Washington Heights in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The John T. Brush Stairway
Erected 1913 by The New York Giants Baseball Team.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports.
Location. 40° 49.95′ N, 73° 56.367′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Washington Heights. Marker is on Edgecombe Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The John T.Brush Stairway descends down to the former location of the Polo Grounds in an easterly direction from Edgecombe Avenue through Highbridge Park to The Harlem River Drive (The Speedway). The area is known as Coogan's Bluff. According to historical information from the NYC Parks Department annual reports, "The Speedway" was used for carriage horse racing where it derived it name. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 523 Edgecombe Avenue, New York NY 10032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named John T. Brush Stairway (a few steps from this marker); Polo Grounds (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sugar Hill Luminaries Lawn (about 700 feet away); Morris-Jumel Mansion (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Morris-Jumel Mansion (about 800 feet away); Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum (about 800 feet away); Jumel Terrace Historic District (about 800 feet away); Kingsbridge Road Milestone (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. Highbridge Park and the John T. Brush Stairway are slated for restoration as part of Mayor Bloomberg's Plan NYC 2030 program. The stairs are not open to the public at the present time but can be seen from both the Harlem River Drive and Edgecombe Avenue.
Regarding The John T. Brush Stairway. John T. Brush was the owner of the New York Giants Baseball team. In 1891 Brush purchased a parcel of land from James J. Coogan on which Brush built the first Polo Grounds on that site. The structure burned completely in 1911 and a subsequent more durable structure was built. The venue was called "Brush Stadium" through 1919 when it became the "Polo Grounds".
The John T. Brush Stairway is the only vestige of the Polo Grounds that remains. It is literally a stairway to New York City Baseball history. Three of New York's four baseball teams called the Polo Grounds their home field at various times - The New York Giants, The New York Yankees and the New York Mets. It may have been the only MLB park to host three baseball teams.
In 1957 Giants owner Horace Stoneham relocated the Giants to San Francisco California. The Polo Grounds would survive as the first home of the New York Mets until 1964 when William A. Shea Municipal Stadium opened in Flushing and the New York Mets moved into their new state of the art facility.
From the top of the stairs both the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium were visible. The bottom of the stairs lead to the Polo Grounds ticket booths. The stairway made it easy for residents of the Highbridge neighborhood to access the Polo Grounds in an age before automobiles were prevalent.
Also see . . .
1. New York City Walk. (Submitted on May 29, 2010, by Mary Ellen Coghlan of Warwick, New York.)
2. Restoration of the John T. Brush Stairway. Work began in November 2011 on the one year restoration project. (Submitted on December 10, 2011, by Mary Ellen Coghlan of Warwick, New York.)
Additional keywords. New York Giants Baseball, Polo Grounds, Coogan's Bluff
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2010, by Mary Ellen Coghlan of Warwick, New York. This page has been viewed 7,696 times since then and 436 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 29, 2010, by Mary Ellen Coghlan of Warwick, New York. 8. submitted on May 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 9, 10. submitted on May 31, 2010, by Mary Ellen Coghlan of Warwick, New York. 11. submitted on May 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.