Jewish Culture and Communism Entranceways, United Workers Cooperative Colony, Bronx, New York
The entranceway spandrel bas reliefs depict Jewish culture (figs and palm leaves) and symbols of Communism (hammer, sickle, square, compass). The apartment complex is known as "The Coops" (pronounced "coops", not "co-ops"). The project was established as a non-profit trade union cooperative by the United Workers’ Association. It was designed by Springsteen & Goldhammer. This section was built in 1926-27. Union members were mostly involved in the needle trades. Most were non-religious Jews and many were Communists. (Jewish holidays and traditional ceremonies were not celebrated.) There were a sprinkling of non-Jewish and black or inter-racial families. Residents were called "coopniks". The complex housed 339 families in the first complex and 328 in the second. The raised basements featured classrooms, recreational facilities, a restaurant, a day-care center and a library. Shops in the neighborhood were sponsored by the organization. When completed, it was the largest cooperative housing complex in the
Size: 5157px × 3438px
Location: Bronx Park East and Allerton Avenue, Bronx, New York,
Photo credit: © Matthew Kiernan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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