Apologies if everyone knows this already but it's new to me.  There is an amazing blog with photos and stories about historic NYC.  It's called Ephemeral New York and you can spend hours browsing old posts as well as the latest.  Everything from old street lamps, buildings, wonderful genre paintings of street scenes of daily life and lots of photos.  Check it out if you haven't already.  Google 'Ephemeral New York' or see if this link goes thru on Rootsweb.  Enjoy!--Virginia https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com