old hometown of NYC in August 2, 1956 with my late parents and my late uncle's family when I was only a 2 month old baby to what is now Kennedy Airport in a propeller airplane. And I lived there in the borough of Queens until 1985 when I moved to the little sister city of New York City, Jersey City, N.J. across the Hudson River. And each neighborhood had 2 or more movie theaters. Believe me my old hometown was never boring. Why do you think the hit cable TV series Mad Men was based in NYC during the 1960s when I started kindergarten until I graduated from Richmond Hill High School in June 1974!
To each his own. I been there about ten times and I think it’s disgusting. Too many people, most people are very pissed and rude and won’t think twice to put a knife in you. The police are incredibly vile, apartments are 4000 a month with rats in the walls, it’s incredibly nasty with garbage all over. Everyone is rude and hateful. Don’t understand the appeal
@@Scorned405 so don’t come back. 🤷🏻♀️ you understand that YOU and people LIKe YOU coming here from whatever bland town you might love and call home adds to the congestion of people?
This was a very good history lesson; I’m a great granddaughter of German immigrants; my father was the first American born on his side of the family. I knew none of what you presented; only that my great grandparents came through Ellis Island with my grandfather around the 1930s, so thank you ☺️
Wouldn't your father be 2nd generation American? Unless your grandfather was born already and was coming here with your great grandfather. Just trying to make sense of what you put on here. My 2nd great mother's family moved from there to here in the mid 1800s. I am glad they came when they did because they missed what happened in the 40s. Unfortunately it wasn't so good from those that stayed behind and had raised kids and grandkids. They went to the concentration camps.
My in-laws came to the US after WW2. Well, the dad was in a prison camp in our state of Georgia, went back to become an MD, then came back to the States and lived here the rest of his life. His wife carried a bullet from a Russian soldier in her body until she died in her 90s. They raised my husband totally as a german--he went to the German School here, spoke fluently, and used German in his work. All extremely conscientious, honorable, standoffish, modest, and hard working.
My Swedish relatives came through Ellis Island, my Germans through New Orleans and my Norwegians through Boston and Canada. I didn't realize how many other ways there were to come to the US besides New York.
I wish this was an entire narrative docu series on Netflix with many migrant stories intertwining ! ei Italian, Irish, Jewish, English, or Chinese XIX century migrant stories!
It's a change from the usual Irish and Italian immigrants, not that they didn't struggle, but it often seems they're the only one's who made up New York's population, alongside Jews. ... Nothing against any group, but looking at other documentaries, movies, even tv shows, you'd never know there were other cultures in NY. Even to this day, it seems only the Italians and Irish keep their heritage alive in NY.
@@treasurehunteruk9718American german decedents still make up a huge portion of our population - nearly 20%. In the 1990s it was still the third most spoken language in American households. This documentary could have a better title though, I agree. It’s scope is very specific to German immigrants. There are plenty of other documentaries about other groups of Americans and cultures.
I think the US makes more fuss about St Patrick's Day than we do in the UK. Boston has a massive celebration, with loads of folk hanging on to Irish heritage. Joe Biden's obsession with his roots is stupid. It was GENERATIONS AGO! Most English folks don't bother to find their ancestry or care about it either.
My mother’s people came from Germany before it was known as Germany (it was originally known as the upper and lower palatinate). My grandmother was a Kuhn and my grandfather was a Breigner. These two families came in at Philadelphia in 1740 & 1741 respectively. They settled in PA in Goshenhoppen. The two families intermarried 3 times; first 2 brothers married 2 sisters then my grandparents married.
I wonder if any came down to Jacksonville, Florida? We have kuhn's flowers that was named after original owners. They always have beautiful displays at every holiday.
I grew up in Western PA. The German culture was very alive and well. Pretty much like the Italians and Irish are to NY. A lot German foods like the German potato salad and sausages.
This is an excellent documentary that is factually based and well researched. Thank you. You may want to think about doing a series of these documentaries based on the different cultures that arrived in NYC and then expand or broaden the story line and then into multiple miniseries. Something to mull over!
Incredible doc!!!! Lived in NYC for 7 years; twas a magical, mystical place full of culture, music!!!, ghosts, oddities, and industry taking over old industry.
At the time 23 year old Theodore Roosevelt was still living in NYC too with his new wife Alice and his mother and siblings. And splitting time between Albany, the New York State Assembly, and the city. He had bought Sagamore Hill on Long Island, but had yet to develop it yet, and build a home.
My great-great Grandfather Michael came to New York through Ellis Island from Italy in 1901. He opened up a bakery situated across the street from the Old Yankee Stadium. Great video.
3yr apprenticeship to become a lawyer? Lol talk about getting in at the ground floor. I love this microscope approach in documentaries. So many try and cover too much in a short period of time. My interest is to know what it was actually like to live in various times throughout history. This gets much closer to that experience. I’m sure it was rough for many but worth it when food and work are within walking distance
Whatever period of American history one idealizes as "that perfect time" that "if only" we could return, when you examine the reality of it closely enough the lustre disappears. This is great work, thanks.
@@alvaro9667agree. The people who built this country can not be considered “privileged” at all. I’m so tired of hearing it. None of us could walk a day in their shoes! The greatest generation!
I'm so thankful my ancestors moved West after arriving. All the way to the mid-west (MN, ND) where they were near lakes and rivers where lawyers, farmers, insurers, doctors, nurses, and teachers were needed. That about covers all the jobs of my ancestors ❤ Except my grandfather and his brother they were soldiers in WWII and carpentors back home. ❤ May all my ancestors rest in peace 🙏 I'm so thankful to them, they have no idea ❤
Great entertainment. Thanksalot! I'm from German Russian ancestors on one side of the family. My son chose to move from California to Brooklyn in his 20s and never looked back .
I visited the Orchard Street Museum twice in the 1990s. It was a unique opportunity to see what a tenement looked like. The toilet facilities were incredibly inadequate. They drained into a big pit and emptied once a year! Toilet paper was non existent. Many people used pages from books as TP. Orchard House Tenement was owned, I believe, by the Astor Family. 😮😮😮
As a native New Yorker and lover of history this was a wonderful story. I knew there was corruption in NY back then, but to the degree that all of it was. Pretty much like it is today!
As an American with German heritage (and a difficult German name) it was great to see this. Realized I’ve never once heard a German immigrant story. Maybe because they thrived so well?
In a strange twist of fate, I happen to be reading 'Time and Again', a Novel by Jack Finney... The main character travels back to the year 1882 in New York. This is a wonderful addition to my reading experience. TY.
My piano was built in 1885 in NYC. See all those ships in the harbor? See all those sails on those ships? My dad's mother's family were prominent sail makers in Sweden and supplied sails extensively throughout europe.
My grandmother came through Ellis Island from Norway in 1905. Her mother died in childbirth of the 6 th child as soon as she got here. The father farmed out 5 of the kids to farms in North Dakota took the oldest boy with him to Canada my grandmother never saw her dad and brother again She was 5 years old and an orphan. Luckily she kept track of her other siblings who were in farms too in the area. She went to Minnesota hecame a nurse in Minneapolis and took care of the people who had the Spanish Flu
Shipping lines were as careful as possible about checking immigrants prior to crossings, as if they were turned away, the line has to pay for their return passage. For example, between January and April 1906 The White Star Line transported over 10,000 immigrants from all over Europe through their services from Liverpool to New York and Boston. Of those, only 42 were denied entry, mostly due to physical ailments. In my research I've found the most common reason for deportation is marked on manifest pages as "LPC". The L represents physical lameness, and the P indicates physical issues associated with breathing and lung problems. The C stands for conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
Beautifully done if a little bit simplistic; a New York tale representative of the immigrant's experience a century and a half ago. I lived in Manhattan for 20 years, even on a street that was mentioned here! And I share the heritage of the protagonists as well. Bravo! I hope to see more interesting content like this from your channel!
My ancestors (both sides) immigrated from Germany, as well: My paternal great-great grandfather & grandmother immigrated aus Köln- after two years in NYC they moved to northern Michigan, eventually owning a very successful lumber mill…… My maternal great grandparents immigrated aus Lübeck, also moving to Michigan-where my great grandfather attended university, becoming a pharmacist & owning his own pharmacy ….American successes, both, and giving much back to their adopted country ….❤
They Americanized it to Roebling, but theres a bridge in Cincinnati connecting Covington, KY to Cincinnati across the Ohio river called the "Roebling Suspension Bridge". Its unique in its appearance and structure; the driving surface is grated and if you go fast enough it looks like theres nothing there and you can see straight down to the river.
Had to cross this 8 times in a rental car given to me while a new water pump was being put on my van...glad I was so concerned about the iffy car that I never took my eyes off the road!
@@MicheleKaiser-io2dx it's a pretty cool optical trick, sorry you missed it. They've rerouted traffic so much in the 20+ years I've been driving that it doesn't get hardly any use compared to what it used to.
In the 1860s, my g g g grandfather Fischer lived in a tenement on East 2nd Street in the lower east side. Today, hiis fourth great grandson my son, lives on that same street. That area is a whole lot different now.
What an excellent little story. I’d like true stories about orphans, including when many were put on trains and sent west, like with Lewis Hines, to be taken in by farmers. Some had good lives but some had terrible lives. Many orphans had parents, they just couldn’t afford to feed them, and lost them forever because no one asked for their permission, and never saw them again.
My great grand father ran away from home (Germany)at age 14 to become a stowaway on a sailing ship. He was found and made to work as a cabin boy for his passage. He settled near Burnips Michigan and was the first white settler there. He and his wife had 14 children in a one room log cabin with a dirt floor. He became a farmer, and worked building houses and barns. It was a hard life but all of their children and each generation did better than their parents. All German heritable until my Dad married a polock.
There were a lot of German migrants to London, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Belfast in the C19th too but they tended to be fairly rich. The ones that stayed after 1914 changed their names though so their descendants are often just called Smith, Brown, Jones etc. Also went the other way, all my male ancestors on my father's side were from Britain but went to university in Heidelberg between about 1830 and 1914
Funny you say that. There's a video on ancestry. A patriotic Brit finds out he's mostly German. The shock on his face when he learned his linage was only about a 100 years in the UK.
They could read and write in their own languages. They were required to have sponsors for jobs and housing upon arrival. And they were subjected to health inspections. Anyone arriving at Ellis Island who could not pass those standards was put on the next boat back home. NO WELFARE!!!
My great grandmothers family name is Schmidt,from Germany. I'm half Norwegian &then 1great grandpa Irish James Hoban(married to Gertrude Schmidt)Hoban,a decendant of the James Hoban architect who designed White House after it was burned.His family had a grocery&bar somewhere. My Grandmas parents were Welsh, named Law(She married Carl Hoban). My Dads family is Norwegian &came as farmers with part of family in Iowa,Minnesota&Northern IL,where my Dads parents were&had farm. They were Lees&Sorensons! My Welsh ancestors fought bin Revolutionary War,Peter Hartmann comes to mind! This was great!
my paternal grandparents were 1909 immigrants from eastern europe . My father was drafted following pearl harbor. I miss my father so much !
Your father belonged to the Greatest Generation! May he rest in peace!
@@carlosacta8726
The greatest generation is ancient Rome.
My grandfather immigrated as a child from Ireland in the 1880s and was orphaned in Five points. My father grew up in tenements on Orchard and Cherry Sts the youngest of 10, only five survived childhood. He barely survived diptheria. Tough times. Tough people.
Hard times make strong people. Strong people create good times. Good times create weak people and weak people create hard times. We are now somewhere between the last two I'd say.
At least rent was cheap😂
@@1stp4wardi agree,that is one of the most sensible and truthfull observations i ever read on this medium.i mean social media.
go back to ireland
@@1stp4ward"strong people" also led to 2 world wars.
Hardworking, ethical and compassionate people make good times.
Hardworking, selfish and cold people
Make hard times.
My grandfather came her when he was 8 in 1911. He worked for Singer when he was 11 until the day he retired in 1960.
$5 a month rent on $50 a month salary. Well nobody is only spending 10% of their income on rent these days. More like 40-70% for a median income. Minimum wage you need 3 jobs working 60-90 hours a week to afford anything in mid to lower Manhattan.
You’re right. I’ve been in nyc for one year and the rent for a good apartment is astronomical! I miss Ohio. Hahaha.
@@Ohio_Gregbeyond astronomical
$5 was the price for sub-letting 1 Room.
One Hundred thousand a year is what anyone needs to even think of living on Manhattan
@@Ohio_Greghow much was Ohio rent a month? Why did you move?😁
"Life in New York is expensive." 140 years later some things never change!
So true. The narrator said that the wealth gap was "obscene" in those days. I'd use the same word today; nothing's really changed, except it's no longer just millions but billions and our government's owned by corporate lobbies and the rich. Kinda' sad when you think about it. I'm grateful I'm past my youth and retired.
In any case that didn't stop it's growth.
@@GladysAliceaSome of those wealthy people, Andrew Carnegie, were immigrants originally.
@@GladysAlicea our country today is an oligarchy disguised as a capitalist republic. NYC is one of the worst cities politically and socially, but it has a fascinating history.
@@GladysAlicea
This is why I watch you tube, the very best of documentary and subject. Every big city has a story.
Except as they say at the end, this is only a representation and not a true story, which was annoying. Am sure there are plenty of true stories they could’ve used.
I really enjoyed this. I had German ancestors who came to NYC in the 1850s and 1860s. In fact, a great-grand uncle of mine fought for the Union in the Civil War. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862. He was honorably discharged later that year. He lived until 1901.
I lived at 33 or 35 Orchard Street. I was on the third floor. The back door led to Allen Street. I loved my landlord! He was such a nice man. He was an elderly Jewish man and he ran a little lingerie shop on the ground floor. My apt. was a Railroad apt. I think the rent was $130.00 a month in 1979. Great memories..
Now that apartment is probably 4000 a month
That sounds like a very cool experience! Like in the movies ❤
@@Scorned405 No way. More like 10,000. Living even 2 hrs. N of NYC the cheapest 1 br is around 1,200 - no utilities - but the average is 1,600. Now I am sick all over again, just thinking about it.
What a great memory. TY for sharing. I pictured what u wrote!
I grew up in a tenement on Onderdonk Avenue in Queens. I remember the windows between the railroad rooms inside. Great memories, different times. Better times.
This was fascinating. I’m American of German descent. My paternal side arrived here in 1837, Johannes. He arrived from Bavaria with his wife and five sons, one of which was my great great grandfather.
This video sure explains a lot for me. Johannes eventually settled in Yankton South Dakota but they had immigrated through New York.
Mine came from bavaria too. There is a grandmother who lived to 102 years old (in bavaria, 1600s)..and only had one child..i thought that was a really incredible highlight.
Mine were from Prussia whom went to Virginia in 1725. Germans were not welcome. .But perseverance & hard work brought forth a farm eventually. Later, scholars & lawyers.
Yes,the upper Midwest is the home of mostly German and Scandinavian. New Ulm is very German.
German Catholics dominate certain areas of Minnesota. New Ulm, St Cloud, ect
My family are from Bavaria. 3 brothers came to the USA/Ellis Island on the same ship . . . Everyone in the USA with their last name are related . . . I've researched genealogy for 43+ years now
My great grandmother and her sister married two german brothers from the next farm, she said that her mother in-law didn't like them, saying that her sons should have married good German girls. My great grandmother also spoke Swedish at home, English at school and had to learn German to speak to her husband's family at their home! She said that was just the way it was, no complaints. But she still had a thick Swedish accent in her old age and said that her inner dialog was still Swedish but could switch between languages very easily
It's still Like that in Europe. We have our native language, than English is a must, but we never settle with speaking just one foreign language so many of us learn another one. If you move countries, we add one more. And many countries and areas are bilingual or trilingual with more than one official language. I live in a bilingual area close to a border so most people are fluent in 4 languages
My great grandmother was from Sweden. On a record they misspelled her last name. I guess the misheard her. I was able to tell what she was saying when I was a child.
My grandparents are German immigrants. My grandma still has a very thick German accent at almost 88 years old
@@karentucker2161 this happen to my family too! The people didn't know how to spell certain names (when writing down someone else's) so my name now "Netznik" we think may have been closer to "Nietzsche"...hard to find them BEFORE Allentown, PA.
Yes. My grandmother spoke 3 languages. These days if you suggest someone learns English to assimilate into America you get labeled a far right extremist. 😂
I'm always searching for good historical docs. This one did not fail expectations. Interspersing acted scenes with historical sites and information is pretty standard. Yours raised the bar. Thank you.
Any recommendations? Especially concerning NYC - past or present?
👍
@@denniswhite166 I recommend Ken Burns' documentary about NYC history. It's amazing!
My great-grandfather was born in Manhattan in 1869. He was 13 in 1882 and still living there.
?
Not a chance.
You don't know what that ghastly odor is, eh?
😮😲😯
@@MaureenDeVries-wd9mh?
Born and raised in New Yorks lower east side, les. This was so interesting to watch
The tenement museum is a must see if you go to New York. Really fascinating
Absolutely! I tell everyone about it as well.
I loved this video, thank you for the history Of NYC😂🌹🤗
The tenement museum is a low key gem. Excellent recommendation.
Coming soon to an area near you. ‘The Homeless museum” Brought to you by your local Democratic Party.
I have been there & it was absolutely amazing!
My German relatives came to NY and my grand father went to northern Michigan to farm. My father left to Detroit for work as a young man. Love history!
Lol,they made wise decisions by moving.
We are History, aren't we ? 🤠. Why we love it!! I'm in Texas now !
I love this! My family emigrated from Austria around 1880s and were involved in the garment industry. I too worked although in sales on 7th ave. Bravo.
And then, when I was doing data entry downtown I used to cash my check at a bank in the Empire State building at lunchtime Fridays! 😂
Make more of these types of videos about different years through history PLEASE
💯
Oh 🛑
1/10th of his salary went to his housing? Wow, how things have changed.
Lol.
Exactly
Yup, true but it’s a trade off. Ppl complain but they don’t actually want those housing conditions. Regulation comes at a cost
I guess you could call those conditions housing. Now, try to imagine the odors.
@@MrsMathews landlord alert
This was wonderful. The German speaking actors were so good that I could understand a great deal of what they were saying.
Same , they have " High German" accents , which they speak in the North of Germany. As a Dutch I can clearly understand everything they say easily
I think this is a German produced documentary. The fact that they take pains to explain the concept of a jury trial (something incredibly familiar to the Anglosphere) made it quite apparent to me.
Thank you Germany for helping build this great nation. Even today, I live near a strong German heritage area in the US. We love you!
Yes thank you germany for almost ruining this great nation of ours in two world wars.
I mean they did start TWO world wars and murdered 100s of millions of people!!
P..S.please don’t try to take over the world again, like you did in WW1 and 2.
I do not love Germany or its infamous history. I respect it, but do not like or love it. I’m sorry. I can respect your love for your heritage but please, do not expect others to gush with like or love for it.
Ireland built America
Justice and fairness only really exist on paper. What a great line. Still true today
They don’t even use paper anymore, which makes it even worse. No accountability at all anymore.
Interesting! My fathers family is Portuguese and English. The immigrant communities brought innovate ideas for society to test out in cities like NYC, Boston, and Chicago. Amazing video 🇺🇸
❤ 🇵🇹
Thanks so much for this great documentary! My mother's parents were from the small country of Luxembourg ❤ my mother was born in 1926 ,New Jersey ( Patterson NJ) they spoke french, German and thier language, plus English with a strong accent until both passed away my father's parents were from Toronto Canada from Scottish/ Irish decent ( spell ✓) after my Grandfather on moms side retired from the railroad they all moved to southern California on a nice piece of land where we all lived! Its astonishing to me years later how very blessed/ lucky I was but was never told i was fortunate all of the time growing up i was taught that our large family weren't any more or less than anyone else... especially to know who i am and I think it's very important to teach your children or any young people in your family your heritage no matter which way it was my mother was the first child of my grandparents born in the USA.
My mother and her mom used to go shopping in New York.
And they told us about all of the different neighborhoods according to where they were from ect.
Thanks again so very much!!!( Sorry so long!!) Theres so much more!! Oh well maybe I should write a book 🤔 😊
Good idea to write a book! But also nice to have shared this much here. 🙏🙂
I want to hear much, much more!
My paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany and my maternal great great grandparents immigrated from Germany also. As you say there is so much more and so many stories.
This was excellent 👏. I worked in NYC for 30 years. I love New York and the history is fascinating.
That's nothing! I first came to my old hometown of NYC in August 2, 1956 with my late parents and my late uncle's family when I was only a 2 month old baby to what is now Kennedy Airport in a propeller airplane. And I lived there in the borough of Queens until 1985 when I moved to the little sister city of New York City, Jersey City, N.J. across the Hudson River. And each neighborhood had 2 or more movie theaters. Believe me my old hometown was never boring. Why do you think the hit cable TV series Mad Men was based in NYC during the 1960s when I started kindergarten until I graduated from Richmond Hill High School in June 1974!
@@luislaplume8261it’s not a competition
To each his own. I been there about ten times and I think it’s disgusting. Too many people, most people are very pissed and rude and won’t think twice to put a knife in you. The police are incredibly vile, apartments are 4000 a month with rats in the walls, it’s incredibly nasty with garbage all over. Everyone is rude and hateful. Don’t understand the appeal
@@Scorned405 so don’t come back. 🤷🏻♀️ you understand that YOU and people LIKe YOU coming here from whatever bland town you might love and call home adds to the congestion of people?
@@jennifermcgoldrick6323
I'm Bronx, born and bred.
He's correct. I left. Never looked back.
This was a very good history lesson; I’m a great granddaughter of German immigrants; my father was the first American born on his side of the family.
I knew none of what you presented; only that my great grandparents came through Ellis Island with my grandfather around the 1930s, so thank you ☺️
Mine came in through Philadelphia.
@@653j521 Lots of German settlers in Pennsylvania in addition to English, Scottish and Irish settlers.
Wouldn't your father be 2nd generation American? Unless your grandfather was born already and was coming here with your great grandfather. Just trying to make sense of what you put on here. My 2nd great mother's family moved from there to here in the mid 1800s. I am glad they came when they did because they missed what happened in the 40s. Unfortunately it wasn't so good from those that stayed behind and had raised kids and grandkids. They went to the concentration camps.
They came to California and also through the Carolinas, georgia and Florida. Have them on both sides of my family. @@ReviewsChannel-e4r
My in-laws came to the US after WW2. Well, the dad was in a prison camp in our state of Georgia, went back to become an MD, then came back to the States and lived here the rest of his life. His wife carried a bullet from a Russian soldier in her body until she died in her 90s. They raised my husband totally as a german--he went to the German School here, spoke fluently, and used German in his work. All extremely conscientious, honorable, standoffish, modest, and hard working.
My Swedish relatives came through Ellis Island, my Germans through New Orleans and my Norwegians through Boston and Canada. I didn't realize how many other ways there were to come to the US besides New York.
I wish this was an entire narrative docu series on Netflix with many migrant stories intertwining ! ei Italian, Irish, Jewish, English, or Chinese XIX century migrant stories!
Yes!
No, it is just one big advert for how wonderful the Germans were - and how THEY made it in America.
It's a change from the usual Irish and Italian immigrants, not that they didn't struggle, but it often seems they're the only one's who made up New York's population, alongside Jews. ... Nothing against any group, but looking at other documentaries, movies, even tv shows, you'd never know there were other cultures in NY.
Even to this day, it seems only the Italians and Irish keep their heritage alive in NY.
@@treasurehunteruk9718American german decedents still make up a huge portion of our population - nearly 20%. In the 1990s it was still the third most spoken language in American households. This documentary could have a better title though, I agree. It’s scope is very specific to German immigrants. There are plenty of other documentaries about other groups of Americans and cultures.
I think the US makes more fuss about St Patrick's Day than we do in the UK. Boston has a massive celebration, with loads of folk hanging on to Irish heritage. Joe Biden's obsession with his roots is stupid. It was GENERATIONS AGO! Most English folks don't bother to find their ancestry or care about it either.
My mother’s people came from Germany before it was known as Germany (it was originally known as the upper and lower palatinate). My grandmother was a Kuhn and my grandfather was a Breigner. These two families came in at Philadelphia in 1740 & 1741 respectively. They settled in PA in Goshenhoppen. The two families intermarried 3 times; first 2 brothers married 2 sisters then my grandparents married.
I wonder if any came down to Jacksonville, Florida? We have kuhn's flowers that was named after original owners. They always have beautiful displays at every holiday.
I grew up in Western PA. The German culture was very alive and well. Pretty much like the Italians and Irish are to NY. A lot German foods like the German potato salad and sausages.
This is an excellent documentary that is factually based and well researched. Thank you. You may want to think about doing a series of these documentaries based on the different cultures that arrived in NYC and then expand or broaden the story line and then into multiple miniseries. Something to mull over!
Incredible doc!!!! Lived in NYC for 7 years; twas a magical, mystical place full of culture, music!!!, ghosts, oddities, and industry taking over old industry.
Amazing narrative documentary. Thank you for uploading such a gem.
Couldn't even fathom living like this back then! Tough work!
This beats the snot out of history classes. Very interesting!!
At the time 23 year old Theodore Roosevelt was still living in NYC too with his new wife Alice and his mother and siblings. And splitting time between Albany, the New York State Assembly, and the city. He had bought Sagamore Hill on Long Island, but had yet to develop it yet, and build a home.
My favorite president. Walk quietly carry a big stick!
@@freemarketjoe9869 absolutely!! Awesome 👍
Thanks. My great grandparents were in NYC during this Era. German immigrants.
enjoyed this video... I feel connected to the experiences depicted as my forebears were both German and Irish immigrants in NYC
Education in 1880’s New York was exceptional. Look at how everyone was able to speak fluent German. Amazing I tell ya, amazing!
Manhattan has been the great cemetery of languages in the human history.
Just found your channel and this is the first thing I've watched on it and I found it really enjoyable and informative .. thank you
This was such an excellent story on the history of NYC and the immigrants experience. Thank you!
My great-great Grandfather Michael came to New York through Ellis Island from Italy in 1901. He opened up a bakery situated across the street from the Old Yankee Stadium. Great video.
3yr apprenticeship to become a lawyer? Lol talk about getting in at the ground floor. I love this microscope approach in documentaries. So many try and cover too much in a short period of time. My interest is to know what it was actually like to live in various times throughout history. This gets much closer to that experience. I’m sure it was rough for many but worth it when food and work are within walking distance
Whatever period of American history one idealizes as "that perfect time" that "if only" we could return, when you examine the reality of it closely enough the lustre disappears. This is great work, thanks.
And things such as “white privileged” evaporates away. Yet, we live in the greatest country.
Lll
@@alvaro9667agree. The people who built this country can not be considered “privileged” at all. I’m so tired of hearing it. None of us could walk a day in their shoes! The greatest generation!
I'm so thankful my ancestors moved West after arriving. All the way to the mid-west (MN, ND) where they were near lakes and rivers where lawyers, farmers, insurers, doctors, nurses, and teachers were needed. That about covers all the jobs of my ancestors ❤ Except my grandfather and his brother they were soldiers in WWII and carpentors back home. ❤ May all my ancestors rest in peace 🙏 I'm so thankful to them, they have no idea ❤
What sweet sentiments ❤ My Grandparents were homesteaders who also traveled through and onto ND.
I really like NYC though : D. The west is beautiful too but there is something about NYC.
I'm always intrigued about this time frame in America. Especially the gangs of New York in this era. So far this is a great video.
Loved this documentary. Thank you 🙏🏻
Great entertainment. Thanksalot! I'm from German Russian ancestors on one side of the family. My son chose to move from California to Brooklyn in his 20s and never looked back .
As a New Yorker, I understand 👍
Oh wow! The quality of this documentary was really really good, loved the storyline! :D
I visited the Orchard Street Museum twice in the 1990s. It was a unique opportunity to see what a tenement looked like. The toilet facilities were incredibly inadequate. They drained into a big pit and emptied once a year! Toilet paper was non existent. Many people used pages from books as TP. Orchard House Tenement was owned, I believe, by the Astor Family. 😮😮😮
Ah yes, rich people. Profiting off the poor and offering inhumane treatment since the very beginning. It's the American way. Or now, the M'urican way.
It was not owned by the Astor family. It was owned by a Prussian immigrant tailor who amassed enough wealth to build and keep it.
Have you read 97 Orchard Street?
There’s truly nothing like New York… Grateful for the multifaceted cultural education that I was born into!!!!!❤
As a native New Yorker and lover of history this was a wonderful story. I knew there was corruption in NY back then, but to the degree that all of it was. Pretty much like it is today!
When we as society do not learn from history we repeat it, over and over and over again
Just more organized. If y'all watch Foyals war,set in WW1 era. You'll see how much it resembled NYC as they left to come across the sea to NYC.
You must deal with real estate prople often to be making a statement like that!
The Series was called Foyle's War and was set in WW2. An excellent series it was too. @@PamelaWoodward-sy3hx
As an American with German heritage (and a difficult German name) it was great to see this. Realized I’ve never once heard a German immigrant story. Maybe because they thrived so well?
Thank you for sharing history in such an accessible fashion. I appreciated and enjoyed this very much.🖤🇨🇦
Omg I WANT MORE OF THESE !!!!
Awesome documentary. This could have been a great tv series.
I enjoyed this documentary. Thank you for sharing it
In a strange twist of fate, I happen to be reading 'Time and Again', a
Novel by Jack Finney... The main character travels back to the year 1882 in New York. This is a wonderful addition to my reading experience. TY.
Family lore has it that my Great-grandfather was a barrel maker in NYC in the late 1800s early 1900s.
An interesting video, unlike any other on RUclips. Thanks for this masterpiece.
My piano was built in 1885 in NYC. See all those ships in the harbor? See all those sails on those ships? My dad's mother's family were prominent sail makers in Sweden and supplied sails extensively throughout europe.
My grandmother came through Ellis Island from Norway in 1905. Her mother died in childbirth of the 6 th child as soon as she got here. The father farmed out 5 of the kids to farms in North Dakota took the oldest boy with him to Canada my grandmother never saw her dad and brother again She was 5 years old and an orphan. Luckily she kept track of her other siblings who were in farms too in the area. She went to Minnesota hecame a nurse in Minneapolis and took care of the people who had the Spanish Flu
quite a heartfelt story of American History and NYC....plus the aspirational dreams of future Americans...@ that time...very inspiring, yes?
Shipping lines were as careful as possible about checking immigrants prior to crossings, as if they were turned away, the line has to pay for their return passage.
For example, between January and April 1906 The White Star Line transported over 10,000 immigrants from all over Europe through their services from Liverpool to New York and Boston. Of those, only 42 were denied entry, mostly due to physical ailments.
In my research I've found the most common reason for deportation is marked on manifest pages as "LPC". The L represents physical lameness, and the P indicates physical issues associated with breathing and lung problems. The C stands for conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
Fairness of justice has not changed, and corruption everywhere is the same. So disheartening.
My ancestors from England came here, learned the language and worked the way up into 1640s society.
Learned what language?
@@carolines5355 Why English, of course. ; )
But they were from England? Did they speak another language?
@@carolines5355 maybe he didn't mean england but britain, in that case they could speak gaelic or welsh but no english
God Bless these little folks who contributed so much to who we are today. Working at home and just sucking it up when things got difficult.🌷
Excellent video. 💯💯👏👏
I enjoy watching. Travel back in time.
19th Century vibe.
Very well done. I hope this helps to remove the ignorance, racism and hate about all immigrants coming to America today.
Very impressive documentary
Excellent documentary 👏. Thank you 😊!
Beautifully done if a little bit simplistic; a New York tale representative of the immigrant's experience a century and a half ago. I lived in Manhattan for 20 years, even on a street that was mentioned here! And I share the heritage of the protagonists as well.
Bravo! I hope to see more interesting content like this from your channel!
The British Tourist Board needs to hire you guys. I love watching your videos. I enjoy that you show the normal tourist places and the fun-finds too.
This is a very good Documentry!!!
Thank you for an excellent history lesson danke.
My ancestors (both sides) immigrated from Germany, as well: My paternal great-great grandfather & grandmother immigrated aus Köln- after two years in NYC they moved to northern Michigan, eventually owning a very successful lumber mill……
My maternal great grandparents immigrated aus Lübeck, also moving to Michigan-where my great grandfather attended university, becoming a pharmacist & owning his own pharmacy ….American successes, both, and giving much back to their adopted country ….❤
Fantastic presentation. Inspired research on Maria Mandelbaum (neé Weisner, Jewish). Amazing graphic of New York in the 1800's.
They Americanized it to Roebling, but theres a bridge in Cincinnati connecting Covington, KY to Cincinnati across the Ohio river called the "Roebling Suspension Bridge". Its unique in its appearance and structure; the driving surface is grated and if you go fast enough it looks like theres nothing there and you can see straight down to the river.
Had to cross this 8 times in a rental car given to me while a new water pump was being put on my van...glad I was so concerned about the iffy car that I never took my eyes off the road!
@@MicheleKaiser-io2dx it's a pretty cool optical trick, sorry you missed it. They've rerouted traffic so much in the 20+ years I've been driving that it doesn't get hardly any use compared to what it used to.
Same guy did the Brooklyn bridge
Same guy designed the Brooklyn bridge
This is so fascinating, I love the 1800's.
These re-enactments are top tier!
In the 1860s, my g g g grandfather Fischer lived in a tenement on East 2nd Street in the lower east side. Today, hiis fourth great grandson my son, lives on that same street. That area is a whole lot different now.
I enjoyed this thoroughly! Great job!
Me encantó. Gracias por hacer estos videos
Liked the story line but disappointed it wasn’t true there must be true stories wish you’d do some of those ❤thank you for your artistic efforts
Well darn. That was a great history lesson but quite disappointing that it wasn't true. Was really rooting for George at the end.
What an excellent little story. I’d like true stories about orphans, including when many were put on trains and sent west, like with Lewis Hines, to be taken in by farmers. Some had good lives but some had terrible lives. Many orphans had parents, they just couldn’t afford to feed them, and lost them forever because no one asked for their permission, and never saw them again.
My great grand father ran away from home (Germany)at age 14 to become a stowaway on a sailing ship. He was found and made to work as a cabin boy for his passage.
He settled near Burnips Michigan and was the first white settler there.
He and his wife had 14 children in a one room log cabin with a dirt floor. He became a farmer, and worked building houses and barns. It was a hard life but all of their children and each generation did better than their parents. All German heritable until my Dad married a polock.
That's a slurr. Say "Polish person"!
I've never seen such clear footage of 1882...incredible! how did you do it?!
It's a recreation. The first movie camera was built in 1888.
Such s fascinating and well produced documentary.
This is great! David Huyssen is also a personal favorite.
There were a lot of German migrants to London, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Belfast in the C19th too but they tended to be fairly rich. The ones that stayed after 1914 changed their names though so their descendants are often just called Smith, Brown, Jones etc. Also went the other way, all my male ancestors on my father's side were from Britain but went to university in Heidelberg between about 1830 and 1914
Funny you say that. There's a video on ancestry. A patriotic Brit finds out he's mostly German. The shock on his face when he learned his linage was only about a 100 years in the UK.
That was great ! Thanks . Didn’t expect it to be so well done . Never heard of mother Mandlebaum.
What a wonderful story!! I'd love to watch more.
They could read and write in their own languages. They were required to have sponsors for jobs and housing upon arrival. And they were subjected to health inspections. Anyone arriving at Ellis Island who could not pass those standards was put on the next boat back home. NO WELFARE!!!
Both of my maternal grandparents & paternal grandfather lived in NYC before moving to CT.
This video was exceptional and I hope to see more! I have subscribed, Thank you!
My neighbors have 5 people in a one bedroom. Not much has changed...
You Do Good Work. I Just Subscribed. I’m From NYC now Living in North Carolina. I’m now a 71yo Veteran And A Retired Corporate Pilot.
Really enjoyed this video 😊 thx for sharing.... smiles
My great grandmothers family name is Schmidt,from Germany. I'm half Norwegian &then 1great grandpa Irish James Hoban(married to Gertrude Schmidt)Hoban,a decendant of the James Hoban architect who designed White House after it was burned.His family had a grocery&bar somewhere. My Grandmas parents were Welsh, named Law(She married Carl Hoban). My Dads family is Norwegian &came as farmers with part of family in Iowa,Minnesota&Northern IL,where my Dads parents were&had farm. They were Lees&Sorensons! My Welsh ancestors fought bin Revolutionary War,Peter Hartmann comes to mind! This was great!
60 years from now we’ll live thru the 80’s again
There was no "paralegal" job title back then. You were an apprentice or called something else and were referred to as "reading the law".