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Manhattan’s Urban Evolution in 1978: Edmund V. Gillon’s Photos Document a City Redefined

1978 marked a turning point for Manhattan. While the city still bore the scars of the fiscal crisis and the social unrest of the previous years, a new sense of optimism was palpable.  The gritty streets were alive with a renewed energy.  Edmund V. Gillon, with his camera as his constant companion, documented this pivotal year, capturing the city’s evolving landscape and the spirit of a community determined to overcome its challenges.

Gillon, a dedicated chronicler of New York City’s architecture and urban life, possessed a unique ability to capture the essence of the city through his photography.  He focused not only on the iconic landmarks and grand buildings but also on the everyday details that gave each neighborhood its distinct character.  In 1978, his lens captured a city in transition, a city shedding its past struggles and embracing a new era of possibility.

A City Redefined

The economic downturn of the early 70s had left its mark on Manhattan.  Many neighborhoods still showed signs of neglect, and the threat of crime lingered in the air.  However, 1978 witnessed a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to rebuild.  New businesses were opening, construction projects were underway, and the city’s streets were buzzing with a renewed energy.

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Gillon’s photographs documented this shift in the city’s atmosphere.  He captured the bustling streets, the construction cranes reaching for the sky, and the faces of New Yorkers who were determined to move forward.

A Cultural Renaissance

1978 saw a flourishing of the arts and culture in Manhattan.  The punk rock scene, centered in the East Village, continued to thrive, providing an outlet for creative expression and rebellion.  New wave music was also gaining popularity, adding to the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Many of Manhattan’s neighborhoods were undergoing significant transformations in 1978.  SoHo, once a gritty industrial district, was now a thriving artistic hub.  The cast-iron buildings, once symbols of the city’s industrial past, were now home to artists’ lofts, galleries, and trendy boutiques.  Gillon’s photographs documented this ongoing evolution, capturing the unique character of SoHo and its vibrant community.

 Other neighborhoods were also experiencing change.  The Upper West Side, once a predominantly working-class neighborhood, was attracting a new generation of residents, drawn by its brownstones, parks, and cultural institutions.  Gillon’s photographs captured the changing face of the neighborhood, documenting its architectural diversity and the people who called it home

#1 The “Our Strength Is Our Heritage, Our Heritage Is Our Life” wall mural at 232 East Broadway, 1978.

The "Our Strength Is Our Heritage, Our Heritage Is Our Life" wall mural at 232 East Broadway, 1978.

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#2 A. Brym Shoe Repairing at 74 East 7th Street, 1978.

A. Brym Shoe Repairing at 74 East 7th Street, 1978.

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#3 Men leaving McSorley’s Old Ale House at 15 East 7th Street, 1978.

Men leaving McSorley's Old Ale House at 15 East 7th Street, 1978.

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#4 Superior Printing Ink Co. in the Puck Building, 1978.

Superior Printing Ink Co. in the Puck Building, 1978.

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#10 Henry Street Settlement and Engine Company No. 15, 1978.

Henry Street Settlement and Engine Company No. 15, 1978.

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#12 “Chinatown Today” mural by Alan Okada on Pike Street, 1978.

"Chinatown Today" mural by Alan Okada on Pike Street, 1978.

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#13 The 112-114 Prince Street building at the intersection of Greene Street, 1978.

The 112-114 Prince Street building at the intersection of Greene Street, 1978.

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#14 434, 436-440, 442, and 444 Lafayette Street, 1978.

434, 436-440, 442, and 444 Lafayette Street, 1978.

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#15 Essex Street between Grand and Hester Streets, 1978.

Essex Street between Grand and Hester Streets, 1978.

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#18 Seventh-day Adventist Church of Union Square at 128-130 Forsyth Street, 1978.

Seventh-day Adventist Church of Union Square at 128-130 Forsyth Street, 1978.

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#19 Storefronts on East Broadway between Catherine and Market Streets, 1978.

Storefronts on East Broadway between Catherine and Market Streets, 1978.

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#20 Congregation Khal Adas Jeshurun at 12 Eldridge Street, 1978.

Congregation Khal Adas Jeshurun at 12 Eldridge Street, 1978.

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#22 Kletzker Brotherly Aid Association Building at 5 Ludlow Street, 1978.

Kletzker Brotherly Aid Association Building at 5 Ludlow Street, 1978.

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#23 Church of St. Teresa at 16-18 Rutgers Street, 1978.

Church of St. Teresa at 16-18 Rutgers Street, 1978.

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#24 Church of St. Teresa at 16-18 Rutgers Street, 1978.

Church of St. Teresa at 16-18 Rutgers Street, 1978.

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#25 Congregation Sons of Israel Kalwarie at 15 Pike Street, 1978.

Congregation Sons of Israel Kalwarie at 15 Pike Street, 1978.

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#26 Hebrew Religious Articles store at 45 Essex Street, 1978.

Hebrew Religious Articles store at 45 Essex Street, 1978.

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#28 Storefronts at the intersection of Division and Canal Streets, 1978.

Storefronts at the intersection of Division and Canal Streets, 1978.

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#30 Bank of America International at 37-41 Broad Street, 1978.

Bank of America International at 37-41 Broad Street, 1978.

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#32 “Europe” sculpture at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, 1978.

"Europe" sculpture at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, 1978.

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#33 A man sitting on the stoop of 51 Market Street, 1978.

A man sitting on the stoop of 51 Market Street, 1978.

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#35 Presbyterian Building at 154-158 Fifth Avenue, and Mohawk Building at 160 Fifth Avenue, 1978.

Presbyterian Building at 154-158 Fifth Avenue, and Mohawk Building at 160 Fifth Avenue, 1978.

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#38 The 112-114 Prince Street building at the intersection of Greene Street, 1978.

The 112-114 Prince Street building at the intersection of Greene Street, 1978.

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#39 67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978.

67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978.

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#42 The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 301 Park Avenue, 1978.

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 301 Park Avenue, 1978.

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#43 67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978.

67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978.

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#45 Duane Street between Greenwich and Staple Streets, 1978.

Duane Street between Greenwich and Staple Streets, 1978.

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#46 Kletzker Brotherly Aid Association building at 5 Ludlow Street, 1978.

Kletzker Brotherly Aid Association building at 5 Ludlow Street, 1978.

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#47 Superior Printing Ink Co. in the Puck Building, 1978

Superior Printing Ink Co. in the Puck Building, 1978

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#48 The Sendar Company in the Hancock Building, 127-133 Fourth Avenue, 1978

The Sendar Company in the Hancock Building, 127-133 Fourth Avenue, 1978

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#50 Greenwich and Horatio Streets, with Hornblower’s, 1978

Greenwich and Horatio Streets, with Hornblower's, 1978

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#52 St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 81 Christopher Street, 1978

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 81 Christopher Street, 1978

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#54 Canal Street from Division Street, looking east, 1978

Canal Street from Division Street, looking east, 1978

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#55 First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1 West 96th Street, 1978

First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1 West 96th Street, 1978

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#57 Henry Street Settlement and Engine Company No. 15, 1978

Henry Street Settlement and Engine Company No. 15, 1978

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#58 67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978

67, 71, 73, 75, 77-79, and 81 Hudson Street, 1978

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#62 The Old Homestead Steakhouse, 56-60 Ninth Avenue, 1978

The Old Homestead Steakhouse, 56-60 Ninth Avenue, 1978

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#68 American Standard-American Radiator Building, 40 West 40th Street, 1978

American Standard-American Radiator Building, 40 West 40th Street, 1978

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#69 The Sendar Company in the Hancock Building, 127-133 Fourth Avenue, 1978

The Sendar Company in the Hancock Building, 127-133 Fourth Avenue, 1978

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#70 Canal Street from the intersection of Division Street, 1978

Canal Street from the intersection of Division Street, 1978

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#71 Stuyvesant Street between 9th and 10th Streets, 1978

Stuyvesant Street between 9th and 10th Streets, 1978

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#73 Duane Street between Greenwich and Staple Streets, 1978

Duane Street between Greenwich and Staple Streets, 1978

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#75 North from Broadway, Park Row, Vesey Street, and Ann Street, 1978

North from Broadway, Park Row, Vesey Street, and Ann Street, 1978

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#76 Stuyvesant Street between 9th and 10th Streets, 1978

Stuyvesant Street between 9th and 10th Streets, 1978

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Written by Makayla White

An amateur content creator and dreamer. I Run, Cycle, Swim, Dance and drink a lot of Coffee.

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