Anything related to the history of McSorley's Old Ale House interests me. My family--the Hales--arrived in #NewYorkCity from Ireland in 1854 and made their first home on the Bowery, not far from #McSorley's, which opened that same year.

Artist John Sloan, a member of the so called, "Ashcan School," arrived in New York in 1904, discovered McSorley's in 1912, and began painting "McSorley's Back Room" (photo left) and his well known "McSorley's Bar." (photo right)

#History #Art #Painting

Thirty-three years before women were allowed in #McSorley's Old Ale House, located in #NYC, #BereniceAbbott, took this photo. Much is still the same: the swinging doors, saw dust on the floor, pot-belly stove, wood tables and walls filled with old photos, newspaper clippings and art. The white crocks for drinking ale, however, are a thing of the past--lost, broken and stolen. They've been replaced by glass mugs.

#History