Do You Remember: A bronx view to the west

There’s nothing like a tall, or relatively tall, building to give one an overall concept of the size and scope of the Bronx.I was looking out of the window on the tenth floor of Einstein Montefiore Hospital on Eastchester Road recently and the view was to the west and southwest.I couldn’t see all 42 square miles of the borough, but it was a grand view.

The majestic Tracey Towers looms to the northwest at Mosholu Parkway South and Paul Avenue in Bedford Park.Constructed in 1972, they are the tallest buildings in the borough.One is 450’ with 41 floors and the other one is 38 stories. Paul Rudolph was the architect and the complex was developed as part of the Mitchell Lama housing development program.

Looking south therefrom, you will notice the Botanical Garden and then the famed Bronx Zoo.Fordham University is also within this view.Moving eastward I then noticed the Woodmansten Apartments on Williamsbridge Road south of Tenbroeck Avenue where the Baisley Tennis Courts were once located.

Among the newest sights on the horizon is the new school just constructed at Bronxdale Avenue at Van Nest Avenue.I watched it go up so it held special interest for me.It was the site of the old Borden’s Milk Plant and I conjured up views of the horse and wagons and later trucks entering and exiting this grand white structure when home-delivery of milk was the norm.There was no homogenization in the early years so you had to shake the bottle somewhat to get the cream at the top to mix throughout the bottle.The milkman would pick up the empty bottles in the wee hours of the morning and read any notes left in the bottles with special requests to leave more or less milk and possibly some cream if baking was on the agenda for that day.

The new school building will undoubtedly be named for some local heroes and FDNY Lieutenant Curtis Meyran and Firefighter John Bellow are being considered for this great honor.They lost their lives when they died after leaping from the blazing inferno at 236 E. 178th Street on January 24, 2005.They died trying to save the lives of others and what could be a greater sacrifice?Their families should, and certainly are, very proud of them.

Also clearly within this view is the huge Parkchester complex but we see only that section on East Tremont Avenue between Purdy Street and Unionport Road.There are 12,272 apartments in the development and in case you have nothing special to do for the next few years, you can count the bricks.There are 110 million of them, more or less, in the fifty-eight buildings that make up the 129-acre site.It opened to the first tenants on March 1, 1940.Of course I left out many other fascinating structures and parks, but there is only so much one can cover in 500 words.The next time you have the opportunity, check out the view from the tenth floor of Einstein Hospital.