Christopher Street, the oldest street in the West Village section of Manhattan New York City. During the late 1700′s was when Christopher Street received its name, when the land was acquired by Charles Christopher Amos. You can see his name in a few areas of the West Village (Charles Street would be one, Christopher would be the other and 10th Street also bore his name Amos at one time).
At that time Christopher Street only went west till what we know today as Weehawken Street, which was laid out in 1829 and is the shortest street in the West Village. Not to long after the city continued to landfill its way north up the Hudson River and created a man made extension of Christopher Street onto West Street.
Christopher Street is the first New Jersey PATH stop in Manhattan on the 33rd Street line into the midtown section of the city. The street also has another station on Broadway Seventh Avenue, the 1 and 2 Line at Christopher Street & Sheridan Square.
Notable residents of Christopher Street:
- Theodor Adorno – philosopher & cultural theorist, lived at 45 Christopher Street.
- Bob Balaban – actor/writer, lived at 95 Christopher.
- Vincent Canadé – artist, lived at 86 Christopher during the 1930′s.
- Robert Cordier – producer & director, lived at 85 Christopher during the early 1960′s.
- E. E. Cummings – poet, lived at 11 Christopher in 1918.
- Harlan Ellison – author, lived at 95 Christopher during the early 1960′s.
- Dick Francis – science fiction illustrator, lived at 105 Christopher.
- Ben M. Hall – author “The Best Remaining Seats” (founder of the Theatre Historical Society of America), lived at 181 Christopher (where he was murdered in 1970).
- Rosemary Harris – actress, lived at 77 Christopher.
- Phillip Seymour Hoffman – actor, lives on Sheridan Square.
- Sally Kirkland – actress, lived at 84 Christopher.
- Hunter C Frick – real estate baron, lived at 89 Christopher.
- Katherine Prichard – educator, lived at 91 Christopher.
- Stephen Ackerman – fashion mogul, lived at 89 Christopher.
- David “Fathead” Newman – Jazz musician, lived at 95 Christopher (into the 1980′s).
- William Poole – New York City gang member of the Bowery Boys.
- Yoko Ono – lived at 87 Christopher.
- Dawn Powell – author, lived at 95 Christopher during 1963-65.
- Vicky Ruane – actress, lived at 39 Christopher Street.
- Amy Sedaris – actress & comedian.
- Linda Solomon – New York editor of New Musical Express & the Village Voice columnist, lived at 95 Christopher during 1960-99.
- Ted White – author & editor, lived at 105 Christopher.
1969 was the year Christopher Street saw history being made, where the Stonewall riots broke out and gay liberation movement began. In the 1970′s during the sexual revolution, Christopher Street was the main drag (no pun intended) for gay men to profile and cruise.
This was the time when gay bars were popping up on every other corner and leather fetish clothing stores were also becoming more & more visible on Christopher Street. During the 1980′s this all changed drastically because of the onslaught of AIDS. Then by the mid to late 1980′s things started moving above 14th Street into Chelsea. Which is when Christopher Street started losing its POP! its WOW!