I explored a trendy New York City street and its gated block of million-dollar homes once called 'Mixed Ale Alley' - and it reminded me there's history around every corner

Joey HaddenJun 3, 2021, 02:54 IST

I visited Grove Street in the West Village in May 2021.Joey Hadden/Insider/New York Public Library Digital Collections

I explored a bustling NYC street with million-dollar homes built for working-class residents in the 1800s.
Located in Manhattan's West Village, Grove Street is filled with history around every corner.
Once named "Mixed Ale Alley" after residents' drinking habits, the street's gated block is now an exclusive residential area.

I walked up and down a trendy street in New York City's West Village neighborhood, and I found little pockets of history between otherwise bustling blocks.

I toured a street in the West Village. Joey Hadden/Insider

There are many subways near Grove Street, but you can take the 1 train to Christopher Street Station, and you'll land right in the heart of the area.

Christopher Street Station leads straight to Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

Time Out recently described Grove Street as "hidden," but it was full of people walking, talking, and playing music on a Thursday evening in May.

People perform on a Grove Street corner in May 2021. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Time Out

Some of the draw to the area comes from the apartment building seen in the iconic sitcom "Friends" at the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets.

The building at 90 Bedford Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

But what's perhaps more hidden than the street itself is its unlikely history.

People walk past 17 Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

The home at 17 Grove Street, also featured in "Friends," was built in 1822 and is one of the only remaining wood-frame houses left in NYC because of fire codes, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

The house at 17 Grove Street between 1870-1970 and in 2021. Joey Hadden/Insider; New York Public Library Digital Collections

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

The home at 17 Grove Street, also featured in "Friends," was built in 1822 and is one of the only remaining wood-frame houses left in NYC because of fire codes, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

There's a group of 19th-century homes in a nook behind an iron gate known as Grove Court. You can find the court tucked between residences off Grove Street.

Cars are parked in front of buildings next to Grove Court. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

The now-exclusive string of six homes was originally used to house working-class residents. The buildings' owner wanted to fill the neighborhood with grocery-store patrons, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Grove Court in 2021 and between 1870-1970. Joey Hadden/Insider; New York Public Library Digital Collections

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

The now-exclusive string of six homes was originally used to house working-class residents. The buildings' owner wanted to fill the neighborhood with grocery-store patrons, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

In the 19th century, the area was called "Mixed Ale Alley" after many of the residents' drinking habits, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and a 1972 article from the New York Daily News.

A close-up of the townhouses from behind the iron gate. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, New York Daily News

In the 19th century, the area was called "Mixed Ale Alley" after many of the residents' drinking habits, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and a 1972 article from the New York Daily News.

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, New York Daily News

While journalists in the early 1920s deemed Grove Court an undesirable place to live, renovations to the homes there over the years made the block more appealing. Now, it's an exclusive place to live - in 2012, a unit in Grove Court sold for $3.5 million.

The lush greenery surrounding the property makes it feel all the more exclusive and alluring. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Sotheby's Realty

While journalists in the early 1920s deemed Grove Court an undesirable place to live, renovations to the homes there over the years made the block more appealing. Now, it's an exclusive place to live - in 2012, a unit in Grove Court sold for $3.5 million.

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Sotheby's Realty

Beyond the gates of Grove Court, there's more history to explore.

A street corner on Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

In early 1865, Samuel Chester - then a resident of 45 Grove Street - and his associate, John Wilkes Booth, spoke about kidnapping Abraham Lincoln. After Chester refused to kidnap the president, Booth changed his plan to kill Lincoln that same year.

The building at 45 Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

In early 1865, Samuel Chester - then a resident of 45 Grove Street - and his associate, John Wilkes Booth, spoke about kidnapping Abraham Lincoln. After Chester refused to kidnap the president, Booth changed his plan to kill Lincoln that same year.

Source: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

Down the block at 92 Grove Street, writer Alex Haley conducted more than 50 interviews with civil rights activist Malcolm X before writing "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in 1965, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

The building at 92 Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

Sources: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X"

Down the block at 92 Grove Street, writer Alex Haley conducted more than 50 interviews with civil rights activist Malcolm X before writing "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in 1965, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Sources: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, The Autobiography of Malcolm X

My visit to Grove Street was a reminder that even in some of New York City's most lively neighborhoods, there's almost always a hidden history right around the corner.

Me exploring Grove Street. Joey Hadden/Insider

My visit to Grove Street was a reminder that even in some of New York City's most lively neighborhoods, there's almost always a hidden history right around the corner.

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I explored a trendy New York City street and its gated block of million-dollar homes once called 'Mixed Ale Alley' - and it reminded me there's history around every corner

I walked up and down a trendy street in New York City's West Village neighborhood, and I found little pockets of history between otherwise bustling blocks.

There are many subways near Grove Street, but you can take the 1 train to Christopher Street Station, and you'll land right in the heart of the area.

Time Out recently described Grove Street as "hidden," but it was full of people walking, talking, and playing music on a Thursday evening in May.

Some of the draw to the area comes from the apartment building seen in the iconic sitcom "Friends" at the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets.

But what's perhaps more hidden than the street itself is its unlikely history.

The home at 17 Grove Street, also featured in "Friends," was built in 1822 and is one of the only remaining wood-frame houses left in NYC because of fire codes, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

There's a group of 19th-century homes in a nook behind an iron gate known as Grove Court. You can find the court tucked between residences off Grove Street.

The now-exclusive string of six homes was originally used to house working-class residents. The buildings' owner wanted to fill the neighborhood with grocery-store patrons, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

In the 19th century, the area was called "Mixed Ale Alley" after many of the residents' drinking habits, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and a 1972 article from the New York Daily News.

While journalists in the early 1920s deemed Grove Court an undesirable place to live, renovations to the homes there over the years made the block more appealing. Now, it's an exclusive place to live - in 2012, a unit in Grove Court sold for $3.5 million.

Beyond the gates of Grove Court, there's more history to explore.

In early 1865, Samuel Chester - then a resident of 45 Grove Street - and his associate, John Wilkes Booth, spoke about kidnapping Abraham Lincoln. After Chester refused to kidnap the president, Booth changed his plan to kill Lincoln that same year.

Down the block at 92 Grove Street, writer Alex Haley conducted more than 50 interviews with civil rights activist Malcolm X before writing "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in 1965, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

My visit to Grove Street was a reminder that even in some of New York City's most lively neighborhoods, there's almost always a hidden history right around the corner.